STAND. COM. REP. NO. 918-24

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2024

RE: H.B. No. 2131

H.D. 2

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2024

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred H.B. No. 2131, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE TWO-LINED SPITTLEBUG,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to:

(1) Appropriate funds for the Department of Agriculture for the mitigation and control of the two-lined spittlebug and recovery efforts in areas affected by infestation; and

(2) Require the Department of Agriculture to submit a report to the Legislature prior to the Regular Session of 2025.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawaiʻi Farmers Union United; Larry Jefts Farms, LLC; Ulupono Initiative; Coordinating Group on Alien Pest Species; Hawaiʻi Farm Bureau; Kealia Ranch; Sierra Club of Hawaiʻi; Oʻahu Invasive Species Committee; and numerous individuals. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources; Department of Agriculture; University of Hawaiʻi System; and Hawaii Cattlemen's Council, Inc.

Your Committee has amended this measure by changing the appropriation to an unspecified amount.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Finance that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2131, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2131, H.D. 2.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Finance,

____________________________

KYLE T. YAMASHITA, Chair