STAND. COM. REP. NO. 172-24

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2024

RE: H.B. No. 2140

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2024

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Agriculture & Food Systems, to which was referred H.B. No. 2140 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO ORNAMENTAL GINGER,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to appropriate funds for statewide research into ornamental ginger pathogens, prevention of the spread of ornamental ginger pathogens, production and distribution of pathogen-free ornamental ginger plants, and outreach to ornamental producers.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Agriculture; University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources; Land Use Research Foundation of Hawaii; Hawaii Floriculture and Nursery Association; East Oʻahu County Farm Bureau; Hawaiʻi Farm Bureau; and six individuals.

Your Committee finds that ornamental ginger is a popular plant that is commonly used in tropical landscape designs and floral arrangements. However, due to emerging diseases, commercial production of ornamental ginger in the State has been declining, and producers in the affected areas are clearing their lands, as they can no longer economically produce ornamental ginger. This measure supports the University of Hawaii in performing statewide research and prevention of pathogens affecting ornamental ginger, ensuring the production of virus-free plants and development of cultural management strategies for managing virus-infected plants.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Changing the effective date to July 1, 3000, to encourage further discussion; and

(2) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Agriculture & Food Systems that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2140, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2140, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Higher Education & Technology.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Agriculture & Food Systems,

____________________________

CEDRIC ASUEGA GATES, Chair