STAND. COM. REP. NO. 432-24

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2024

RE: H.B. No. 2263

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 Water & Land, to which was referred H.B. No. 2263 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE EAST KAUAI IRRIGATION SYSTEM,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to appropriate funds for maintenance and improvements to the East Kauai Irrigation System, including personnel to perform this work.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources; Agribusiness Development Corporation; Office of the Mayor of the County of Kauaʻi; Tropical Flowers Express; Ulupono Initiative; Kauaʻi Chamber; Hawaiʻi Farm Bureau; Local Food Coalition; Larry Jefts Farms, LLC; Saiva Siddhanta Church; Kalepa Koalition; Aina Hookupu o Kilauea; and three individuals.

Your Committee finds that the East Kauai Irrigation System is a century-old system that requires repair, renovation, and improvements. Your Committee further finds that the maintenance of the East Kauai Irrigation System and development of a plan to deliver water to land are necessary because if lost, the cost to replace the infrastructure would be exorbitant and 5,920 acres of agricultural land would dry up.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Changing the appropriation for maintenance of and improvements to the East Kauai Irrigation System to an unspecified amount;

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

(3) Making a technical, nonsubstantive amendment for the purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

Your Committee respectfully requests your Committee on Finance, should it deliberate on this measure, to consider an appropriation amount of $750,000 for maintenance of and improvements to the East Kauai Irrigation System.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Water & Land that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2263, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2263, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Finance.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Water & Land,

____________________________

LINDA ICHIYAMA, Chair