STAND. COM. REP. NO. 530-24

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2024

RE: H.B. No. 2336

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. 2336 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO HEMP,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to:

(1) Make imposition of the fine penalty applicable to any violation of the commercial hemp production licensure requirement as well as restrictions on growing and transporting hemp;

(2) Repeal the requirement for additional rules by the Department of Agriculture to address nuisance issues, including smell, noise, and excessive lighting, arising out of the activities of hemp growers; and

(3) Clarify that the Department of Agriculture shall not require testing or sampling of hemp that duplicates testing and sampling required by the United States Department of Agriculture.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Agriculture and Climate Protectors Hawaii.

Your Committee finds that the Department of Agriculture is tasked with monitoring the transportation of hemp within the State, enforcing restrictions regarding the growth of hemp, and adopting rules. Because existing regulations and testing requirements are already present at the federal, state, and county levels to address nuisance and other issues, a deferral to and reliance on those regulatory frameworks is the proper and preferred means to avoid any ambiguity that may arise.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Changing its 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. 2336, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2336, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs.

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

____________________________

CEDRIC ASUEGA GATES, Chair