STAND. COM. REP. NO. 553

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2023

RE: H.B. No. 973

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2023

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Agriculture & Food Systems, to which was referred H.B. No. 973 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO HEMP,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to repeal the requirement for the Department of Agriculture to adopt rules to address nuisance issues, including smell, noise, and excessive lighting arising out of the activities of hemp growers.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Agriculture, Hawai‘i Hemp Farmers Association, and three individuals.

Your Committee finds that the Department of Agriculture lacks the scientific expertise in the area of health issues necessary to oversee or enforce nuisance issues. Your Committee further finds that the Department of Health and county land use ordinances already have regulatory oversight over nuisance and related issues and are the more appropriate entities to address nuisance issues regarding smell, noise, and excessive lighting. This measure removes the potential confusion that may arise out of conflicting rules in multi-jurisdictional situations.

Your Committee has amended this measure by changing the effective date to June 30, 3000, to encourage further discussion.

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. 973, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 973, 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