STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1795
Honolulu, Hawaii
H.D. 2
S.D. 1
President of the Senate
Thirty-Second State Legislature
State of Hawaii
Sir:
Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred H.B. No. 995, H.D. 2, entitled:
"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO IMPORTANT AGRICULTURAL LANDS,"
begs leave to report as follows:
The purpose and intent of this measure is to clarify the process and provide incentives for designating lands as important agricultural lands.
More specifically, the measure:
(1) Amends section 205-49, Hawaii Revised Statutes, to conform with existing Land Use Commission rules by clarifying that the adoption of county maps of important agricultural lands occurs through rulemaking, rather than through a contested case hearing; and
(2) Provides a means to develop cluster housing for farmers and farm employees on important agricultural lands.
Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism; Department of Agriculture; City and County of Honolulu, Department of Planning and Permitting; Office of Planning and Sustainable Development; and Hawaii Farm Bureau.
Your Committee received written comments on this measure from the Land Use Commission.
Your Committee finds that the clarifications made and incentives provided by this measure will help the State conserve and protect agricultural lands and promote agricultural self‑sufficiency by removing obstacles to the designation of lands as important agricultural lands.
Your Committee has amended this measure by:
(1) Clarifying that an agricultural plan or agricultural business plan shall be submitted to the county by the landowner or lessee and that the county may submit the plan to the Department of Agriculture for review and comment;
(2) Combining two paragraphs of new statutory text to avoid redundancy;
(3) Changing the effective date to July 1, 2050, to facilitate further discussion on the measure; and
(4) Making technical nonsubstantive amendments for purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.
As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 995, H.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 995, H.D. 2, S.D. 1.
Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,
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________________________________ DONOVAN M. DELA CRUZ, Chair |