STAND.
COM. REP. NO. 1363-24
Honolulu, Hawaii
, 2024
RE: H.C.R. No. 161
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.C.R. No. 161 entitled:
"HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE TO CONVENE A WORKING GROUP TO REVIEW THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE RELEVANT STATE LAWS GOVERNING AGRICULTURAL-BASED COMMERCIAL OPERATIONS,"
begs leave to report as follows:
The purpose of this measure is to request the
Department of Agriculture to:
(1) Convene a working
group to review the effectiveness of the relevant State laws governing
agricultural-based commercial operations; and
(2) Invite relevant stakeholders to participate in
the working group.
Your Committee
received testimony in support of this measure from Keep the North Shore
Country; Hui o Kamananui; Hawaii's Thousand Friends; Hawaiʻi Farm Bureau, and four
individuals. Your Committee received comments from the Department of
Agriculture.
Your Committee
finds that Hawaii law permits agricultural-based commercial operations to
operate on agricultural land without a minimum requirement of agricultural
activity on that land. Your committee further finds that the intent of
the statute authorizing this operation was to enable bona fide agricultural
producers to remain profitable and continue to farm in the State by allowing
producers to have additional income streams. The authorizing statute is
thus being abused by businesses receiving permits to sell and display goods
that have been produced anywhere in the state. Accordingly, this measure
requests the convening of a working group comprised of relevant stakeholders to
review the effectiveness of the relevant state laws governing agriculture-based
commercial operations.
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 concurs with the intent and purpose of H.C.R. No. 161 and recommends that it be referred to your Committee on Finance.
Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Agriculture & Food Systems,
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____________________________ CEDRIC ASUEGA GATES, Chair |
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