STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1362-24

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2024

RE: H.R. No. 140

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.R. No. 140 entitled:

"HOUSE 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 no written testimony for this measure.

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.R. No. 140 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