STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1617-24

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2024

RE: S.B. No. 2159

S.D. 2

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 Finance, to which was referred S.B. No. 2159, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO FOOD SUSTAINABILITY,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to:

(1) Require the State Agriculture Functional Plan to include additional agricultural economic updates, including updates on aquaculture, that expand the State's priority on food by including freshwater and saltwater aquatic organisms as viable food sources; and

(2) Require the Department of Agriculture and Office of Planning and Sustainable Development to produce a report on freshwater and saltwater aquatic organisms prior to updating the State Agriculture Functional Plan.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Agriculture; Office of Planning and Sustainable Development; The Nature Conservancy, Hawaiʻi and Palmyra; Hawaiʻi Farm Bureau; Hawaiʻi Farmers Union United; Chamber of Commerce Hawaii; and two individuals. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Office of Hawaiian Affairs and Agribusiness Development Corporation.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Finance that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2159, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Finance,

____________________________

KYLE T. YAMASHITA, Chair