STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1191-24

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2024

RE: S.B. No. 2413

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 Agriculture & Food Systems, to which was referred S.B. No. 2413, S.D. 2, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO AGRICULTURE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to require the Board of Agriculture to submit a report to the Legislature on the percentages of agricultural lands being leased by the State that are suitable for farming and actively being used for farming purposes and certain dollar amounts relating to lease transfers between lessees.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from Hawaiʻi Food+ Policy; Hawaii Cattlemen's Council; Hawaiʻi Farm Bureau; and one individual. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from the Department of Agriculture.

Your Committee finds that it is important that the State effectively identify and actively use agricultural lands for farming. Your Committee further finds that this measure and resultant report would provide useful information to ensure that leased agricultural lands are being used for their intended purposes and supporting the State's agricultural industry.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Changing the effective date to July 1, 3000, to encourage further discussion; and

(2) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

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 S.B. No. 2413, S.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2413, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, and 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