STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2399

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 2932

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2024

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Agriculture and Environment and Water and Land, to which was referred S.B. No. 2932 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO AGRICULTURE,"

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to:

(1) Appropriate $342,070,000 for capital improvement projects for the agricultural infrastructure of the State;

(2) Appropriate $9,500,000 for the establishment, operation, and administration of a food and product innovation network; and

(3) Appropriate $4,411,426 for the retirement of outstanding debt on the Waiahole Water System.

Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Agriculture, Agribusiness Development Corporation, Ulupono Initiative, Hawaii Food+ Policy, Hawaiʻi Farm Bureau, and Local Food Coalition.

Your Committees find that dedicated funding is necessary for the repair and maintenance of critical agricultural infrastructure projects statewide. Your Committees recognize that the capital improvement projects proposed in this measure will make state water systems more reliable and efficient and provide water retention areas to address fire mitigation, drought conditions, and climate change. Your Committees further recognize that the food product innovation network funded by this measure will create rural jobs, provide additional revenue streams to local farmers and producers, and foster the development of locally-made value-added products to expand the "Made in Hawaii" brand. According to testimony received by your Committees, the debt relief for the Waiahole Water System, also provided in this measure, will allow the Agribusiness Development Corporation to reinvest its revenues back into the century old irrigation system, therefore providing local farmers and ranchers with the resources necessary to support the State's local food production goals.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Agriculture and Environment and Water and Land that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2932 and recommend that it pass Second Reading and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Agriculture and Environment and Water and Land,

________________________________ LORRAINE R. INOUYE, Chair

________________________________ MIKE GABBARD, Chair