STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2628

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 2936

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 Energy, Economic Development, and Tourism, to which was referred S.B. No. 2936 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO AGRICULTURE,"

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to appropriate $5,000,000 to the Department of Agriculture for the planning and construction of a new inspection, quarantine, and incineration facility on the island of Maui.

Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawaiʻi Farm Bureau.

Your Committees received comments on this measure from the Department of Agriculture.

Your Committees find that in the wake of the August 2023 Maui wildfires, rebuilding the community of Lahaina will require the remediation and replacement of tons of topsoil that was contaminated by toxic ash. Your Committees further find that the sheer amount of replacement plant material necessary to facilitate the community rebuild will be immense, and immediately requires additional resources and facilities to handle all the incoming materials, goods, and equipment. Therefore, this measure appropriates $5,000,000 to the Department of Agriculture for the planning and construction of a new inspection, quarantine, and incineration facility on the island of Maui, to support and expedite the rebuilding efforts.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Agriculture and Environment and Energy, Economic Development, and Tourism that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2936 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 Energy, Economic Development, and Tourism,

________________________________ LYNN DECOITE, Chair

________________________________ MIKE GABBARD, Chair