STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2676

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 2951

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2024

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Energy, Economic Development, and Tourism, to which was referred S.B. No. 2951 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE EAST KAUAI IRRIGATION SYSTEM,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to make an appropriation to the Agribusiness Development Corporation to establish positions to maintain and improve the East Kauai irrigation system and for maintenance of and improvements to the system.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources; Department of Hawaiian Home Lands; Agribusiness Development Corporation; County of Kauai Office of the Mayor; County of Kauai Office of Economic Development; Local Food Coalition; Ulupono Initiative; Hawaiʻi Farm Bureau; Larry Jefts Farms, LLC; Saiva Siddhanta Church; Lin's Farms; Kalepa Koalition; West Kauai Business and Professional Association; Kauaʻi Chamber of Commerce, Inc.; East Kauai Water Users' Cooperative; and three individuals.

Your Committee finds that the East Kauai irrigation system is a critical irrigation system that supports agricultural production in the State and is relied upon by numerous farmers and ranchers. Your Committee further finds that the East Kauai irrigation system is a century-old system that requires repair, renovation, and improvements. This measure makes a necessary appropriation for maintenance and improvements to the East Kauai irrigation system to continue to provide irrigation water to farm operations in East Kauai.

Your Committee notes that this measure contains an appropriation for an unspecified amount. Should your Committee on Ways and Means choose to deliberate on this measure, your Committee respectfully requests that it consider an appropriate amount to be inserted.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Inserting an effective date of January 1, 2060, to encourage further discussion; and

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

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Energy, Economic Development, and Tourism that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2951, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2951, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Energy, Economic Development, and Tourism,

________________________________

LYNN DECOITE, Chair