STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1312-24

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2024

RE: S.B. No. 3026

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. 3026 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO PESTICIDES,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to amend the membership of the Advisory Committee on Pesticides by replacing representatives of the pineapple and sugar industries with representatives of the coffee and diversified agriculture industries.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Office of Hawaiian Affairs; University of Hawaiʻi System; Department of Agriculture; Hawaiʻi Farm Bureau; Hawaiʻi Food+ Policy; Hawaiʻi Farmers Union United; and two individuals.

Your Committee finds that the Advisory Committee on Pesticides, which is composed of representatives from industries that make, use, or are affected by pesticides, is required to advise and assist the Department of Agriculture in developing or revising laws and rules related to pesticides in the State. Your Committee further finds that as coffee and other crops have emerged as major contributors to the local agriculture industry, the composition of the Advisory Committee has remained the same. Therefore, this measure updates the composition of the Advisory Committee to more accurately reflect the current landscape of the agriculture industry in the State.

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.

Your Committee notes the concerns about ensuring that the composition of the Advisory Committee on Pesticides includes active stakeholders, such as the Hawaii Farmers Union United, who are familiar with the challenges faced by farmers and the impacts of pesticide use.

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. 3026, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 3026, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Agriculture & Food Systems,

____________________________

CEDRIC ASUEGA GATES, Chair