STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2544

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 3316

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2024

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Agriculture and Environment, to which was referred S.B. No. 3316 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO PESTICIDES,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to:

(1) Require monthly rather than annual reporting of pesticide use;

(2) Amend the contents of the reports to include detailed geospatial information, site specific identifying information, and increased detail and uniformity in amount of product and chemical applied; and

(3) Require the Department of Agriculture to develop an online reporting tool for restricted use pesticide reporting.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from Beyond Pesticides, Hawaiʻi Farmers Union United, Hawaii Alliance for Progressive Action, Hawaii Reef and Ocean Coalition, Beyond Organic Consulting Inc., Kanalani Ohana Farm, and fifty-four individuals.

Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from the Hawaiʻi Farm Bureau; Hawaii Pest Control Association; Sugarland Farms, Inc.; and one individual.

Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Agriculture and Hawaii Crop Improvement Association.

Your Committee finds that pesticide exposure can cause significant harm to public health and the environment, especially restricted use pesticides, as deemed by the State. According to testimony received by your Committee, the restricted use pesticides reporting requirement established by Act 45, Session Laws of Hawaii 2018, does not serve the purpose of public education and data-based research for which it was intended. This measure protects the health of environment and people of the State and enables more informed public health decision—making by amending the frequency and quality of the restricted use pesticides reporting and requiring the development of an online restricting use pesticide reporting tool.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Agriculture and Environment that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 3316 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to your Committees on Commerce and Consumer Protection and Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Agriculture and Environment,

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MIKE GABBARD, Chair