CONFERENCE COMMITTEE REP. NO. 194

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2025

RE: S.B. No. 865

S.D. 1

H.D. 2

C.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2025

State of Hawaii

Honorable Nadine K. Nakamura

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2025

State of Hawaii

Sir and Madam:

Your Committee on Conference on the disagreeing vote of the Senate to the amendments proposed by the House of Representatives in S.B. No. 865, S.D. 1, H.D. 2, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO AGRICULTURE,"

having met, and after full and free discussion, has agreed to recommend and does recommend to the respective Houses the final passage of this bill in an amended form.

The purpose of this measure is to appropriate funds to establish a permanent extension agent position within the University of Hawaii College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resilience's Kona Cooperative Extension.

Your Committee on Conference finds that the University of Hawaii at Manoa College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resilience's (CTAHR) Kona Cooperative Extension has assisted and contributed to the success of the Kona coffee industry and other crops grown in the area. This measure will support the coffee industry throughout the State by establishing an additional Extension Agent position within CTAHR's Kona Cooperative Extension to provide much needed support to local farmers.

Your Committee on Conference notes that the Agribusiness Development Corporation possesses the expertise to support growers of coffee and other orchard crops with export potential, including macadamia nuts, cacao, and tea. Your Committee on Conference also notes that the Agribusiness Development Corporation, in conjunction with CTAHR, will be able to provide coffee growers with the necessary information to increase coffee production and improve the economic viability of growers.

Accordingly, your Committee on Conference has amended this measure by:

(1) Inserting an appropriation amount of $76,500 for both years of the fiscal biennium to be expended by the Agribusiness Development Corporation, rather than the University of Hawaii, to:

(A) Support the Coffee and Orchard Crops Extension and Applied Research Program;

(B) Support the Kona Research Station in the County of Hawaii; and

(C) Fund the establishment of one full-time equivalent (1.0 FTE) permanent Extension Agent position within the University of Hawaii College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resilience's Kona Cooperative Extension;

(2) Changing its effective date to July 1, 2025; and

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

As affirmed by the record of votes of the managers of your Committee on Conference that is attached to this report, your Committee on Conference is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 865, S.D. 1, H.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Final Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 865, S.D. 1, H.D. 2, C.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the managers:

ON THE PART OF THE HOUSE

ON THE PART OF THE SENATE

____________________________ ANDREW TAKUYA GARRETT Co-Chair	____________________________ DONNA MERCADO KIM Chair
____________________________ DANIEL HOLT Co-Chair	____________________________ DRU KANUHA Co-Chair