STAND. COM. REP. NO. 925-26

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2026

RE: H.B. No. 1572

H.D. 2

Honorable Nadine K. Nakamura

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2026

State of Hawaii

Madame:

Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred H.B. No. 1572, H.D. 2, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO AQUACULTURE DEVELOPMENT,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to:

(1) Require the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity to:

(A) Establish and implement a four-year Restorative Aquaculture Development Program to reduce aquaculture permit processing time, support aquaculture infrastructure expansion, increase the aquaculture workforce, and pursue federal aquaculture grants;

(B) Submit annual reports to the Legislature regarding the Program;

(C) Contract with an independent third party to conduct an evaluation of the Program;

(D) Establish three pilot demonstration sites for restorative aquaculture; and

(E) Convene a Restorative Aquaculture Advisory Council; and

(2) Appropriate funds for aquaculture infrastructure development, aquaculture workforce development and technical assistance, pursuit of federal grants, the pilot demonstration sites, and the Program.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity; Department of Land and Natural Resources; University of Hawaiʻi Sea Grant College Program; Hawaiʻi Food+ Policy; Hawaiʻi Farmers Union United; and two individuals. Your Committee received comments on this measure from Hawaiʻi Farm Bureau and Kuaʻāina Ulu ʻAuamo.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Finance that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1572, H.D. 2, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Finance,

____________________________

CHRIS TODD, Chair