STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2234

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 2317

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2026

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Agriculture and Environment, to which was referred S.B. No. 2317 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO AGRICULTURE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to:

(1) Direct the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity to conduct a study on insurance coverage for small agricultural producers; and

(2) Require the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity to submit a report to the Legislature.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity, Hawaiʻi Farmers Union United, Hawaiʻi Farm Bureau, Hawaiʻi Food+ Policy, and Hawaii Floriculture and Nursery Association.

Your Committee finds that insurance coverage for small agricultural producers has been an ongoing need in the State's agricultural sector. Small agricultural producers face unique challenges due to factors that include the volatility of local weather patterns, prevalence of invasive species, and fluctuating market conditions. Accordingly, this measure will require the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity to conduct a study on insurance coverage for small agricultural producers to provide valuable insight into the risks of those producers and illuminate potential pathways for safeguarding their operations.

Your Committee has amended this measure by inserting an effective date of July 1, 2050, to encourage further discussion.

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. 2317, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2317, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

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

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MIKE GABBARD, Chair