STAND. COM. REP. NO.
Honolulu, Hawaii
APR 0 3 2024
RE: S.R. No. 40
S. D. 1
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.R. No. 40 entitled:
"SENATE RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE TO
CONDUCT A STUDY ON THE PERCENTAGES OF AGRICULTURAL LANDS
BEING LEASED BY THE STATE THAT ARE SUITABLE FOR FARMING AND
ACTIVELY BEING USED FOR FARMING PURPOSES AND CERTAIN DOLLAR
TVyiOUNTS RELATING TO LEASE TRANSFERS,"
begs leave to report as follows:
The purpose and intent of this measure is to request the
Board of Agriculture to:
•(1) Conduct a study of the percentages of agricultural lands
being leased by the State that are suitable for farming
and actively being used for farming purposes;
(2) Determine certain dollar amounts for each agricultural
lease transferred from one lessee to another lessee; and
(3) Submit a report to the Legislature before the Regular
Session of 2025.
Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure
from the Hawai‘i Farm Bureau and one individual.
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 STAND. COM. REP. NO.
Page 2
Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this
measure from the Department of Agriculture.
Your Committee finds that accurate data on public
agricultural lands, especially those that are leased, is vital to
optimize public and private investments in agriculture to meet the
State's local food production and agricultural sustainability
goals. This measure will ensure that public, productive
agricultural lands remain in agricultural use.
Your Committee has amended this measure by amending the date
for the Board of Agriculture to submit a report to the Legislature
from before the Regular Session of 2025 to before the Regular
Session of 2027.
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 concurs with the intent and purpose of S.R.
No. 40, as amended herein, and recommends its adoption in the form
attached hereto as S.R. No. 40, S.D. 1.
Respectfully submitted on
behalf of the members of the
Committee on Agriculture and
Environment,
MIKE GABBARD, Chair
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 The Senate
Thirty-Second Legislature
State of Hawaii
Record of Votes
Committee on Agriculture and Environment
AEN
Bill / Resolution No.:* Committee Referral; Date: .
UD Neu 3/27/^7
__ The Committee is reconsidering its previous decision on this measure.
If so, then the previous decision was to:___________________________________
The Recommendation is:
__ Pass, unamended Pass, with amendments __ Hold __ Recommit
2312 2311_______________ 2310________ 2313
Members Aye Aye (WR) Nay Excused
GABBARD. Mike (C)
RICHARDS. III. Herbert M. “Tim” (VC) vX
DECOITE. Lynn
RHOADS. Karl
AWA. Brenton
TOTAL 3 0 "2^
Recommendation:
Adopted __ Not Adopted
Chair’s or Designee’s Signature: j
Distribution; Original Yellow Pink Goldenrod
File with Committee Report Clerk's Office Drafting Agency Committee File Copy
*Only one measure per Record of Votes
Revised: 12/27/23