STAND. COM. REP. NO.
Honolulu, Hawaii
APR 0 3 2024
RE: S.R. No. 154
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. 154 entitled:
"SENATE RESOLUTION URGING THE STATE TO PROHIBIT THE
INTRODUCTION OF BIOCONTROL AGENTS THAT MIGHT THREATEN
ECONOMICALLY IMPORTANT FORAGE GRASS .SPEGIES, "
V
begs leave to report as follows:
The purpose and intent of this measure is to urge the State
to:
(1) Prohibit the introduction of biocontrol agents that
might threaten economically important forage grass
species; and
(2) Provide for the protection of Hawaii's rangelands and
important forage grass species that sustain beef cattle
production through funding policies, initiatives, and
directives to state agencies to incentivize livestock
grazing for the management of forage grasses and other
vegetation on lands managed by the State and private
sector that are currently undermanaged.
Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure
from the Department of Agriculture; Hawaii Cattlemen's Council,
Inc.; Larry Jefts Farms, LLC; Ponoholo Ranch; Hawai‘i Farm Bureau,
and three individuals.
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 STAND. COM. REP. NO.
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Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this
measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources.
Your Committee finds that many forage grasses were
intentionally introduced into the State to support the beef cattle
industry. Your Committee further finds that these forage grasses
also provide important ground cover for the ecology of the State's
rangelands. This measure aims to protect local livestock
production and the environment of the State by preventing the
eradication of these important forage grasses species.
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. 154 and recommends its adoption.
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 Hawai‘i
Record of Votes
Committee on Agriculture and Environment
AEN
Bill / Resolution No.:* Committee Referral: Date:
ISM- AEfV H/l/ 202^4^
The Committee is reconsidering its previous decision on this measure.
If so, then the previous decision was to:___________________________________
The Repdmmendation 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)
DECOITE, Lynn
RHOADS, Karl
AWA, Brenton
3 0
TOTAL
Recommendation:
Adopted __ Not Adopted
Chair’s or Designee’s Signature: • A . ,
■ y .. "
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