STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1152

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2005

RE: H.B. No. 483

H.D. 1

S.D. 1

 

 

Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2005

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Water, Land, and Agriculture, to which was referred H.B. No. 483, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO AGRICULTURE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to promote diversified agriculture and increase agricultural self-sufficiency.

The Department of Agriculture, the Hawaii Aquaculture Association, Hawaii Farm Bureau Federation, and Land Use Research Foundation of Hawaii submitted testimony in support of this measure. The Department of Taxation submitted testimony in opposition to this measure. The Hawaii Agriculture Research Center and Tax Foundation of Hawaii submitted comments.

Article XI, section 3 of the Constitution of the State of Hawaii sets out the framework for state policies relating to the promotion of agriculture and conservation of productive agricultural lands in the State. Your Committee finds that this measure promotes the constitutionally mandated policies by establishing an agricultural infrastructure improvement tax credit to diversify agriculture and increase agricultural self-sufficiency.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Clarifying the definition of "agricultural infrastructure improvement"; and

(2) Making technical, nonsubstantive changes for style, clarity, and consistency.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Water, Land, and Agriculture that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 483, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 483, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Water, Land, and Agriculture,

____________________________

RUSSELL S. KOKUBUN, Chair