HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

THE TWENTY-FOURTH LEGISLATURE

REGULAR SESSION OF 2008

 

COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE

Rep. Clift Tsuji, Chair

Rep. Tom Brower, Vice Chair

 

Rep. Lyla B. Berg, Ph.D.

Rep. Glenn Wakai

Rep. Jerry L. Chang

Rep. Ryan I. Yamane

Rep. Faye P. Hanohano

Rep. Kyle T. Yamashita

Rep. Robert N. Herkes

Rep. Corinne W.L. Ching

Rep. Joey Manahan

Rep. Colleen Rose Meyer

 

COMMITTEE ON WATER, LAND, OCEAN RESOURCES & HAWAIIAN AFFAIRS

Rep. Ken Ito, Chair

Rep. Jon Riki Karamatsu, Vice Chair

 

Rep. Mele Carroll

Rep. Roland D. Sagum, III

Rep. Michael Y. Magaoay

Rep. Scott K. Saiki

Rep. Hermina M. Morita

Rep. Cynthia Thielen

 

CORRECTED NOTICE OF HEARING

 

The date of the hearing has been changed from Tuesday, January 30, 2008 to Wednesday, January 30, 2008.

 

DATE:

Wednesday, January 30, 2008

TIME:

8:30am

PLACE:

Conference Room 325

State Capitol

415 South Beretania Street

 

A G E N D A

 

HB 2292

RELATING TO AGRICULTURE.

Enables the agribusiness development corporation to contract with banks to provide lease management services.  Allows corporation to lease agricultural lands for up to 55 years.  Authorizes the corporation to purchase agricultural lands owned by the Galbraith Estate.  Makes an appropriation to acquire Galbraith Estate Lands.

 

AGR/WLH, FIN

HB 2293

RELATING TO AGRICULTURE.

Authorizes issuance of revenue bonds to purchase land in central Oahu from the Galbraith Estate; appropriates funds to purchase the lands; enables the Agribusiness Development Corporation to contract with lending institutions to provide lease management services.

 

AGR/WLH, FIN

HB 2316

RELATING TO AGRICULTURE.

Protects agricultural classified land from rezoning if the land produces at least $1,000,000 in gross income annually.

 

AGR/WLH

HB 2450

RELATING TO LAND USE.

 

 

AGR/WLH, JUD

HB 2593

RELATING TO DROUGHT MITIGATION.

Appropriates funds for drought mitigation projects in each county of the state.

 

AGR/WLH, FIN

HB 2594

RELATING TO IRRIGATION.

Authorizes general obligation bond funds to be deposited into the irrigation repair and maintenance special fund for repair and maintenance of certain irrigation systems, and for additional personnel to improve irrigation system management.

 

AGR/WLH, FIN

HB 2810

RELATING TO WATER RATES.

Establishes a process for just and reasonable water rates for farming operations with PUC oversight, but excludes the water supplier from the definition of a "public utility."

 

AGR/WLH, CPC

HB 2454

RELATING TO PUBLIC LANDS.

Requires the board of land and natural resources to provide reduced lease rent rates for taro farmers on state leased land.

 

AGR/WLH, FIN

HB 2451

RELATING TO AGRICULTURE.

Directs the college of tropical agriculture and human resources of the University of Hawaii in consultation with native Hawaiian organizations and taro farmers, to establish a taro farming education and training program.  Appropriates funds.

 

AGR, HED, FIN

HB 2452

RELATING TO AGRICULTURE.

Directs the college of tropical agriculture and human resources of the University of Hawaii, in consultation with the department of health, to establish a program for commercial taro farmers to maximize business viability and success.  Makes appropriation.

 

AGR, HED, FIN

HB 2453

RELATING TO TARO.

Appropriates funds for a taro farming grant program to assist taro farmers in need to help preserve the cultural legacy of taro farming for future generations.

 

AGR, FIN

 

 

 

 

DECISION MAKING TO FOLLOW

 

Persons wishing to offer comments should submit testimony at least 24 hours prior to the hearing with a transmittal cover indicating:

·     Testifier's name with position/title and organization;

·     The Committee the comments are directed to;

·     The date and time of the hearing;

·     Measure number;

·     The number of copies the Committee is requesting. 

 

While every effort will be made to copy, organize, and collate all testimony received, materials received on the day of the hearing or improperly identified or directed to the incorrect office, may be distributed to the Committee after the hearing.

 

Submit testimony in one of the following ways:

PAPER:   5 copies (including an original) to Room 310 in the State Capitol; or

EMAIL:   For comments less than 5 pages in length, transmit to [email protected].

 

If you require special assistance or auxiliary aids and/or services to participate in the House public hearing process (i.e., sign or foreign language interpreter or wheelchair accessibility), please contact the Committee Clerk at 586-6366 or email your request for an interpreter to [email protected] at least 24 hours prior to the hearing for arrangements.  Prompt requests submitted help to ensure the availability of qualified individuals and appropriate accommodations.

 

Selected meetings are broadcast live.  Check the current legislative broadcast schedule on the "Capitol TV" Web site at www.capitoltv.org OR call 550-8074.

 

 

 

________________________________________

Rep. Ken Ito

Chair

 

________________________________________

Rep. Clift Tsuji

Chair