STAND. COM. REP. NO. 137

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    S.B. No. 1152

 

 

 

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fifth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2009

State of Hawaii

 

Madam:

 

     Your Committee on Water, Land, Agriculture, and Hawaiian Affairs, to which was referred S.B. No. 1152 entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO AGRICULTURAL LANDS,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this measure is to impose a one-hundred-year moratorium on certain building or development projects on class A or B agricultural lands in senatorial districts twenty two and twenty three for which general planning has not commenced.

 

     Testimony in support of this measure was submitted by one organization, and testimony in opposition to this measure was submitted by one state agency.  Comments were submitted by the Department of Agriculture.  Copies of written testimony are available for review on the Legislature's website.

 

     Your Committee finds that the State Constitution and previously enacted legislation such as Act 183, Session Laws of Hawaii 2005, have indicated the priority of agricultural lands to the State.  Despite the environmental, financial, nutritional, and other benefits of agriculture to the State, your Committee finds that further action is necessary to prevent development from threatening our most productive agricultural lands, provide affordable water for agriculture, and promote the production and purchase of local produce.

 

     Your Committee believes that this measure provides part of the necessary progress toward the State's food self-sufficiency goals, minimizing the approximately eight-five per cent of products consumed by residents that are imported.  As the Governor noted in her State of the State address, replacing just ten per cent of Hawaii's currently imported food with locally grown food could generate over $300 million in economic activity, $6 million in tax revenue, and 2,300 new jobs.  Your Committee believes that protecting productive agricultural lands from development will encourage farmers to invest in their land without fear that the land will be sold before they realize returns on their investments, and will ultimately provide stability and diversity to the State's economy.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Water, Land, Agriculture, and Hawaiian Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 1152 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Judiciary and Government Operations.

 

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

 

 

 

____________________________

CLAYTON HEE, Chair