STAND. COM. REP. NO.  542-14

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2014

 

RE:   H.B. No. 2629

      H.D. 1

 

 

 

 

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Seventh State Legislature

Regular Session of 2014

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committees on Agriculture and Water & Land, to which was referred H.B. No. 2629 entitled:

 

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

 

beg leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this measure is to more effectively use designated Important Agricultural Lands (IALs) to achieve food sustainability and self-sufficiency by clarifying and specifying that the permitted uses of IALs are restricted to the production of agricultural food and activities directly related thereto.

 

     Two concerned individuals supported this bill.  The Department of Agriculture and Office of Planning supported this measure with amendments.  The Land Use Research Foundation of Hawaii, Hawaii Farm Bureau Federation, Hawaii Rifle Association, Parker Ranch, Alexander & Baldwin, Inc., Hawaiian Commercial & Sugar Company, and Castle & Cooke Hawaii opposed this measure.  The Hawaii Association of Realtors commented on this bill.

 

     Your Committees recognize that there are a number of important issues to be addressed and resolved concerning the provisions of this measure.  Accordingly, your Committees have amended the effective date of this measure from upon its approval to July 1, 2050, to facilitate further discussion, including the potential extension of the 2014 exemption for treatment of those landowners who are currently in the process of having their lands designated as IALs.  Your Committees have further amended this measure by:

 

     (1)  Adding as permitted uses on IALs hunting and shooting ranges;

 

     (2)  Expanding the permitted accessory uses on IALs to include building and uses or agricultural activities related to game and fish propagation and raising of livestock;

 

     (3)  Providing that this bill does not apply to those lands that have been designated as IALs by the Land Use Commission as of the effective date of this measure; and

 

     (4)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for style, consistency, and conformity.

 

     Your Committees note that it has adopted the amendments suggested by the Department of Agriculture and an amendment suggested by the Office of Planning.

 

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Agriculture and Water & Land that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2629, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2629, H.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Finance.

 

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

 

 

____________________________

CINDY EVANS, Chair

 

____________________________

JESSICA WOOLEY, Chair