Senate Standing Committee on Agriculture and Environment

Aloha, and good afternoon, Mahal, for joining today's AENHOU hearing. It's Thursday, February 12, and we're convened in Room 225 in video conferencing, which includes audio and video of remote participants that's being streamed live on YouTube. Unlike the event that the hearing is cut short, the committee will reconvene to discuss any outstanding business on Friday, February 13 at 03:05PM in Room 224 during AEN's time slot, and a public notice will be posted on the Ledger's website.

And so because of our ninety minute time limit for hearings, there'll be a two minute time limit for all testifiers, and we'll have a virtual countdown timer on the Zoom screen. Okay.

We'll start off. Well, we have one item on agenda, and it's SB 2006 relating to farm employee housing clarifies that a farm dwelling permit permitted in an AG district includes a single farm single family farm dwelling with an accessory employee housing structure subject to certain restrictions. First up is DAB.

Thank you, chair. The Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity stands on testimony offering comments on this measure. Here for any questions. Hello?

Thank you, Cedric. Curtis Lund with DPP offers comments. Brian Miyamoto, Hawaii Farm Bureau.

Hello, chair. The Hawaii Farm Bureau stands on written comments.

Thank you, Brian. Lindsey Garcia with Hawaii Realtors is in support. Ted Kefalas with the Grassroot Institute of Hawaii.

K. Did I pronounce your name correct?

Aloha, chairs. We'll stand on our written testimonies in strong support.

Yes.

Okay.

Thank you, guys. And anyone else wishing to testify on this measure? We also have in support, Hawaii Farmers Union, Hunter Hevelin. Also in support, Perry Aris Smith from Housing Hawaii Future, Johnny Miley Perry, Aral Kaneshiro, Noholani, uhu, Hodgkins, Glenn Kagamita, and Heather Kuroty. That's nine in support, two opposed.

Forward comments. Members, any questions? Okay. Alright. We'll go right into decision making.

The chair's recommendation will be to pass with OPSD's suggested amendments, clarifying the definitions of farm employee housing and bona fide agricultural services. I would also like to note the opposing testimony expressing concern that the bill, as originally drafted, could restrict ag tourism activities that provide important supplemental income for bona fide farming operations.

So we'd like to amend the bill to clarify that while farm employee housing is intended solely for ag workers and may not be used for visitor accommodations, Ag tourism activities may occur on the same parcel as a farm dwelling when such activities are secondary and incidental to a bona fide ag operation, and that they do not occur within farm employee housing units and comply with county ordinances adopted pursuant to HR section two zero five dash five. Okay. Any questions, comments?

So for AEN, we've got the recommendation. We've got

I got right behind you, chair.

Okay. Good. Chair's rec that's the chair's recommendation. Pass with those amendments. Chair votes aye, vice chair.

On Senate bill 2006 passing with amendments, chair votes aye, vice chair votes aye. Senator DeCoite is excused. Senator Rhodes? Aye. Senator O'Hoff?

Aye. Chair, you have four in favor. Motion is adopted.

Thank you very much, members. Same recommendation for the Committee on Housing for SB 2006 to pass with amendments. Chair votes aye.

Members, SB 2006. Chair's recommendation is to pass with amendments. Chair votes aye. Vice chair votes aye. Senator Elefante?

Aye. Senator Rhodes? Aye. Senator Fevella is excused. Chair recommendations adopted.

Thank you.

Thank you very much. And that adjourns the one zero five agenda.