House Standing Committee on Agriculture & Food Systems

Good morning, everybody. Calling the Committee on Agriculture and Food Systems to order. This is our Wednesday, February 18th hearing. We're at the state capitol. It's 9:30 am, we're in 325. Just want to go over some housekeeping. So, because morning hearings must adjourn prior to floor session, not all testifiers may have the opportunity to testify.

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If you're using a Zoom background. Okay, let's get started with our agenda. First up we have House Bill 1952 House Draft 1 relating to agriculture.

This measure authorizes the issuance of NGO bonds and appropriates funds for capital investment improvements for the University of Hawaii College of Tropical and Agriculture and Human Resilience's Agriculture Research and Extension Station on Kauai. First up, we have University of Hawaii.

Mahalo Chair. For the opportunity to testify, we stand on a written comment comments to this particular Bill. As you know, I just want to highlight one or two things. This particular station is the only station we have in Kauai where we only active stations. We have other station that is not active because of lack of resources.

But the buildings here are very old and we are actually adding two more faculty to that place and the buildings are not even ADA compliant and environmental regulations. We really appreciate your help. Thank you.

Thank you. Next we have Brian Miyamoto, Hawaii Farm Bureau.

Thank you, Chair. The Hawaii Farm Bureau stands on its written testimony in support.

Thank you. He also had testimony and support from the Hue Crop Improvement association and Kalpa Coalition and three individuals. Is there anybody else wishing to testify on this measure? Seeing none. Let's move on to the next measure. Next up we have House Bill 1951, House draft 1 relating to biosecurity.

This measure requires the College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resilience. To establish a center for biosecurity research, education and extension to develop and implement innovative solutions for detecting, monitoring, eradicating and managing invasive species Appropriates funds. First up, we have Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity.

Morning, Chair Chun, Sharon Hurd, Department of Agriculture. Chairperson, the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity stands on our submitted testimony with comments. Thank you.

Next, we have Patrick T. DLNR,

Rob Hoff, DLNR. This morning the Department stands on its written testimony in support of the Bill. Thank you.

Next we have University of Hawaii Dean Grewal.

Mahalo. Chair Chun. We stand on our written comments for this particular Bill. I'm here to answer any questions.

We have Hawaii Farm Bureau. Brian.

Thank you, Chair, the Hawaii Farm Bureau, will stand on its written testimony in support.

Thank you. Next we have Christy Martin, Coordinating Group on Alien Pest Species.

Aloha. Chair Chan, Christy Martin, Coordinating Group on Alien Pest Species. We are in support of this Bill. We offer a proposed amendment language though the Bill certainly would provide support and ask CTAHR to develop the center. But there's a lot of resources within the university across the system that work on invasive species.

So we're offering a proposed amendment adding language right after bai. So the end. Working with experts across the University of Hawaii system, and I'm going to amend my proposed amendment in vi's letter and and others.

There's a lot of expertise in the state, from industry to businesses, and this language would widen that opportunity for CTAHR to work across the system and with others to accomplish these research goals.

Thank you. Next we have Nicole Galase, Hawaii Cattlemen's Council.

Thank you. Chair Chun, Hawaii Cattlemen's Council stands on its written testimony and support as this resource will better allow us to be proactive in our biosecurity efforts. Thank you.

Thank you. We also had testimony and support from the Hawaii Crop Improvement Association, Hawaii Food Plus Policy Foundation, Conservation Council for Hawaii Invasive Species Committee, and several individuals. Is there anyone else here wishing to testify on this measure? Question for Dean.

So I just wanted to check on the amendment proposed by CGAPS and if that's something that would be agreeable for that amendment.

Right. So SEDAR already collaborates with all the agencies that are, you know, in this arena. And in our testimony, we did include that CTAHR will collaborate with all UH colleges and other agencies, external agencies. We could, you know, use put that in if that makes a difference. But we are by nature 100% collaborative already. Anyway, thank you.

All right. Thank you. Okay, that's all the questions I have. So let's move on to the next measure.

Next up we have House Bill 1929 relating to biosecurity requires and appropriates funds for the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity to develop Molokai Biosecurity plan to prevent the spread of invasive species found elsewhere in the state and to the island of Molokai.

Authorizes the issuance of geo bonds and appropriates funds for plants and plant materials inspection and quarantine facility on the island of Molokai and facility staff first up to testify we have Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity.

Chair Chen. The Department stands in support as submitted.

Next we have Patrick G. DLNR.

Rob Hoff, DLNR, this morning, the Department supports this measure. Thank you.

Thank you. Next we have Brian Miyamoto, Hawaii Farm Bureau.

Thank you, Chair. The Hawaii Farm Bureau stands on written testimony in support.

Thank you. We have Christy Martin, Coordinating Group on Alien Pest Species.

Chair Chun, Christy Martin, Coordinating Group on Alien Pest Species. We were in strong support of this for as long as I've been doing invasive species work which is now going on less 25 years.

Molokai has always lacked a Department of Agriculture staff and capacity to do the inspections and do the work that is necessary to protect those island islanders and resources from invasive species. Thanks very much.

Next up we have Russell Kalistrom, Nature Conservancy on Zoom.

Aloha Chair Chun Russell Kalistrom, Molokai Program Manager of the Nature Conservancy the Nature Conservancy Gray and Palmyra supports House Bill 1929 which requires and appropriates funds for the Department of Ag and Biosecurity to develop a Molokai Biosecurity plan to prevent the spread of invasive species found elsewhere in the state to the island of Molokai and authorizes the issuance of Geo bonds and appropriate funds for plants and plant material inspections and quarantine facilities on the island of Molokai and facility staffing.

TNC has worked to support to protect ecosystems across molokai since the 1980s, including at our preserves at Moomi, Palekuna and Kamako, as well as through the leadership of the East Molokai Watershed Partnership. As longtime stewards of these special places, we understand the grave threat that invasive species pose to native ecosystems.

Food security, cultural practices, public health, fire safety, climate resiliency, economy and overall quality of life. Molokai is fortunate to remain free from many destructive invasive species that have become widespread on other islands such as Miconia, rapid ohia death, little fire ants, Koki frogs and Others.

These pests have devastated natural and cultural resources elsewhere and their introduction to Molokai would irreversibly alter the island's ecological and cultural landscape. The coconut rhinoceros beetle provides a clear and urgent example. CRB has already caused significant impacts across five main Hawaiian islands. Molokai is now the final island without an established population.

Yet despite this vulnerability, Molokai has extremely limited on island capacity to detect, contain or eradicate new arrivals of CRB or other high risk pests. For more than 20 years, the Molokai Maui Invasive Species Committee has been the island's frontline defense, conducting early detection and rapid response, intercepting numerous invasive species and preventing many potential introductions from taking hold.

Their success reflects extraordinary effort and a vigilant community. CRB alone now consumes about half of momisk's time. Dedicated inspectors in a quarantine facility would shift Molokai's protection from luck to practice and augment the work of all in the conservation community. For many invasive species, the cheapest and often the only solution is prevention.

This Bill treats biosecurity for Molokai with the seriousness it deserves. Mahalo to for the opportunity to testify in support of HB 1929.

Thank you. So we also had testimony and support on this measure from Hawaii Food Plus Policy Purple Maia Kalahui, Hawaii Way Farmers Union Conservation Council for Hawaii Kupuna for the Mopuna Shimanchu Mamuyaa Sarah Club of Hawaii Oahu Invasive Species Committee and numerous individuals. Is there anyone else wishing to testify this measure?

Good morning Aloha Chair Chen and thank you for the opportunity to testify today. My name is Laurie Buchanan from the island of Molokai. So I came in this morning just to be here to testify in strong support for this Bill. But I also want to use that limited time.

I have to really thank a lot of people for at least bringing it this far as previous testimony you heard Molokai has been having to, you know, kind of fend for ourselves.

But I must say that the now the Department of Ag and Biosecurity, the old HDOA and I'm still trying to learn that throughout the years have been very supportive to me in my work capacity. Although I'm off today, I have served for the past 25 years as a project coordinator for the Molokai Maui Invasive Species Committee.

It's been my sole job and a staff of three people to keep Molokai free of invasive species species, especially new incipient pest species. Something like this would be monumental for the island of Molokai, especially because Auntie Lorry is getting old chair time.

And I don't think I have another Auntie Lorry available right now to carry on that really outreach to the community. Because my community of molokai is over 50% of native Hawaiians, which is the highest. And so we, we have a lot of subsistence practitioners there. And so we rely on having that second economy of subsistence.

But in order to do that and be successful, we have to have intact resources. And so protecting those resources are very paramount to the people Molokai.

I think I represent my island well in saying that we fully support this and we appreciate the Department of Ag and Biosecurity always in helping us to do that with all the rest of the state agencies. Mahalo.

Thank you so much for being here. Yeah, appreciate it. Is there anyone else here wishing to testify on hospital 1929 seeing none. Let's move on to our next measure. Next up we have House Bill 2497 relating to biosecurity.

This measure amends Section 105A.58 revised statute to clarify that signatory industries to a biosecurity government industry agreement shall not be liable for costs related to performing activities pursuant to the agreement. Requires the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity to establish a working group that comprises signatories of security government industry agreements for joint decision making.

First up to testify we have Department of Attorney General.

Good morning. Deputy Attorney General Travis Moon provided our written comments regarding a potential liability issue on proposed HRS section 158, 58D and the recommendation recommended revision based on our understanding of the bill's intent. He also provided Comments on potential hrs section 15858 which establishes a working group. I'm here if you have any questions. Thank you.

Next up we have Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity.

Good morning. Chair Chen Sharon Hurd, Department of Agriculture Biosecurity. We stand on our submitted testimony in support.

Thank you. Next we have Brian Miyamoto, Hawaii Farm Bureau.

Thank you, Chair. The Hawaii Farm Bureau stands on its written testimony in support.

Thank you. Christy Martin, Coordinating Group on Alien Pest Species.

Aloha. Chair Chen, Christy Martin, Coordinating Group on Alien Pest Species. We wouldn't be CGAPS if we didn't point out some gaps. So our letter points out some of these gaps. We stand ready to work with folks on this. We're not sure what the intention is or how to get there. We will be reviewing other testimonies including Gaiji.

That's all I have. Be sure to testify in person or on Zoom. Is there anyone else wishing to testify on this measure? Seeing none. Let's move on to the next measure. Next up, we have House Bill 2208, House draft 1 relating to food security.

This measure establishes and appropriates funds in the form of grants for the Hawaii Families Program under the Department of Human Services to alleviate food shortages in the state. Requires reports to the Legislature before the regular session of 2027 and 2028, effective July 1st, 3000. First up to testify we have Director Yamane, Department of Human Services.

Good morning Chair. On behalf of Director Yamani and Jeanette Hayes with Vesdi, we would we thank you for the opportunity to testify and we stand on our written and comments and our testimony are available questions.

We have Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity.

Chair Chun, Vice Chair Kusch, Sharon Hurd, Department of Agriculture standing on our submitted testimony in support.

Thank you. Next we have Hawaii Apple Seed. Daniela.

Good morning Chair Chun, Members of the Committee. I am Daniela Spoto with Hawaii Appleseed. Hawaii Appleseed supports this measure. Strongly supports this measure because it solves three sort of intertwined problems.

One, local food prices are often out of reach for a lot of Hawaii's most vulnerable families, our lowest income populations that are struggling to put a food food on the table. That's a striking one in three families in this economy. Two, it provides an additional stable market and revenue stream for local farmers.

And three, it strengthens a critical but often overlooked supply chain, the emergency food system. Strengthening this pipeline during blue skies is a really smart strategy for ensuring that we're prepared for the next disaster. Thank you for the opportunity to testify.

Next we have Nate Hix, Hawaii Public Health Institute,

Aloha Chair Chun, Vice Chair Kusch, Rep Perruso, Nate Hix with Hawaii Public Health Institute will testify in support. The state has allowed poverty to grow and to persist for far too long. We need to do everything we can to eliminate it.

There is not a single person in the state should be struggling to pay their bills, their mortgage, their rent, at the very least be able to find food. But that is the reality that we've created. These are choices that this state has made. Ensure that this scourge of poverty exists until we fix it.

It's absolutely critical that we fund the food bank to make sure that the last line of defense against food insecurity remains stable. The food bank is a huge lifeline that is a private enterprise. This is not a state program that is a social service, but rather dependent upon donations.

And the state shouldn't fund the entirety of the program, let alone the few millions of dollars they're asking for today. So please support this and even more going forward.

Thank you. Next we have Elia Herman Hawaii Food Bank.

Good morning. Thank you so much for the opportunity to testify. Hawaii Food bank stands in strong support of this Bill. As it was mentioned, you know, our recent study showed that one in three households are food insecure, including 34% of children.

And the majority of these are not just shrinking what they eat, but they're actually skipping meals, going whole days without eating. And food security isn't just about having enough to eat. It's about having healthy food so you can live an active lifestyle.

And as we all know, our local produce, our local farmers, this is one of the best ways to get that. It also provides culturally appropriate food for these families who don't typically have access to it otherwise. Food banks also can be a really strong partner with these local farms. We can be the purchaser of last resort.

We buy B grade product, we can buy, you know, we're very flexible. We don't need to get the most beautiful products. We're not going to change our menus so we can be there to help shore up that system. And so it really is win win.

It's a way to help bolster our local agriculture as well as make sure that these households, these families, these children have access to healthy food. Mahalo. We're here to answer any questions.

Next we have Lauren Zirbel, Hawaii Food Industry Association on Zoom. Brian Miyamoto, Hawaii Farm Bureau.

Thank you, Chair. The Hawaii Farm Bureau is down on its written testimony in support.

Thank you. Next we have Genevieve, Hawaii Hunger Action Network.

Chair, Vice Chair. Members, my name is Genevieve Mumma, here on behalf of Hawaii Hunger Action Network. We are a coalition of over 20 local organizations and we want to stand in strong support of HB2208. We know one in three Hawaii residents remain food insecure.

And our state has set goals to double our food, our local food production by 2030. And this is one step in getting us there. As we mentioned before, this Bill funds the work that food banks are already doing as they are key partners in emergency response, which we saw with the recent federal shutdown.

This funding can help keep that money circulating in our local agricultural economy and also support food security at the same time. So mahalo for your time. Please support this Bill.

Thank you. Next we have Vivienne Hill, Hawaii State Youth Commission on Zoom.

Aloha. My name is Vivienne Hill. I serve on the Public Health Committee of the Hawaii State Youth Commission and I'm speaking today in strong support HB2208. I stand on a written testimony but would like to briefly highlight two things.

First, Hawaii is facing a food security emergency and young people feel every day in in school, at home through difficulty concentrating, increased stress and long term impacts on health and learning. Second, this Bill offers a practical local solution.

By funding food banks to purchase, store and transport fresh local on food, this Bill strengthens the safety net for families while directly supporting Hawaii's farmers. It keeps dollars in our local economy and helps ensure that fresh produce reaches the communities who need it the most.

For young people, this Bill helps ensure that we have reliable access to fresh locally grown food while supporting our local farmers and our communities. Therefore, the Hawaii State Youth Commission respectfully urges the government Committee to pass HB2208. Mahalo for the opportunity to testify.

Thank you for your testimony. Next we have Annie Frederick, Hawaii Alliance for Progressive Action.

Chair Vice Chair. Thank you so much.

Thank you. Next we have Nicole Galase Hawaii Cattlemen's Council. We have Amanda Shaw, Agriculture Stewardship Hawaii.

Aloha Chair Chung Vice Chair Kush Member Peruso. Thank you for the opportunity to testify. Amanda Shaw Agriculture Stewardship Hawaii we want to stand on our written testimony but just also would like to highlight that this Bill is really important because the folks that are actually feeding us are the ones who are also relying on the support.

If we look at food systems workers as a group, from people that grow the food all the way to people that serve it, they are more than twice as likely as other workers to rely on benefits such as SNAP and the food banks. So just want to share that.

You know, this is really trying to bring those two sides of the coin together. So we appreciate this. Win Win solution.

Thank you. Next, we have Joel Edwards on Zoom, not present. Okay. We also received testimony in support from the County of Hawaii Department of Research and Development, Office of Maui County Council Chair Ellis Lee, Sealing County of Honolulu Office of Climate Change, Sustainability and Resilience, Ahahui on Kauka, the Association of Native Hawaiian Physicians Initiative, Kauai Climate Action Coalition, Catholic Charities Hawaii, Green Party of Hawaii, Food Basket Inc., Hawaii Islands Food Bank

Kanalani Ohana Farm 350 Hawaii Local Food Coalition Hawaii Children's Action Network Speaks Hawaii Farmers Union Hawaii Family Care Association, Maui Food Bank, Get Fit Kauai, Healthy Eating Active Living Coalition of Kauai County, Hawaii Food Plus Policy, Purple Mai'a Foundation, Hawaii Hulu Producers Cooperative, Climate Future Forum, Regenerative Food Systems Working Group, and a lot of individuals.

Is there anyone else there wishing to testify on this measure? Seeing none. Members any Questions? Thank you everyone for being here. We're going to move on to our next measure except we have House Bill 2572, Community subsistence gardening establishes within the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity a temporary subsistence plus gardening pilot program.

Report to the Legislature and appropriates funds. First up to testify, we have Department of Agriculture and Bio Security.

Chair Chun, Vice Chair Kush. Members of the Committee Sharon Hurd Department of Agricultural Biosecurity stands on our written testimony in support.

Thank you. Next we have Brian Miyamoto, Hawaii Farm Bureau.

Thank you, Chair. The Hawaii Farm Bureau stands on its written testimony in support.

Thank you. Next we have Daniel Bishop.

Good morning all. Thank you chair and Committee Members for hearing this Bill. If I might, I have a couple of letters of late testimony in support, but I also have an outline of the language, the plan we're hoping to move forward with. Can I submit that at this time, meanwhile, my name is Daniel Bishop.

I am in support and hope that you will be in support also. My journey towards this moment at this time started when I was having children. My oldest son is almost 50. At that time I realized. Thank you. I realized the fragile food security issue in Hawaii. That's 50 years ago.

Since then I was lucky enough to accompany my wife to a community taro patch that we fondly called Maukalohi. That's 30 years ago this year.

And at Maukoloi it was a community title patch where individuals were allowed to come to that space and interact with growing food at the end of the day, whether they were five years old or 50 years old, whether they came for half an hour and just played in the river or a full day and helped to maintain the infrastructure.

They were allowed to take home food that we were growing at no cost except time. All of our time is priceless. So we saw a need and hundreds of people were show up on a weekday.

Wednesdays was our workday and weekends we would host special events where hundreds of people would show up and be walking out with food. Since that time, myself and my wife, we raised our four sons. Three of them are actively engaged in agriculture.

I still lease land in Waihole and Punulu and we share that space with people who come up, they help us and they take home food at no cost to them. The need is there. That's one generation ago. That need and that experience is sought after by countless amount of people. Older, younger, family members, no family members.

They want that experience. So this, this measure is hopefully going to be able. Of course the challenges are land. We can't find land. So if we can find institutions that have land, then we would hope that we can create clubs, which is in the outline. And those clubs will interact with that land and grow food for themselves.

Subsistence and make the extra. The plus part. Subsistence plus to make the extra available to their vet. Excuse me, their family Members or their communities that they live there, or food hubs creating food hubs or supporting food banks. Anyway, thank you for your time.

Thank you so much for being here. Late testimony from Mason.

Aloha. I'm Mason. And big mahalo to each and every one of you guys here today. Corey Chan, Matthew Kusch and Cedric Gates, and Chairman Gabbard as well. Big mahalo to all you guys for all your effort. About a year and a half ago, I met Uncle Danny and I had short hair.

I didn't quite know what I was doing, but everything flew out the window when he had me pull my own food out of the ground. And I felt nourished in a way that I just had never felt. And so since then, I've worked with Uncle Danny to develop a prototype of this Bill.

And we have it actually in effect right now. We have people coming, working together, and eventually they will be leaving with food. And the goal is to feed ourselves and our community. So I have people showing up that have never stepped foot in a food system, in a farm. People are here. We have people coming. Limited access.

There's not enough access. That's the problem that, that we're running into. So. We really appreciate you guys hearing this and we're really excited to work with you guys on this. And mahalo again for all your help.

We also received testimony and support from the Hawaii Food Plus Policy and the Hawaii Farmers Union and numerous individuals. Is there anyone else wishing to testify on this measure? Seeing none. Members, any questions? Let's move on to our next measure. Next up, we have House Bill 1737, House Draft 1, relating to farm employee housing.

This measure clarifies the permitted uses within the agriculture district with respect to farm dwellings and farm employee housing. Effective July 1, 3000. First up to testify, we have Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity.

Sharon Hurd, Department of Agriculture Biosecurity standing on our submitted testimony with comments.

Thank you. Next we have Mary Ellis Evans, Office of Planning and Sustainable Development.

Good morning, Chair, Vice Chair, Members of the Committee. Aaron Setogawa, Planning and Sustainable Development. OPSD stands on its written testimonies in support.

Thank you. Next we have Brian Miyamoto of Hawaii Farm Bureau.

Thank you, Chair. The Hawaii Farm Bureau stands on its written testimony supporting the intent.

Thank you. And next we have Grassroots Institute of Hawaii Tekafalis present. So we also received testimony and support from Hawaii Farmers Union, Hawaii Food Plus Policy, Coco Maya Foundation, and comments from the Department of Planning and Permitting, the City and County of Honolulu. Is there anyone else here wishing to testify on this measure? Seeing none.

Members, any questions?

Farm Bureau, please. So the concerns you expressed in your testimony mirror my own with this measure. And I'm wondering if you could talk a little bit more about what you see as the how this measure would play out in terms of implementation.

Thank you, Representative Brian Miyamoto, Hawaii Farm Bureau Subject Matter Novice so we've kind of changed our position. We are always cautious whenever there's proposed amendments to Chapter 205. We support, absolutely support farm dwellings. We appreciate some of the amendments that the Water and Land Committee made to clarify some of the definitions.

But again, we just want to make sure that we're not restricting anything. Let me go back. My office is in Cunea. We're very aware of what's going on. This is going on in other communities, other AG districts, not just Kuneo, but Kuneo seems to be just running rapid. So we need to do something.

But again, you know, we want to make sure that the farm dwelling is attached to bona fide agriculture and believe that was addressed or we think it was addressed in the Waterland Committee.

But again, we're still cautious whenever we're talking about Chapter 205, whenever we talk about any of the proposed changes, we want to make sure that we allow farm dwellings and farm worker housing for bona fide farming when farming is the primary activity.

But also we want to make sure, ensure that there aren't more loopholes that will allow farm gentlemen farms to continue to proliferate. Not sure if I answered your question.

You did. I mean, I think you know that most of my district is the wild wild west and very few of the existing ordinances or laws are being enforced with respect to land use and especially ag land. So this just seems like a measure that would legitimize and legalize currently illegal practices. So that concerns me.

Representative. So I believe the intent is to actually tighten.

No, I see the intent. I think the intent is positive.

And so, you know, you've got subdivisions. CPR seems to be an era that is being looked at as one of the opportunities for some of the abuse. But even in Kunea, it's neither subdivision nor CPR.

So I know OPSD did a lot of work several years ago and came to the Legislature with some proposed bills to try to tighten up. We support them to absolutely believe that there is hope that we can tighten up some of the language.

But again, we want to make sure that bona fide farmers and ranchers are allowed to have farm dwellings, farmworker housing, but not loosen it or not allow what we currently see. Enforcement is one of the issues.

Sorry Chair, we have one follow-up question. So I'm wondering if this because I feel like sometimes we project our own context onto the whole state and I'm wondering if this might be appropriate for neighbor islands but maybe not so appropriate for Oahu where land is in such short supply, especially AG land. What are your thoughts?

Thank you, Representative. Quite possibly again and that's why with, with a lot of this county rule and zoning comes into play, Sydney county just update, updated their land use ordinance and this was one of the concerns. I sit on the Sydney County's revived Ag Task Force and we've had three meetings so far.

We meet monthly and every meeting is trying to address what this particular Bill is trying to address. So again, we're supportive. We don't have the solution. We keep saying enforcement's one of the challenges, but even when we meet with DPP and real property tax, I mean it's not always just enforcement, but we support any mechanism.

We believe this is going down that route of trying to see if there is something that can tighten up something at the state level, but also allowing that flexibility for the different counties for what they want to see as far as their zoning laws are concern.

Thank you. Thank you, Chair.

Brian can you stay there? I don't know if you answered this because S from DPP isn't here, but so my understanding of this Bill. Right. Is that it would allow farm housing? And the way I kind of envisioned it when I was reading it and going through it was that these would be accessory. Right.

So you could have a main home and then these 800 square foot like cabins for employees. When I was, when I was reviewing DPP's testimony, they were, I guess under their rules they envisioned it as a multi family thing with 800 square foot units in this one building which I.

So is that how you kind of interpret it? Because I think that's something, I don't know if. I think it's just a matter of interpretation of how we interpret. The farm dwellings and the units. The unit size per. I guess not. Was that ever discussed on that?

Thank you, Chair. Originally that's what that, that was kind of our thought. We're wondering and I think we asked the question is this allow multi level farm dwellings or farm worker dwellings because of the way the Bill is written. So again that's our caution. We are not comment anymore.

We've supported intent but we understand as it goes through the process, because we want to have farm dwellings and farm worker housing. Again, we need to encourage and incentivize farm workers.

But when we read the Bill initially that's that was one of our questions does it allow that and even the the square footage we believe that the city and county of Honolulu what they're doing at land use ordinance.

So again we encourage farm dwellings, farm worker housing but we are absolutely opposed to fake farms and gentlemen farms and and how to find that solution and find that balance.

We we think that this may be a vehicle to at least continue the discussion discussion so we can get there and at least tighten up and have less gentlemen farms and less of these fake farms that are that are popping up in our ag districts. Thanks.

No question. Yeah. You seem to be the subject matter specialist novice. You get the subject matter experts sitting behind you. In reading this and having getting some. Trying to get some context on it. It sounded like it is trying to.

Tighten up language for Oahu and loosen up or allow counties a little looser interpretation like Maui and Hawaii island, because Hawaii island is very different. There are laws which I'm kind of familiar with than like what's allowed here in Oahu. And is that your interpretation?

Is this just a Bill to fix Oahu and tighten up Oahu or is this really a good statewide fit?

Thank you Chair. Well since it's 205 it's statewide but I think a lot of the focus has been recently on Oahu because as representative said with a limited lands but this but seeing that it's amending 205 that is a permissible uses for the entire state. So it would have statewide implications.

But I mean being on Oahu and being part of this Indian county we can see why there's just every year there seems to be bills that are trying to address this both at the state and county level. Now neighbor islands may be a little bit more I wouldn't say flexibility but a little bit more open to some.

Of. Maybe not gentlemen farms but farms that are more rural like in nature. And that's why the Farm Bureau has proposed or supported efforts to take a look at the rural designation as maybe the buffer where agriculture is not required as it is in the agriculture districts.

But that's maybe where you could have some of these more rural ambience type housing but again that's something that's a policy for the Legislature to look at.

There's a Bill for that. Okay. So it wouldn't the other counties would have the option to kind of opt. Into these looser regulations or more I won't say lacks but broader AG dwelling. Farm dwelling rules or because state law would be Supersede County ordinance, it would be a by right for individuals.

Again 205 says what's allowed, what's permissible and then counties can put on their standards. Okay. Right. Thank you.

Thank you. Chair. Okay.

Any other questions Members? Let's move on to our next measure. Next up we have House Bill 1953 relating to agriculture establishes the conservation and agriculture environmental stewardship pilot program within the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity as far as a report to the Legislature appeals June 30, 2028, and appropriates funds. Just up to testify we have the Attorney General.

Good morning. Deputy Attorney General Travis Moon. We provided our testimony with our written comments and I'm here if you have any questions. Thank you.

Next we have Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity.

Sharon Hurd, Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity standing on our written testimony in support.

Thank you.

We have Brian Miyamoto Hawaii Farm Bureau.

Chair, the Hawaii Farm Bureau stands on its written testimony in support.

We have Nicole Galase, the Hawaii Cattlemen's Council not present, we have Amanda Shaw.

Aloha. Chair Chen, Vice Chair Kush, Members of the Committee. Amanda Shaw, Agriculture Stewardship Hawaii. Thank you for hearing this Bill. Oahu Agriculture and Conservation association and Oahu Resource Conservation Development Council combined for the new organization agriculture stewardship Hawai' I in 2024 combined.

We have about 25 years of experience actually delivering support to farmers who are doing conservation agriculture on the ground. Last year we were able to get folks about $2.2 million directly in cost share funds and grants. So we have a little bit of a sense of what it takes to do this kind of work.

We're glad that the feds have some support, but it doesn't always get what Hawaii agriculture requires and needs, the kinds of cost share rates the farmers need.

And so this Bill really give the state some, you know, some skin in the game, be out there with farmers really shouldering and sharing the risk and, and the financial burden that it sometimes takes to steward lands. Well, and so we know that there's another Bill that has a similar intent, Sb2110.

Can't recall the House Bill number, but we're highly supportive of that measure as well and look forward to the increased conversation. The fact that we have multiple measures that are talking about the need for the state to really support farmers who want to steward lands and be there in that with them is really important for us.

And you know, I think the main difference between those is the institutions that would be administering.

And so while we understand that we want to build capacity within our state institutions and not just, you know, totally farm programs out, we know that farmers really need support right now and this Bill would do that in part that and let us figure out some kinks as a program gets started. Thank you so much.

Available for any questions.

So we also received testimony and support from Hui Farmers Union and Hue Food Plus Policy, Purple Maya foundation and several individuals. Is there anyone else wishing to testify on this measure? Seeing none. Members, any questions? Seeing none. Let's move on to our next measure, SOP of House Bill 2551 relating to agriculture.

This measure appropriates funds for the Area Wide Fruit Fly Suppression Program. Receptive to testify, we have Department of.

Agriculture and Biosecurity Chair Chun, Vice Chair Kush and Members of the Committee. Sharon Heard, Department of Agriculture Biosecurity and support.

Thank you. We also have testimony from University of Wade team.

You all stand on our written justice. Thank you, Chair.

Thank you. We have Brian Miyamoto, Hawaii Farm Bureau.

Thank you, Chair. The Hawaii Farm Bureau was down on its written testimony in support.

So we received testimony and support from Maui County Farm Bureau, HFNA and lay Food Plus Policy, the Purple Maya foundation and several individuals and one individual with comments. Is there anyone else here wishing to testify on this measure? Seeing none. Members, any questions? Seeing none. Let's move on to our last measure on the agenda.

Okay.

Last Bill is House Bill 2549 relating to agricultural production. This measure establishes a clean plant program within the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity to support the production, maintenance and distribution of disease free clean plant material to growers, nurseries and other agricultural producers in the state. Appropriates funds to testify. We have Department of Agriculture Boscuti.

Good morning again. Chair John Vice Chair Kush, Members of the Committee Sharon her Department of Agriculture Biosecurity Chair. The submitted testimony goes back a long way and we stand here in strong support of the Bill.

It will make a big difference not only to local farmers and ranchers but to those new farmers and ranchers that want to start up and find the costs of starting up very prohibitive. This would help reduce that cost, reduce the risk.

We have offered this service to DHHL to their homesteaders for their new developments to the Eloquayo Services Group. It's been very well received. We have submitted it for earmarks on the federal level. It's been well received but very specific to Hawaii.

You know, we've tried to make it expansive so that it's a nationwide benefit stating that if for instance Florida or Puerto Rico suffers a disaster, we would be there at the ready to provide them with germplasm. It doesn't seem to go very far on a national level. So I'm here to say it's a state.

If the state can support this measure, it would go very far to kicking agriculture jump starting us. Whenever we have a disaster ask. Thank you for allowing me to testify.

Thank you. Next we have Brian Miyamoto of Hawaii Farm Bureau.

Thank you, chair. The Hawaii Farm Bureau was down on its written testimony in support.

Thank you. You also received testimony and support from hfna, Hawaii Farmers Union and Hawaii Food Plus Policy, the Propo Maya foundation and several individuals. Is there anyone else wishing to testify on this measure?

Aloha. Laurie Buchanan from the island of Molokai. Nice to see you all here. You wasn't here earlier when I testify in the Molokai line, but I'm sure you will fill you in. I stand in support of this. I like what Chair Hurt had to say.

I realized that there's some programs now through SITAR and usda that kind of skirt over this type of trying to promote clean material. But I really like what Chair Hurt had to say about working hard on this.

So I was sitting there not having to read the Bill, but since I spent so much money on Mokuleli to gesha this money, I was kind of excited because we're trying to protect the island of Molokai to do just this, to be the repository and maybe museum of, you know, getting everything, keeping everything clean so we can share and keep the genetic integrity of plants that we're working on new now.

And so this would be a perfect opportunity to share that collaboration and work with, continue to work with the different Department of Ag and biosecurity. So thank you very much.

Thank you. Thanks for being here. Anybody else reaching to testify on this measure? Seeing none. Members, any questions? Seeing none. Yeah. Okay. We're just going to go straight into decision making. So first on our agenda we have House Bill 1952, House draft one relating to agriculture. Recommendation of the Chair is to pass an amendment.

Any questions, comments or concerns? Seeing none. Thanks. Chair.

Thank you. Chair. Voting on HB 1952 HD1. Chair's recommendation is to pass unamended. Chair and Vice Chair vote aye. Representative Kahalo, Aye. Representative Lohan.

Representative Peruso.

Aye.

Representative Quinlan. Aye. Representative Matsumoto.

Aye.

Aye.

Chair, your recommendations adopt.

Thank you. Members, the next Bill is House Bill 1951, House Draft 1. The recommendation is we're going to do a House draft two and we're just going to take the friendly amendment from C. Any question, comments or concerns? Members Seeing none.

Sure.

Thank you. Chair voting on HB 1951 HD1. Chair's recommendation is passed with amendments. Chair and Vice chair voting aye. Is there any reservations or nay? Seeing none. Chair, your recommendation is up.

Members, next up, we have House Bill 1929 relating to biosecurity. Recommendation is to pass out a House draft one. You're going to blank out the appropriate amounts in sections 35 and 6 and insert those into the Committee report and change the effective date to July 1. 3000. Questions, comments or concerns? Seeing none. Nice.

Chair, thank you. Voting on HB 1929. Chair's recommendation is passed with amendments. Chair, Vice Chair voting aye. Any reservations or nay? Seeing none. Chair, your recommendation is adopted.

Thank you. Next we have House Bill 2497 relating to biosecurity. The recommendation of the Chair is to pass out a House draft one. So we are going to take the ag recommendations for the issue of liability and move that provision into paragraph d from Chapter 150a to Chapter 141.

I'd like to note in the Committee report that a more comprehensive framework may be needed for the working group and we will continue to work on it and we're going to Defective date to July 1st, 3000. Discussion Any questions, comments or concerns? Seeing none.

Thank you Chair voting on HB 2497. Chair's recommendation is to pass with amendments. Chair and Vice Chair voting aye. Is there any reservations or nay? Seeing none. Chair, your reserve recommendation is adopted.

Thank you Members. Next we have House Bill 2208, House Draft 1. Recommendation is to pass unamended. Questions, comments or concerns? Seeing none.

Vice Chair thank you Chair voting on HB2208HD1. Chair's recommendation is to pass unamended. Chair Vice Chair voting I. Any reservations or n Seeing none. Chair recommendation is adopted.

Thank you. Next we have House Bill 2572 relating to subsist subsistence gardening. Recommendation is to pass out House Draft 1 and we're going to just change the effective date to 7-1-3000 for further discussion. Questions, comments or concerns? Seeing none. Sure.

Thank you Chair voting on HB 2572. Chair's recommendation is to pass with amendments. Chair Vice Chair voting aye. Is there any reservations or n Seeing none. Chair, your recommendation is adopted.

All right, thank you Members. Next we have House Bill 1737, House Draft 1. Okay, Members, I've had discussions with the Housing Chair on this Bill and we were both in agreement that we don't like to see multifamily apartment buildings on ag land. So I do want to move this forward to continue discussion.

So I'm going to recommend the House draft 2. We are going to clarify a reference in the Bill on the allowable soil classifications on page 21, line 13.

So it currently references 205 and we're going to change that reference to 205 2D7 instead just to clarify that it's for the CDE and U lands and not A and B and then technical amendments.

And I do think there it's going to still be a work in progress, but our intent is to make sure that we can establish farmer housing without allowing for what we all don't want to see on agline. So with that any questions, comments or concerns Members?

Yeah, thank you for your work on this measure. I think I'm still going to be voting with reservations just to flag it, so I follow it. Thanks.

Any other comments?

Seeing none. Thank you Chair. Sorry to cut you off. HB and anticipation. HB 1737 HD1. Chair's recommendation is to pass with amendments. Chair and Vice Chair voting aye. Noting the with reservations for Representative Russo. Is there any other reservations or nays? Seeing none. Chair, your recommendation is adopted.

Thank you. Next we have House Bill 1953 relating to agriculture. Recommendation of the Chair surpassed by the House draft one. So we are going to take the AG's proposed amendments to clarify the grant standards on page three and four of their testimony.

We are also going to take it out of permanent law and instead set it out set the pilot program out in session law since the program was sunset on June 302028.

We're also going to blank out the appropriation and put that amount into the Committee report and change the effective date to July 13000 for further discussion. Any questions, comments or concerns, see none. Sure.

Thank you. Chair voting on HB 1953. Chair's recommendation is passed with amendments. Chair and Vice Chair voting I share. Any reservations or nay? Seeing none. Chair, your recommendation is adopting.

Thank you. Next we have House Code 2551 relating to agriculture. The recommendation is to pass out a House draft one. We are going to blank out the appropriation amounts, include it in the Committee report and changing the effective date to July 1st, 3000. Any questions, comments or concerns? Seeing none. Vice Chair for the vote.

Thank you. Chair voting on HB2, 551. Chair's recommendation is to pass with amendments. Chair and Vice Chair voting aye. Is there any reservations or nays? CENA Chair recommendation is adopted.

Thank you, Members. And our last measure, House Bill 2549 relating to agricultural production. Recommendation the Chair has passed out of House Draft 1. We're just going to change the effective date to 7-1-3000 for further discussion. Any questions, comments or concerns? Seeing none. Yes, sir.

Thank you. Chair for the last Bill voting on HB2549. Chair's recommendation is passed with amendments. Chair Vice Chair voting I. Is there any reservations or nay Seeing none. Chair, your recommendation is adopted.

Right. Thank you, Members. You're adjourned.

Sam.