Senate Standing Committee on Agriculture and Environment

Hello, Mike Aku, and good afternoon, Mahalo, for joining us today here the AEN hearing. It's Monday, March 23, and we're convened in Room 224. And video conferencing, which includes the audio and video of remote participants, YouTube. In the unlikely event that the hearing is cut short,

we the committee will reconvene to discuss any outstanding business on Wednesday, March 25 at 03:05PM here in Room 224 during AEN's time slot and a public notice will be posted on the legislature's website.

And 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.

So starting off, HB 1953 establishing a two year conservation and AG environmental stewardship pilot program within the Department of AG and Biosecurity. First up is DAB. Thank you. Next, Brian Miyamoto from Hawaii Farm Bureau.

And Chair, Vice Chair, and center role.

Next is Nicole Galase from the Hawaii Cattlemen's Council on Zoom.

Not present on Zoom, Chair.

Chair, quick comment on that. I just received a message. She just lost power. Oh. So she was planning on being there when she can

Thank you.

Beyond.

Next is Hunter Heaivilin on Zoom from Hawaii

Also not also not present on Zoom, Chair.

Next is Amanda Shaw from AG Stewardship

Aloha. Hello? Gabbard, Vice Chair Richard, Member of the committee. Amanda Shaw, Agriculture Stewardship Hawaii. Thank you for hearing this bill.

I think in this time where we're seeing so many impacts across the state of this flooding, the moment to invest in conservation agriculture, good agricultural practices is really apparent, and that's what this bill would do. There are some federal programs that do this, but they're not really very well adapted to Hawaii's agriculture. So we really see this as an opportunity to partner and support farmers to do things around, you know, protecting waterways, establishing native species on their farms, and a bunch of other efforts.

And so just really appreciate the opportunity, to testify here for any questions.

Thank you, Amanda. Let's see. Anyone else wishing to testify on this measure? Seeing none, we'll go on to the next measure. It is HB 2,548, HD1, establishing the Climate Resilient Food Systems Grant Program within DAB.

And on this last measure, by the way, on 1953, we had 37 in support, 0 opposed, and 0 comments. So next is DAB on 2548.

Yes. That's what's going on in support. Thank you.

Brian Miyamoto, Hawaii Farm Bureau.

Hawaii Farm Bureau was down in support.

And we had the Hawaii Cattlemen's Council, Nicole. She if she shows up, she was can testify then, but she is in they are in support. Anyone else wishing to testify on this measure? So let's see. Question for DAB.

So could you tell us what what are some of the types of special purpose equipment or technology that, you know, farmers might or others might be taking advantage of via the funding from these grants?

Sure. The middle of the supply chain would be like a foil mill. We're processing for those farmers that wanna get together. Coffee roasting machine for coffee growers. One unique one that pickle provisions used was for processing and packaging equipment for their baby food to take them to the next level.

The Hiki farms. They I believe the equipment they got was harvesting equipment and, things to help them mobilize around the farm. So there's a myriad of stuff that they all they need is this, and then they could expand.

Okay.

Okay?

Thank you.

Thank you.

Okay. Anyone else as far as questions on this measure on HB 2,548? There were 31 in support, zero opposed, and zero comments. Moving on, HB 2,246 creates an ag grant program or revolving fund for the purposes of grant application, execution, reporting, and auditing to be administered by DACC. And on the last measure, there were 31 in support, zero opposed, zero comments. First up on 2246 is Dan.

Good afternoon, chair, vice chair, member of the committee, Rhodes. Sharon Hurd, Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity. Thank you for the opportunity to testify. This is our only administration bill, and we strongly supported and hope that you will consider. Moving it forward because it does open up a door to additional funding from the federal federal entities state.

County Private. This is a fund that is of no cost to The state, except that the Nickra the negotiated indirect cost rates that is part of every grant that we apply for, it's eligible. 12.5% or 12.5%, is given to the state as an indirect cost to cover costs that we would take internally to administer the grant.

What we're asking is that 50% of this the grant funding that comes in, the NICRA, half of that go into a a special fund for the department so that we can use that to as matching. Because we do lose some grant opportunities because we can't cover the match, but it would allow us to confidently sign the letter of match commitment.

It would allow us to do some research, to travel, to to get more, supporters for a grant, it would certainly enhance our ability to bring in more funding. So we're asking for 50% of the NICRA that's from the grants that we do get awarded to be deposited into the fund for the purpose of generating more revenue. Okay. Thank you.

Thank you, Sharon. Next is Brian Miyamoto from Hawaii Farm Bureau.

The Hawaii Farm Bureau stand on this record. That's only in support.

Thank you. Anyone else wishing to testify on this measure? Members, any questions? I have a question for, DAG. Sharon? So what's the criteria? What will the criteria be for awarding these grants to the AgCenter?

To to the debt? You you're talking about the from the Ag Fund?

Yeah.

Okay. So for instance, if there there is a grant that we lost out on an opportunity for livestock. The It was for mobile slaughterhouse and the matchup. The grant was for 500,000, but we were required to do a 25% match. We did not have the $125,000 to commit to get this, cut wrap chill facility to support the mobile slaughterhouse.

It was a good grant. My estimation, sir, is that we would have gotten it, but we lost out on the opportunity. So those are the kinds of grants that we're pretty sure we're going to get. We have a very good chance. But we cannot even apply for it because we don't have a kind of a commitment from the math for the match.

Okay. Okay.

Thank you. Okay.

On this measure, there were 25 in support, zero opposed, and zero comments. Moving on to the next measure, HB 2549 establishes a clean plant program with DAB to support the production, maintenance, and distribution of disease free clean plant material to growers, nurseries, and other ag producers in the state. And first up is DAB.

DAB stands on the street in testimony and support.

Thank you. Brian Miyamoto from Hawaii Farm Bureau.

Hawaii Farm Bureau was down on the street in testimony and support.

Okay. Anyone else wishing to testify on 2549?

Good afternoon, chair, vice chair, committee. I'm Jocelyn Herbert on behalf of the Reforestation policy and investment, who we, here with my colleagues from Parker Ranch and Forest Solutions in the back. We are a group of more than 20 organizations, branches, academic institutions, forestry businesses, conservation groups, all supporting reforestation policy advancing across Hawaii.

For all the multiple benefits that it provides, we have submitted some written testimony on this measure and believe that clean plant material is going to be very important as we continue to try to expand at scale reforestation across Hawaii. So available for any questions.

Thank you. Great. Thank you. Anyone else? Members questions?

And for DAB. Question for DAB? So, Sharon, how much, appropriation is dad, feeling that we need to implement this clean plant initiative?

When we submitted it earlier to the CODEL, we asked for 1.7, but that was for five stations for, tissue culture and regrowth. We're asking for three stations now, and that would be about 750,000.

Okay. Thank you.

Alright. On this measure, there are six in support, zero opposed, and zero comments. Moving on to HB 2551, HD1, relating to ag, appropriate funds for the area wide fruit fly suppression program. First up is DAF. K.

Next is a Farwanda Greewell from U H.

Steve Austin from the group and testimony and support.

Thank you, Dean. Brian Miyamoto from Hawaii Farm Bureau.

Hawaii Farm Bureau was sent out to the provide testimony and support.

Anyone else wishing to testify on this measure? 2551. Members, any questions?

Yeah. Attorney Richards. Miss Sherman. This reminds me of the new world screw worm type of initiative. Realistically, what kind of money are we talking about to get this done?

1.7.

I'm confident.

To get it done? You're confident?

Okay. Thank you. Thank you, chair.

Okay. We'll we'll have something else here, Sharon. So what happened since the the five year collaboration in 1999 with USDA, CTAHR, and, well, back then, it was DOA to address the food flag problem?

Oh, that's right. This is the food flag bill. Not much.

It said it said there was progress. It

Yeah. I don't I can get back to you on that. My fruit fly expertise is not with me right now. But what we've done with the UHC to the progress we've made is we've provided sterile fruit flies to many, many locations in the world, including the domestic US. I think we were able to mitigate the outbreak that they had in Florida, California, I think Taiwan, by providing them with the sterile food flies at that time.

What we're trying to do is, like, massively like, they're trying to do with the new old screw worm. But with the new old screw worm, they want 500,000,000 sterile food flies a week. We're not as aggressive as that, but we think that if we can get close to a statewide release, we can really do damage to these to to this sterile food size. So to the fruit fly population.

So, yeah, the progress I would say is that we've pretty much helped the world and much to their appreciation, but we've not really had a chance to do much for us, I I would say.

Yeah. I'd like details about Okay. The practices continued after that.

Yeah. Will do. Alright? Thank you.

We're good.

Senator, I'd like a chance to send you an update to that because I thought we I thought we were talking about another bill. Okay. So 1.7 for now, but I think it's more more massive than that. I think the number that comes to mind is 10,000,000.

Okay. That's

The last one I heard. Yeah.

that's the number that I'm thinking of. And 1.7 was clean plant.

I heard that

Yeah. And the the technology works well.

Oh my god. Yes.

It's just a matter of implementing it.

So Biocontrol?

Yeah.

Okay. 255109 in support. Zero opposed. One comment. Moving on to 2216.

House bill authorizing DAB to package and sell a portion of its ag loan portfolio to permitted third parties. First up is DAB.

DAB. DAB. I just read a testimony.

Okay. Two sixteen. Next is Brian Miyamoto, Hawaii Farm Bureau.

Hawaii Farm Bureau sounds good and testimony in support.

Thank you. Anyone else wishing to testify in this measure? Members, any questions? Okay. I have none. Okay I have None. There is 4 in support 0 oppose and 0 comments

There's four in support, zero opposed, and zero comments. And moving on to the final measure on our 03:00 agenda today is HB 2152 clarifies owner liability and increases penalties and enforcement mechanisms for dog attacks on livestock occurring on land or premises within the Ag District. Let's see. First up is Roy Farnger.

Thank you, Chair. Hawaii Farm Bureau in support.

Okay. Yeah. Yeah. Thank you.

Okay. Stephanie Kendrick from Hawaiian Humane Society on Zoom.

Not present on Zoom, Chair.

Okay. Roland Yartsoff from Hawaii Sheep and Goat Association on Zoom.

Aloha, Chair, Vice Chair, and Committee Members. Can you hear me?

Yes. Okay.

Very well. I submitted written testimony. There's one correction I would add to that. It is also from Chapter eight of California law that the initial draft was based on. I I'm here largely to make myself available for any questions that the committee members may have about any elements within the proposed bill, if there are any concerns you have.

I have also read the written testimony submitted by other people. If there are questions or response that you would wish that I make to some of the points made by testimony, I'm available to do so.

Okay. Thank you, Rola. Hunter Helen from Hawaii Farmers Union on Zoom.

Not present on Zoom, chair.

Thank you. Anyone else wishing to testify on 2152? Members, any questions? On 2152, we had 12 in support, zero opposed, and one comment. Okay.

Members, move right into decision making. On the first measure, HB 1953 on a two year conservation and Ag environmental search of pilot program.

Excuse me.

Chair's recommendation will be passed with amendments, to with an amendment to defect the date to 07/01/2050. Further conversation? Further discussion? Any discussion? Chair votes aye.

Vice chair?

Just a second chair catching up the paperwork. 1953. Yep. Got it. On House bIll 1953 house draft one, passing with amendments.

Chair votes aye. Vice chair votes aye. Senator DeCoite is excused. Senator Rhoads. Aye.

Senator Awa. Chair, you have four in favor. Motion is adopted.

Thank you, members. On HB 2548 establishing a climate resilient food systems grant program. Let's see. Twenty 548. Yes.

The recommendation would be to pass an amendment to defect the date to 07/01/2050. Any discussion? Chair votes aye.

On House Bill 2548 House Draft one, passing with amendments. Of the four members in attendance, is there any voting with reservations? Any no votes? Chariot, four in favor motion is adopted.

Thank you, members. HB 2246 relating to ag grant administration. Chair's recommendation will be to pass with technical amendments. Any discussion? Chair votes aye.

Vice chair.

On House Bill 2242 House draft one, passing with amendments of the four members in attendance. Anybody voting with reservations? Any no votes? Chair, a four in favor motion is adopted.

Thank you, members. On HB 2549 available ag production, new plant program.

Let's see.

Chair's recommendation would be to pass with technical amendments. Any discussion? Chair votes aye.

On House Bill 2549 House draft one, passing with amendments. Of the four members in attendance, anybody voting with reservations? Any no votes? Chair, you have four in favor.

Thank you, members. On HB 22551 running for the area wide fruit fly suppression program. The recommendation will be to pass with technical amendments. Any discussion? Chair votes aye.

On House Bill 2551 House draft one, passing with amendments of the four members in attendance. Any voting with reservations? Any no votes? Chair you have four in favor? Motion adopted.

Thank you. And HB 2216 relating to ag loans. The Chair's recommendation will be to pass with amendment to defect the date to 07/01/2050. Any discussion? Chair votes aye.

On House Bill 2216, House Draft 2. Of the four members in attendance, anybody voting with reservations? Any no votes? Chair, you have four in favor. Motion adopted.

Thank you, members. And on the final measure, HB 2152, relating to dog attacks. The chair's recommendation will be to pass with the amendment to adopt the Hawaiian Humane Society suggested language to clarify that upon finding that a dog caused the loss of or damage to livestock, the judge shall order the dog to be surrendered to an animal control officer for humane euthanasia within 24 hours.

Okay.

Any discussion? Chair votes aye.

On HP 2152 house draft 2, passing with amendments of the four members in attendance and by voting of reservations. Any no votes? Chair, you have four in favor. Motion is carried.

Thank you, Members. And that concludes the 03:00am.