2006 Legislation

Hawaii Farm Bureau Federation's Proposals
The following is the status of HFBF's 2006 Legislative Proposals.

SB 2753 – Appropriates $100,000 for the operation and maintenance of the East

SB 2986 (Dead) – Prohibits the government from condemning lands for private purposes. Establishes a process for condemnation.

HB 1200 (Dead) – Makes an exception for agricultural operations to qualify for participation in the State Enterprise Zone Program. If agribusiness cannot qualify based on increase in labor, it allows ag businesses to based on 2% revenues.

HB 1900 – State Budget Bill

• $1 million grant in aid for the Hawaii Farm Bureau for ag research and market development.*
• $250,000 Kauai Processing Plant
• $2.9 million for DOA to implement the Hawaii biosecuriy plan to control and respond to invasive species.

HB 2179 – Establishes and appropriates funds into the Irrigation Repair and Maintenance Special Fund. Appropriates funds for irrigations systems: $2.3 million for East Kauai irrigation system; $500,000 for Waimanalo Irrigation System; $2.5 million for Molokai Irrigation System; $4.85 million for the Waimea irrigation system; and $1.7 million of Lower Hamakua Ditch System. Also appropriate $100,000 for the vocational ag education program in DOE.

The above is a brief description and may contain other action measures. If you have questions, please call Alan Takemoto at 848-2074.

Other Legislation relating to Agriculture

SB 1899 – Provide the scientific information to support deregulation, development and implement marketing plan process for genetically engineered papaya in Japan and in future markets. $200,000

SB 2214 – Appropriates $9 million for emergency disaster preparedness program.

SB 2479 - Proposing a Constitutional Amendment to authorize the State to issue special purpose revenue bonds and use the proceeds from the bonds to assist ag enterprises.

SB 2480 – Appropriates funds for a feasibility study for a wastewater treatment facility for the Kapoho Vactionland estates and Farmlots and public restrooms.

SB 2485 – Encourages ag development by authorizing the issuance of special purpose revenue bonds to assist ag enterprises serving important ag lands.

SB 2774 – Assist families who may lose their homes due to closure of plantations such as Del Monte Fresh Produce by making plantation community subdivisions a permitted use in stat ag land use district.

SB 3077 – Creates a Legacy Land Conservation Commission. Establish priorities for land and easement acquisitions with moneys from the fund. Provides $1.1 million for the purchase of agriculture easements.

SB 3078 – Assist the ADC to create the Hawaii agribusiness plan.

HB 2145 – Adds agricultural tourism to ag districts. Specifies requirements to qualify for ag tourism. Requires counties to regulate ag tourism in specified matters.

HB 2175 – Provides framework for energy self sufficiency, focusing on energy efficiency and renewable energy resource employment in state facilities, vehicles, and equipment; in the public schools; and by means of priority permitting for renewable energy projects a the county level.

HB 2271 – Allows the boards of ag to manage, develop, and dispose of public lands set aside to the DOA.

HB 2772 – Establishes that a person commits the offense of criminal property damage if the person intentionally and knowingly damages the ag or aquacultural equipment, supplies, or products of another. Allows future crop damages in valuation.

HB 2806 – Appropriates $650,000 for the Hawaii 2050 Sustainability Plan.

HB 3115 – Petroleum Industry Monitoring, Analysis, and Reporting Program and Special Fund. Indefinite suspension of Maximum Pre tax Wholesale Gasoline Price until reinstatement by Governor.

SCR 159 – Urges the DOA and the Pesticide Advisory Committee to develop a pesticide disposal assistance program.

LEGISLATIVE ACCOMPLISHMENTS

Hawaii Farm Bureau members represent the agricultural industry on State and County boards and commissions:

• Coordinating Group Alien Pest Species
• Advisory Committee on Pesticides
• Board of Agriculture
• State Water Commission
• Endangered Species Committee
• County Water Boards
• Soil and Water Conservation District Boards
• Agribusiness Development Corporation

Our legislative efforts at the State legislature have brought about:

• Construction of a slaughterhouse on Oahu and Molokai;
• Reduction of the excise tax paid by farmers on fertilizers and plant nutrients and polypropylene shade cloth from four to five percent;
• The Right to Farm Act which assures that a farmer need not move his/her farm when urban development occurs nearby;
• Various commodity groups are able to secure product promotion monies from the State and Counties to improve their competitiveness in the market;
• Appropriations each year for research and development, new or improved cooling facilities and other irrigation projects to benefit Hawaii's farmers;
• Formation of the Agribusiness Development Corporation;
• Funds for registration of pesticides and for pesticide training classes;
• Strengthened the agriculture theft law to make it easier for farmers to prosecute theft as a felony.