Upcoming Ag, Hemp & Pesticide Bills

DATE:	Monday, February 10, 2020
TIME:	2:20 p.m.
PLACE:	Conference Room 224 State Capitol 415 South Beretania Street

A G E N D A

SB 2050       Status & Testimony	RELATING TO INDUSTRIAL HEMP DERIVED PRODUCTS. Establishes a regulatory framework for products containing CBD that were manufactured legally through approved government programs.  Clarifies that these products are not considered adulterated food, beverage, or cosmetic products.  Prohibits manufacturers from making health related claims.  Requires product labeling for the products to be legally allowed in the State.
SB 2957       Status & Testimony	RELATING TO THE PESTICIDE SUBSIDY PROGRAM. Appropriates moneys to DOA for the pesticide subsidy program.
SB 3038       Status & Testimony	RELATING TO TARO. Exempts taro production from the state income tax.
SB 3081       Status & Testimony	RELATING TO TAXATION OF LOCALLY PRODUCED, ORGANIC FOOD. Establishes an income tax credit for locally produced, organic food.  Exempts locally produced, organic food from the general excise tax.
SB 3090       Status & Testimony	RELATING TO AGRICULTURE. Establishes an agricultural production tax credit. SB 2715       Status & Testimony RELATING TO LIVESTOCK TRANSPORTATION. Requires the Department of Agriculture to adopt rules to protect the welfare of livestock transported to, from, or between any island of Hawaii.  Requires the department to adopt interim rules. SB 2976       Status & Testimony RELATING TO AGRICULTURAL INSPECTIONS. Requires the department of agriculture to conduct preclearance quarantine inspections prior to direct travel to or from the State.  Appropriates funds to implement a preclearance quarantine inspection.  SB 3133       Status & Testimony RELATING TO AIR FREIGHT. Establishes the air freight inspection, quarantine, and eradication service fee and charge and corresponding fund to finance inspection, quarantine, and eradication activities relating to air freight that arrives at the State's airports.  Transfers plant quarantine branch employees stationed at airports from the department of agriculture to the department of transportation.

SB 2755: Make Funding for Pueo

NOTICE OF HEARING

DATE:	Monday, February 10, 2020
TIME:	1:15 P.M.
PLACE:	Conference Room 229 State Capitol 415 South Beretania Street

A G E N D A

SB 2755       Status & Testimony

RELATING TO PUEO RESEARCH. Appropriates funds to the Department of Land and Natural Resources to conduct, in collaboration with the University of Hawaii College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources, a state-wide assessment of pueo conservation status.

SB 3152 - Defining "cultural impact" in the EIS process

SB 3152       Status & Testimony

RELATING TO ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENTS. Defines "cultural assessment" and "cultural impact assessment".  Requires cultural assessments to be available for public review and comment in connection with draft environmental assessments.  Requires a cultural impact assessment if an agency determines a proposed action may have a significant effect on the environment. This bill aims to clarify terms in which the state will handle future situations concerning EIS processes.   Yes, you're right.  Nobody trusts the state.  But we've got to make a change and we've got to start somewhere.  To continue to smash our heads against the same wall while expecting different results is the definition of insanity. Please click the word testimony and just state what you have to say on the site.  We are not going to tell you how to feel about it or where to stand.  We are telling you to use your voice and stop it with the generational trauma.  Our kids are depending on us to survive. How are they supposed to work with foundations that are not built by us and for us?

HB 2615: Increases SNAP and TANF benefits

COMMITTEE ON HUMAN SERVICES & HOMELESSNESS

Rep. Joy A. San Buenaventura, Chair

Rep. Nadine K. Nakamura, Vice Chair

Rep. Della Au Belatti	Rep. Calvin K.Y. Say
Rep. Bertrand Kobayashi	Rep. James Kunane Tokioka
Rep. John M. Mizuno	Rep. Gene Ward

NOTICE OF HEARING

DATE:	Wednesday, February 12, 2020
TIME:	9:05 a.m.
PLACE:	Conference Room 329 State Capitol 415 South Beretania Street

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HB 2615 Status

RELATING TO SOCIAL SERVICES. Increases the monthly needs allowance for individuals residing in foster homes, care homes, domiciliary homes, and other long-term care facilities.

HSH, FIN

Reconciliation Bill to Kanaka Maoli

The kāhea has gone out to OPPOSE this bill.

CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE KĀHEA

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

THE THIRTIETH LEGISLATURE

REGULAR SESSION OF 2020

COMMITTEE ON WATER, LAND, & HAWAIIAN AFFAIRS

Rep. Ryan I. Yamane, Chair

Rep. Chris Todd, Vice Chair

Rep. Sharon E. Har	Rep. Tina Wildberger
Rep. Nicole E. Lowen	Rep. Gene Ward
Rep. David A. Tarnas

NOTICE OF HEARING

DATE:	Monday, February 10, 2020
TIME:	9:00 AM
PLACE:	AUDITORIUM State Capitol 415 South Beretania Street

A G E N D A

HCR 37 Status

REQUESTING THE GOVERNOR TO CONVENE A BLUE RIBBON RECONCILIATION COMMISSION TO EXAMINE AND FORMULATE A RECONCILIATION PROCESS RELATING TO ISSUES OF PAST, PRESENT, AND FUTURE IMPORTANCE TO THE NATIVE HAWAIIAN PEOPLE, THE STATE OF HAWAII, AND THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.

Ag Success at the Senate

Photo credit: 319 Victory Song, Mark Shephard's Positive Songs

Ag Day at the Senate was great today.
Many farm associations were present to raise awareness
of all that their organization were about and the place was packed.
Aromas of fresh food and the volume of camaraderie flourished wonderfully.

Behind conference room doors, bills were being read and either passed or opposed.

Regarding

SB2722 and HB1892: Creating a Food Hub

and

SB2709 and HB1894: Regarding Ag Training Programs

today meant victory.

Thank you for all of your support on these bills.

Updated_HB2032: Designates Pupu Kuahiwi as the official state snail.

  

HB2032:  Designates pupu kuahiwi (Laminella sanguinea) as the official state snail.

Pupu Kuahiwi:  They’re a food source for other native species — carnivorous caterpillars, and birds such as Hawaiian honeycreepers. More importantly, the snails help decompose and cycle nutrients back into the soil — an essential service in nutrient-poor Hawaiian forests. Unlike other snails that feed on plant tissue, pupu kuahiwi graze on the algae, bacteria, and fungi growing on the surface of leaves.

Now that fewer native snails inhabit the forest, hikers notice changes, says Yeung. “Old-timers say there’s a lot more fungus on trees now, so the trees are weaker.”  

 Across Hawai‘i, pupu kuahiwi disappeared, due to loss of habitat, over-harvesting by collectors, and predation by rats, Jackson’s chameleons, and rosy wolf snails.

Click here to submit testimony.

Update:

1/23/2020	S	The committee(s) on HOU recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes in HOU were as follows: 4 Aye(s): Senator(s) S. Chang, Kanuha, Moriwaki, L. Thielen; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 1 Excused: Senator(s) Fevella.
2/5/2020	S	Reported from HOU (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 2349) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading and referral to JDC.
2/5/2020	S	Report adopted; Passed Second Reading and referred to JDC.

SB2301: Establishes a cigarette litter abatement fee

RELATING TO LITTER CONTROL -  Establishes a cigarette litter abatement fee to be imposed on each cigarette sold in the State, the proceeds of which shall be deposited into a cigarette litter abatement special fund.  Provides that the cigarette litter abatement special fund shall be used to cover the costs of collecting and removing cigarette litter and providing outreach and education to curb improper cigarette litter disposal.  Appropriates funds.

Explanation:  If you ever participated in a cleanup of any kind,  you would find that the single item in the highest quantity is cigarette butts.  These are extremely toxic for our environment and contribute to the sickness or deaths of animals who eat them.  

Testimony:  Weʻre not going to tell you whether to support this bill.  Either you love the environment or not.  But if you donʻt,  please leave Hawaiʻi.  We are trying to restore things here and are not concerned with paying higher taxes on products that cause disease.

Submit testimony here.  

Update - February 6, 2020

1/30/2020

S

The committee(s) on AEN/CPH has scheduled a public hearing on 02-10-20 1:50PM in conference room 224.

SB2834: HEMP - Establishes programs for the production and processing of hemp in Hawaii.

HEMP - Establishes programs for the production and processing of hemp in Hawaii.

We are not going to tell you how to testify on this one.

But we will tell you to make sure you do, no comments needed

unless you would like to share your manaʻo.

Submit testimony here.

SB3106:  RELATING TO INDUSTRIAL HEMP.

Requires DOA to establish a permanent hemp program pursuant to federal law, and a corresponding special fund.  Requires DOH to adopt rules for the licensing, inspection, and regulation of industrial hemp processing facilities.  Reduces or repeals certain regulatory provisions of existing hemp pilot program.  Establishes authorized cultivation of hemp as affirmative defense.  Excludes hemp from the definition of marijuana.  Requires chairperson of board of agriculture to prepare a state plan for approval of the federal Secretary of Agriculture and report on the approval process to legislature and governor.  Appropriates funds.

Once again,  we are not going to tell you whether to support or not.

However once again we still urge you to testify whichever way you feel.

Make comments as you see fit.

Submit testimony here for SB3106.

6 February 2020 UPDATE:

This bill goes before the senate on Monday February 10th

Updated: SB2722 and HB1892: Creating a Food Hub [identical bills]

Requires the Department of Agriculture to establish a five-year food hub pilot program to increase access to local food. Provides for the award of grant funding by qualified applicants wishing to establish or expand a food hub. Requires reports to the Legislature. Appropriates funds.

Explanation:  To require the state to financially assist in the facilitation of programs to build food hubs or in plain English - unified farmers to build a stock of specific staple crops.  This is already in place with our coffee farmers and weʻd like to extend that to all foods grown in Hawaiʻi, to decease our dependency upon the barge, making those items an option.

 

Testimony:  I strongly support the creation of local food hubs to support the benefits of farming, which will also lower prices of local products, will boost the local economy, will eventually create more sustainable environmental conditions, help defeat climate change, as we are in an area that will be immediately affected and farmers know that planting tamarinds by the shorelines will produce safe trees, fruits, and prevent shoreline erosion.  Farmers know how to properly maintain the environment in manners conducive to our future generationsʻ survival.  The food growth will ensure our continued survival as an island people.  

Supporting training programs and the formation of these hubs can only beneficial because farmers cannot afford to fix the environment, if we canʻt afford to farm.  Producing a sustainable paycheck, will fix that, along with keeping more people employed and housed, while reducing crime rates. 

[Donʻt forget to add your story or delete what doesnʻt apply to your manaʻo]

Submit SB2722 testimony here. 

Submit HB1892 testimony here.

Update - February 6, 2020
The committee(s) on AEN recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in AEN were as follows: 4 Aye(s): Senator(s) Gabbard, Ruderman, K. Rhoads, L. Thielen; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 1 Excused: Senator(s) Fevella.

Updated - SB2709 & HB1894: Identical Bills Regarding Ag Training Programs

These identical Bills go hand in hand on both sides: House of Rep and Senate.

Description of Bill:  RELATING TO BEGINNING FARMER TRAINING. - Establishes a 5-year beginning farmer training program to be administered by the Department of Agriculture. Appropriates moneys.

 

Testimony:  I strongly support this bill because I recognize that 90% of our food and supplies arrives on a barge and Hawaiʻi has the perfect conditions to represent the standard for ample food growth.   I also recognize that most of our farmers are in the ages of 60 or older.  

Once upon a time, Hawaiʻi was an archipelago that fed well over a million people.  The ahupuaʻa system model well presents the potential that we could build in sustainable productivity.

These farmer training programs teach our young farmers how to achieve this level of sustainability and how to make a profitable business plan to become a part of a larger solution that combats climate change while producing food, lightening the costs or effects of dependency upon social welfare to survive,  bring essential skills to our aspiring farmers and create a holistic and family friendly atmosphere that increases our local economy, thus helping our residents to remain residents in Hawaiʻi.  Weʻve got to stop sending our families away, due to lack of sustainability in a place called home.  

[Donʻt forget to add your personal story regarding learning

how to make a comfortable living through farming.]

Submit testimony here for SB2709.

Submit identical testimony here for HB1894

Updated - February 6, 2020
The committee(s) on AEN recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in AEN were as follows: 4 Aye(s): Senator(s) Gabbard, Ruderman, K. Rhoads, L. Thielen; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 1 Excused: Senator(s) Fevella.

Updated SB2429: For pregnant women in certain circumstance

SB2429:  Provides medical assistance for pregnant women in certain circumstances.  

Weʻre not sure you need any further clarification on this one,  it is a straight support, automatic.

There is no need to even comment on this matter,  unless you have a personal story or manaʻo to share.

Photo obtained from WebMD

Submit testimony here.

Update February 6, 2020

2/5/2020	S	The committee(s) on HMS recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in HMS were as follows: 3 Aye(s): Senator(s) Ruderman, K. Rhoads, Ihara; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 2 Excused: Senator(s) Riviere, Fevella.
2/5/2020	S	The committee(s) on CPH recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in CPH were as follows: 4 Aye(s): Senator(s) Baker, S. Chang, Nishihara, Ruderman; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 3 Excused: Senator(s) L. Thielen, Wakai, Fevella.

2/5/2020

S

The committee(s) on HMS recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in HMS were as follows: 3 Aye(s): Senator(s) Ruderman, K. Rhoads, Ihara; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 2 Excused: Senator(s) Riviere, Fevella.

2/5/2020

S

The committee(s) on CPH recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in CPH were as follows: 4 Aye(s): Senator(s) Baker, S. Chang, Nishihara, Ruderman; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 3 Excused: Senator(s) L. Thielen, Wakai, Fevella.

Update: SB2459: Restores Medicaid Dental Benefits

SB2459 - RELATING TO MEDICAID BENEFITS.

UPDATE:

2/7/2020	S	The committee(s) on CPH recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in CPH were as follows: 4 Aye(s): Senator(s) Baker, S. Chang, Ruderman, L. Thielen; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 3 Excused: Senator(s) Nishihara, Wakai, Fevella.
2/7/2020	S	The committee(s) on HMS recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in HMS were as follows: 3 Aye(s): Senator(s) Ruderman, K. Rhoads, Ihara; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 2 Excused: Senator(s) Riviere, Fevella.

Makes an appropriation to restore certain adult dental benefits to medicaid enrollees.  Requires maximization of federal matching funds.

This enables us to get our mouths fixed for free.  We want to support this bill, so we can all smile again.

 

Photo Credit: Arizona Family Dental - 21 Famous People Who Have Had Cosmetic Dentistry 

Gingivitis Consequences & Treatment

Sadly, gingivitis consequences don’t end with just a simple cavity. Periodontitis spreads to your tissue and bone under your teeth’s visible layer, causing tooth loss. Periodontitis may also lead to premature birth weight, heart attack and more. In fact, it’s linked to systemic diseases like:

Diabetes

Respiratory disease

Rheumatoid arthritis

Coronary artery disease

Stroke

 

Testimony:  Restoring dental benefits to Medicaid insured people would be nothing short of genius in terms of long-term health, economy and productivity.  

Health & Health Costs:  While our overall health conditions increase to reflect better health and welfare of Hawaiʻiʻs residents,  health care costs will inevitably decrease as a result because other health problems could have been prevented while they were only a tooth issue.  

Economy:  Poor dental health often limits job availability to individuals because of professional appearance.  This often results in a heavier population dependence in both the long-term medical conditions as well as social welfare services.  Fixing teeth can only be beneficial to peopleʻs ability to feel confident to go for the better paying jobs and aspire to do such.  

Productivity:  Once people look good, they feel good.  When people feel good about themselves, their actions become aligned - which are all the psychological responses to a simple fix now - dental care.

Submit testimony here.

HB2522: Funding for Stabilization Housing Units

HB2522:  RELATING TO HEALTH.

Requires DOH to establish short-term residential beds for the purpose of stabilization from mental health conditions or substance use and to assess patients and triage them to a clinically appropriate level of care through the Hawaii coordinated access resource entry system (CARES).  Appropriates funds.

Testimony:  I support this bill as means to find an end to disenfranchisement through the general instabilities of homelessness.  It takes no doctorate degree to understand that stability will help people better than pills and nowhere to go to deal with the consequences thereof.

People with dental and mental illness, often suffer from other factors such as displacement on the streets, rejection from society and depression.  By fixing these things, the system can save a lot of grief and can bring a brighter future of productivity because we will have addressed the issues that plague our communities, lighten the burden upon already at-risk and struggling families, and move forward with a stronger society.

Click here to submit testimony

Updated: HB 2249 - Restoring Adult Dental Benefits

RELATING TO MEDICAID BENEFITS. Makes an appropriation to restore certain adult dental benefits to medicaid enrollees.  Requires maximization of federal matching funds. Update: 2/7/2020 H The committees on HSH recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 7 Ayes: Representative(s) San Buenaventura, Nakamura, B. Kobayashi, Mizuno, Say, Tokioka, Ward; Ayes with reservations: none; 0 Noes: none; and 1 Excused: Representative(s) Belatti. 2/7/2020 H The committees on HLT recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 7 Ayes: Representative(s) Mizuno, B. Kobayashi, Nakamura, San Buenaventura, Say, Tokioka, Ward; Ayes with reservations: none; 0 Noes: none; and 1 Excused: Representative(s) Belatti. Explanation:   Our teeth tell us years ahead of time, what health issues we will have in the future.  Before we develop diabetes, we develop cavities.  Before we develop any health problem,  our teeth will indicate such with a toothache or problem of sorts.   Currently,  dental coverage to fix teeth,  is not happening.   However,  state and federal agencies would like to cut healthcare costs. We recognize that health care costs would be significantly lower if we addressed dental needs before they became medical needs. A sample testimony will be included below the picture,  along with the link to testify. I support this initiative for many reasons including: 1. Long term reduction in costs of overall health care 2. Lack of dental health also causes lack of mental health, struggles with maintaining sustainable employment,  as well as becoming a long term issue in many other areas of health, thus costing taxpayers tremendously over a longer period of time. 3.  Addressing dental health intercepts all of these other issues, while providing more jobs and costing far less, overall.  It aids in employment, lowers dependency upon social welfare and stabilizes a larger portion of our constituency, thus strengthening bottom line productivity in Hawai'i. Submit testimony here