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

A G E N D A

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.