The House Committee on Agriculture & Food Systems on March 14 voted to pass SB 1304 SD2 with amendments and to prepare a House Draft 1. The bill is a governor's package request to appropriate funds to the Department of Agriculture to continue a statewide pesticide drift monitoring study.

Committee members said they would take Hawaii Department of Agriculture's amendment related to the annual report and accept Office of Hawaiian Affairs' suggested language to use an external consultant for parts of the study. The chair asked staff to note the appropriation amount in the committee report. Representative Peruso commented that her district is heavily impacted by pesticide use and expressed appreciation for strengthening the measure.

Written and oral testimony included the University of Hawaii system in support, OHA providing comments, the County of Maui in support, Hawaii Farm Bureau, Hawaii Farmers Union, and Hawaii Alliance for Progressive Action with comments. The committee adopted the chair’s recommendation to pass with amendments.