STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2881

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    H.B. No. 1929

       H.D. 2

 

 

 

Honorable Donna Mercado Kim

President of the Senate

Twenty-Seventh State Legislature

Regular Session of 2014

State of Hawaii

 

Madam:

 

     Your Committee on Agriculture, to which was referred H.B. No. 1929, H.D. 2, entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO FARMERS MARKETS,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to exempt produce sold at farmers' markets for human consumption from the general excise tax.

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from Farm Lovers Farmers' Market; Hawaii Farmers Union United; and Hawaii Farm Bureau Federation.  Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from the Department of Taxation.  Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Agriculture and Tax Foundation of Hawaii.

 

     Your Committee finds that by encouraging consumers to buy produce at their local farmers' market and increasing the profit margin realized by local farmers, this measure will help increase the consumption of locally produced food, sustain our agricultural industry, and improve the State's food security.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Agriculture that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1929, H.D. 2, and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Agriculture,

 

 

 

____________________________

CLARENCE K. NISHIHARA, Chair