The House Committee on Agriculture & Food Systems on March 14 voted to pass SB 1185 SD1, instructing staff to produce a House Draft 1 and to re-defect the effective date to July 1, 3000. The measure would establish, within the Department of Agriculture, a working group to review and recommend amendments or repeal of unnecessary or obsolete laws pertaining to agriculture and require a report.

The measure attracted written support from multiple agriculture organizations and oral testimony from the Hawaii Department of Agriculture. Cedric Gates, representing the department, said, "The department stands on its written comments on this measure. We have some concerns, but, we're here for any questions." The committee accepted a recommended change from the Hawaii Farmers Union to narrow and clarify the working group's scope (section 2(c)). The committee chair also instructed staff to note the appropriation amount and need in the committee report.

Committee members said placing the working group in statute would allow the review to move forward more rapidly than relying solely on administrative rulemaking. The committee planned technical amendments for style and clarity and set the bill for passage with amendments.

Votes at decision making were recorded as adopted on the committee floor. The committee noted the excused absences of Representatives Quinlan and Ward.