Nearly 100 people testified yesterday on a state bill that proposes a 10-year moratorium on developing or growing genetically engineered taro in Hawai'i, but a decision on whether to advance the measure wasn't immediately made.

The state House Committee on Agriculture deferred a bill that would impose a 10-year moratorium on developing or growing genetically engineered taro in Hawai'i late yesterday after a more than 7-hour hearing on the measure that attracted oral testimony from around 100 people.

Senate Bill 958 was introduced last year and passed by a Senate committee. But the bill carried over to this year's legislative session after the House Committee on Agriculture last year declined to hold a hearing on the measure. It still remains possible that the bill could be advanced after more deliberation by the committee.