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HB1012 • 2026

RELATING TO THE LAND STUDY BUREAU SOIL RATING SYSTEM.

RELATING TO THE LAND STUDY BUREAU SOIL RATING SYSTEM.

Agriculture Budget
Active

The official status still shows this bill as active or still awaiting another formal step.

Sponsor
NAKAMURA (Introduced by request of another party)
Last action
2025-12-08
Official status
Carried over to 2026 Regular Session.
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The bill summary and text do not provide specific details on how often updates will occur after initial implementation.

Updating Soil Data for Land Study Bureau

This bill requires the Office of Planning and Sustainable Development to update soil data used in the land study bureau system, create a process for regular updates, and collaborate with other agencies.

What This Bill Does

  • Requires the Office of Planning and Sustainable Development (OPSD) to update soil data using current information from the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service and other sources.
  • Creates a mechanism for regularly updating soil data in the land study bureau system.
  • Develops detailed digital maps showing soils across the state.
  • Drafts changes to laws and rules needed to align with updated soil data.

Who It Names or Affects

  • The Office of Planning and Sustainable Development
  • Other agencies like the Department of Land and Natural Resources, Department of Agriculture, and county planning departments

Terms To Know

Land Study Bureau Soil Rating System
A system used to classify soils for agricultural land use in Hawaii.
Soil Data
Information about soil characteristics and properties that helps determine its suitability for different uses.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill does not specify how often the updates to soil data will occur after initial implementation.
  • It is unclear what specific changes to laws and rules will be needed based on updated soil data.
  • Funding of $400,000 is provided for fiscal year 2025-2026 only.

Bill History

  1. 2025-12-08 D

    Carried over to 2026 Regular Session.

  2. 2025-01-23 H

    Referred to WAL, FIN, referral sheet 3

  3. 2025-01-23 H

    Introduced and Pass First Reading.

  4. 2025-01-21 H

    Pending introduction.

Official Summary Text

RELATING TO THE LAND STUDY BUREAU SOIL RATING SYSTEM.
OPSD; Land Study Bureau Soil Rating System; Soils; Appropriation ($)
Requires the Office of Planning and Sustainable Development, in coordination with other agencies, to update the soil data used in the land study bureau soil rating system and create a mechanism for regular soil data updates. Appropriates funds.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
HB1012

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

1012

THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2025

STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

RELATING TO THE LAND
STUDY BUREAU SOIL RATING SYSTEM
.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

����
SECTION 1.
�
The legislature
finds that Act 189, Session Laws of Hawaii 2022 (Act 189), required the office of
planning and sustainable development to conduct a study of the suitability of the
land study bureau soil overall (master) productivity rating system (land study bureau
soil rating system) and other soil classification systems used to regulate agricultural
lands in the State.
�
Accurate soil data reflecting
soil characteristics, soil properties, and identification of limits, risks, and
soil suitability for various uses helps optimize public and private investments
in agriculture to meet the State
'
s food and agricultural sustainability
goals.

����
The legislature further finds that one of the
findings of the Act 189 study is that the soil data used in the land study bureau
soil rating system have not been updated since the land study bureau soil rating
system was originally created in the 1960s and 1970s, and there is no process to
regularly incorporate new soil data.
�
This
undermines the credibility of the land study bureau soil ratings used to guide the
regulation of agricultural lands.

����
The legislature further finds that there is
a need to update the soil data used by the land study bureau soil rating system,
and establish a process for regularly updating the soil data to provide public assurance
on the integrity of the land study bureau soil rating system.

����
Accordingly, the purpose of this Act is to:

����
(1)
�
Update
the soil data used by the land study bureau soil rating system with current data
and approaches; and

����
(2)
�
Appropriate
funds.

����
SECTION 2.
�
(a)
�
The
office of planning and sustainable development shall update the soil data used by
the land study bureau soil rating system by incorporating the latest United States
Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service
'
s soil data for the State and soil data from other soil rating
systems used in the State, developing a process for regularly incorporating United
States Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service soil data
updates for the State, creating detailed digital maps that show the soils across
the State, and drafting statutory and ordinance changes that may be necessary to
align State and county governance with the updated soil data used by the land study
bureau soil rating system.
�
The office may
procure consultant services to update the soil data used by the land study bureau
soil rating system.

����
(b)
�
The office of planning and sustainable development
shall collaborate with the United States Department of Agriculture Natural Resources
Conservation Service and the American Farmland Trust to ensure that the land study
bureau soil rating system aligns with national standards and best practices.

����
(c)
�
The office of planning
and sustainable development shall establish a public process for reviewing and refining
the updated soil data in the land study bureau soil rating system and draft maps.

����
(d)
�
The office of planning and sustainable development
shall present the final land study bureau soil rating system that incorporates the
updated soil data and maps to the legislature within twenty-four months of the effective
date of this Act.

����
SECTION 3.
�

In conducting the work required by this Act, the office of planning and sustainable
development shall request, as appropriate, the assistance of the department of land
and natural resources, the department of agriculture, the college of tropical agriculture
and human resources of the university of Hawaii, the land use commission, and the
county planning and permitting agencies, which shall cooperate with the office.

����
SECTION 4.
�

There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii
the sum of $400,000 or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2025-2026
for the office of planning and sustainable development to conduct the work required
by this Act.

����
The sum appropriated shall be
expended by the office of planning and sustainable development for the purposes
of this Act.

����
SECTION 5.
�

This Act, upon its approval, shall take effect on July 1, 2025.

INTRODUCED BY:

_____________________________

BY REQUEST

Report Title:

OPSD;
Land Study
Bureau Soil Rating System
; Soils; Appropriation

Description:

Requires the Office
of Planning and Sustainable Development, in coordination with other agencies, to
update the soil data used in the land study bureau soil rating system and create
a mechanism for regular soil data updates.
�

Appropriates funds.

The summary description
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not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.