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HB1310
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
H.B. NO.
1310
THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2025
STATE OF HAWAII
A BILL FOR AN ACT
relating
to agricultural sustainability
.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:
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SECTION
1.
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The legislature finds that Hawaii has
a long and rich history of agricultural production, not only to feed residents
but also for commercial and entrepreneurial endeavors.
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The history of agriculture in Hawaii reveals the
State's natural ability to grow, process, and distribute food.
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However, the growth, peaking, and waning of
agriculture in the State over the last seventy-five years is an unfortunate
cycle of decline of an industry well-suited to Hawaii.
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The
legislature further finds that planting new high- and medium-value crops to
supplement existing production, as well as deploying innovative, proven, and
modern methods of farming, will boost the ability of the State to feed and
sustain its population.
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Additionally,
increasing food production and availability of farm jobs and creating a cadre
of agri-technical workers will help to diversify the economy of the State
beyond tourism and military-related industries.
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The
legislature also finds that the Philippines has built an infrastructure of farmlands,
animal husbandry, cooperatives, wet and dry markets, agri-industrial
processing, food terminals, farm-to-market roads, and other support
systems.
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Additionally, there are dozens
of agricultural science colleges and universities in the Philippines, including
agricultural science vocational schools, apprenticeships, journeyman trades,
and practical field experience in sustenance farming and fishing.
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Annually,
Hawaii accepts over three thousand immigrants from the Philippines via regular
immigration procedures.
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Many, if not
all, already hold or are qualified for work permits without any other visa
requirements under federal law.
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Because
many of these new immigrants are farmers, fisherfolk, and agri-tech workers,
they must be identified upon coming to Hawaii so they can be offered work in a
familiar industry in which they excel.
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The
purpose of this Act is to plan, organize, develop, and maintain agricultural
programs to ensure that the State can grow its agriculture industry and become
more sustainable in its food security efforts.
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SECTION
2.
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(a)
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The office of the governor shall inquire and coordinate with the United
States Citizenship and Immigration Services and the United States Embassy in
the Philippines, by way of the Hawaii congressional delegation, as appropriate,
to provide a profile of Filipino immigrants approved for entry into the State
who have come to Hawaii within the last five years and will prospectively enter
the State in the next five years.
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The
profile shall contain information related to demographics, profession,
education, vocation, and present occupation.
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(b)
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The department of education shall gather and
provide the office of the governor with information regarding the educational
attainment, occupational interest, and post-secondary school field of work of any
of the individuals identified pursuant to subsection (a) who graduate from a
department of education school.
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(c)
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The office of the governor shall submit a
report of its findings and recommendations, including any proposed legislation,
to the legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the
regular session of
2026.
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SECTION
3.
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(a)
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The department of agriculture shall establish lines of communication
with the Philippines Department of Agriculture; selected agricultural science
colleges and universities in the Philippines; and major agricultural
cooperatives in the Philippines, such as those in tomato farming, rice
production, and food terminal management, to facilitate information exchange,
technology exchange, and possible academic, student, and worker exchange
programs between Hawaii and the Philippines.
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(b)
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The department of agriculture shall inform,
coordinate with, and share resources with the Hawaii Farm Bureau and similar
organizations in the State to unite public and private sector interests in
expanding and moving forward the agricultural development and agricultural
sustainability in the State.
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SECTION
4.
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(a)
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The departments of labor and industrial relations and human resources
development shall develop a program that brings in agricultural workers from
the Philippines for short-, medium-, and long-term work in Hawaii.
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(b)
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In developing the program, the departments of
labor and industrial relations and human resources development shall consider
the interests of the public and private sector labor unions, Hawaii Farm
Bureau, and related organizations in blending new immigrant workers with the
local worker market in the agricultural sector in the State.
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SECTION
5.
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(a)
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The department of agriculture shall establish a hydroponics pilot
program on the west side of Hawaii island.
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The hydroponics facility shall be located where there are sufficient
underground minerals and nutrients suitable for hydroponics and drip irrigation
farming.
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(b)
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In establishing the pilot program, the
department of agriculture shall study similar hydroponic projects in the
Philippines and Israel where companies have collaborated in hydroponics, drip
irrigation, and controlled farming methods using established technology,
management, and financing models.
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(c)
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The department of agriculture shall submit a
report of its findings and recommendations to the legislature no later than
twenty days prior to the convening of the regular session of
2026.
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The report shall include measures necessary
to expand small, medium, and large hydroponics and drip irrigation projects in
the State.
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SECTION
6.
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There is appropriated out of the
general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of
$ or so much
thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2025-2026 and the same sum or so
much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2026-2027 for the purposes of
section 2 of this Act.
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The sums
appropriated shall be expended by the office
of the governor for the purposes of this Act.
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SECTION
7.
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There is appropriated out of the
general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of
$ or so much
thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2025-2026 and the same sum or so
much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2026-2027 for the purposes of
sections 3 and 5 of this Act.
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The sums
appropriated shall be expended by the
department of agriculture for the purposes of this Act.
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SECTION
8.
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There is appropriated out of the
general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of
$ or so much
thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2025-2026 and the same sum or so
much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2026-2027 for the purposes of
section 4 of this Act.
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The sums
appropriated shall be expended by the
department of labor and industrial relations for the purposes of this Act.
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SECTION
9.
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There is appropriated out of the
general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of
$ or so much
thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2025-2026 and the same sum or so
much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2026-2027 for the purposes of
section 4 of this Act.
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The sums
appropriated shall be expended by the
department of human resources development for the purposes of this Act.
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SECTION 10.
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This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2025.
INTRODUCED BY:
_____________________________
Report Title:
Agriculture;
Sustainability; Philippines; Office of the Governor; Department of Agriculture;
Department of Labor and Industrial Relations; Department of Human Resources
Development; Exchange; Hydroponics Pilot Program; Appropriation
Description:
Requires
and appropriates funds for the Office of the Governor to provide profiles of
Filipino immigrants related to demographic, education, and vocation data.
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Requires and appropriates funds for the Department
of Agriculture to collaborate with certain agricultural entities in the
Philippines.
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Requires and appropriates
funds for the Departments of Labor and Industrial Relations and Human Resources
Development to develop a program that brings agricultural workers from the
Philippines to Hawaii, under certain conditions.
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Requires and appropriates funds for the Department
of Agriculture to establish a hydroponics pilot program.
The summary description
of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is
not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.