RELATING TO AGRICULTURE.

Agriculture Budget Labor

Active

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

Sponsor: CHUN, KAHALOA, Kusch
Last action: 2026-02-23
Official status: The committee(s) on FIN recommend(s) that the measure be deferred.
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The bill's status as deferred by committee means its future progress is uncertain.

Grant Specialist for Farmers

This bill appropriates funds to create a full-time grant specialist position within the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity to assist farmers and ranchers in applying for grants.

What This Bill Does

Appropriates funds to establish one full-time equivalent (1.0 FTE) grant specialist position within the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity.
The grant specialist will help farmers and ranchers apply for, obtain, and fulfill requirements of grants from various sources including federal, state, county, or private entities.

Who It Names or Affects

Farmers and ranchers in Hawaii who want assistance applying for grants.
The Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity which will hire the grant specialist.

Terms To Know

Grant Specialist: A person whose job is to help others apply for and manage grants, especially in agriculture.
FTE (Full-Time Equivalent): A measure used to represent the workload of an employee as a full-time worker. One FTE equals one full-time position.

Limits and Unknowns

The bill does not specify how much money will be set aside for this new position.
It is unclear if and when the committee will decide to move forward with the bill after it was deferred.

Amendments

These notes stay tied to the official amendment files and metadata from the legislature.

HD1

Hawaii published version HD1

Plain English: This amendment proposes to create a grant specialist position within the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity to help farmers and ranchers apply for and manage grants, with funding allocated for fiscal year 2026-2027.

Establishes a full-time grant specialist position in the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity to assist farmers and ranchers with applying for and managing grants from various sources.
Allocates funds from general revenues for this new position.

The exact amount of funding is not specified, only that 'so much thereof as may be necessary' will be used.
The effective date listed (July 1, 3000) seems incorrect and likely contains an error.

Bill History

2026-02-23 H
The committee(s) on FIN recommend(s) that the measure be deferred.
2026-02-19 H
Bill scheduled to be heard by FIN on Monday, 02-23-26 2:00PM in House conference room 308 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
2026-02-17 H
Passed Second Reading as amended in HD 1 and referred to the committee(s) on FIN with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Cochran, Lee, M., Poepoe excused (3).
2026-02-17 H
Reported from AGR (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 322-26) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to FIN.
2026-02-11 H
The committee on AGR recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 5 Ayes: Representative(s) Chun, Kusch, Kahaloa, Perruso, Matsumoto; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and 2 Excused: Representative(s) Lowen, Quinlan.
2026-02-06 H
Bill scheduled to be heard by AGR on Wednesday, 02-11-26 9:30AM in House conference room 325 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
2026-01-26 H
Referred to AGR, FIN, referral sheet 1
2026-01-21 H
Introduced and Pass First Reading.
2026-01-16 H
Prefiled.

Official Summary Text

RELATING TO AGRICULTURE.
Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity; Grant Specialist; Appropriation ($)
Appropriates funds to establish one full-time equivalent (1.0 FTE) grant specialist position within the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

HB1602

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

1602

THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026

STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

relating
to agriculture
.

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

����
SECTION
1.
�
The legislature finds that many of
Hawaii's farmers and ranchers are finding difficulty in securing the financial
support necessary to build a thriving, vibrant business.
�
Various sources of funding, including grants
provided by the United States Department of Agriculture and the State, the
counties, and private entities, are available for farmers and ranchers.
�
Access to grants from the United States
Department of Agriculture and other sources can increase production capacity,
provide new business opportunities, and increase employment opportunities
within the State's agricultural industry.

����
The
legislature further finds that farmers and ranchers applying for grants may
have to complete an application process that is sometimes complex.
�
Without specific technical expertise in grant
writing, many farmers and ranchers may be deterred from applying for those
grants.
�
Well-trained and skilled grant
specialists would be able to assist farmers and ranchers in obtaining and
fulfilling the requirements of grants.

����
The
purpose of this Act is to establish a grant specialist position within the
department of agriculture and biosecurity to assist farmers and ranchers in
applying for, obtaining, and fulfilling the requirements of grants offered by
the United States Department of Agriculture, State, counties, or private
entities.

����
SECTION
2.
�
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 2026-2027 for the establishment of one
full-time equivalent (1.0 FTE) grant specialist position within the department
of agriculture and biosecurity to assist farmers and ranchers in applying for,
obtaining, and fulfilling the requirements of grants offered by the United
States Department of Agriculture, the State, the counties, or private entities;
provided that the grant specialist position shall prioritize assisting farmers
and ranchers who produce local food that is at least partly consumed within the
State.

����
The sum
appropriated shall be expended by the department of agriculture and biosecurity
for the purposes of this Act.

����
SECTION 3.
�
This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2026.

INTRODUCED BY:

_____________________________

Report Title:

Department
of Agriculture and Biosecurity; Grant Specialist; Appropriation

Description:

Appropriates
funds to establish one full-time equivalent (1.0 FTE) grant specialist position
within the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity.

The summary description
of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is
not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.