HB1604 • 2026

RELATING TO AGRICULTURAL WORKFORCE HOUSING.

Agriculture Budget Housing Labor Taxes

Active

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

Sponsor: CHUN, KAHALOA, LOWEN, MATSUMOTO, PERRUSO, QUINLAN, Kusch
Last action: 2026-03-30
Official status: Report adopted; Passed Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referred to WAM.
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not provide specific details on the exact nature of partnerships to build more housing near farms or in mixed-use areas, nor does it detail financial incentives for employers beyond identifying them. The effectiveness and direct solutions provided by the bill are also uncertain based on the given information.

Agricultural Workforce Housing Act

This bill establishes a working group within the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity to address housing shortages for agricultural workers in Hawaii, requires reports to the legislature, and allocates funds for its operations.

What This Bill Does

Establishes an Agricultural Workforce Housing Working Group within the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity to address housing shortages for agricultural workers.
Requires the group to assess current laws, policies, and procedures related to workforce housing near or with agricultural facilities in mixed-use zones.
Invites representatives from relevant organizations to participate as members of the working group.
Explores partnerships with private and public entities to construct agricultural workforce housing projects.
Identifies financial incentives for employers who invest in housing solutions for their workers.
Studies the feasibility of implementing a state income tax credit for investors in agricultural workforce housing.
Submits interim and final reports to the legislature detailing progress and recommendations.

Who It Names or Affects

Agricultural workers facing housing shortages in Hawaii.
Government agencies involved in land use, planning, and housing development.
Private entities interested in agricultural workforce housing projects.

Terms To Know

Working Group: A team of experts appointed to study a specific issue and make recommendations.
Interim Report: A report submitted before the final one, providing updates on progress.

Limits and Unknowns

The bill does not specify how housing shortages will be directly solved.
It is unclear what specific recommendations the working group will make.
Funding for future projects beyond initial data gathering and reporting phases is not guaranteed.

Amendments

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

HD1

Hawaii published version HD1

Plain English: This amendment establishes an Agricultural Workforce Housing Working Group within the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity to address housing shortages for agricultural workers in Hawaii.

Establishes a working group with specific members from various organizations to study and propose solutions for agricultural workforce housing needs.
Requires the working group to submit interim and final reports to the legislature detailing their progress, findings, and recommendations.
Appropriates funds for the working group's activities in fiscal year 2026-2027.

The amendment does not specify exact funding amounts, only that it will be appropriated as necessary from general revenues.

HD2

Hawaii published version HD2

Establishes a working group with specific members from various organizations to gather data, assess needs, explore partnerships, and identify financial incentives for agricultural workforce housing.
Requires the working group to submit interim and final reports to the legislature by specified deadlines.
Appropriates funds for the working group's activities in fiscal year 2026-2027.

The amendment does not specify the exact amount of funding appropriated, only that it will be provided as needed from general revenues.

SD1

Hawaii published version SD1

Establishes a working group with specific members from various organizations to gather data, determine housing needs, explore innovative models, assess existing resources and laws, streamline processes, and identify financial incentives.
Requires the working group to submit interim and final reports to the legislature by specified deadlines.
Appropriates funds for the working group's activities in fiscal year 2026-2027.

The amendment does not specify exact amounts of funding appropriated, leaving this detail unspecified.

Bill History

2026-03-30 S
Report adopted; Passed Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referred to WAM.
2026-03-30 S
Reported from AEN/HOU (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 3218) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to WAM.
2026-03-18 S
The committee(s) on AEN recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in AEN were as follows: 5 Aye(s): Senator(s) Gabbard, Richards, DeCoite, Rhoads, Awa; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 0 Excused: none.
2026-03-18 S
The committee(s) on HOU recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in HOU were as follows: 3 Aye(s): Senator(s) Chang, Rhoads, Fevella; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 2 Excused: Senator(s) Hashimoto, Elefante.
2026-03-13 S
The committee(s) on AEN/HOU has scheduled a public hearing on 03-18-26 3:00PM; Conference Room 224 & Videoconference.
2026-03-10 S
Referred to AEN/HOU, WAM.
2026-03-10 S
Passed First Reading.
2026-03-10 S
Received from House (Hse. Com. No. 141).
2026-03-06 H
Passed Third Reading with none voting aye with reservations; Representative(s) Pierick voting no (1) and Representative(s) Perruso, Sayama excused (2). Transmitted to Senate.
2026-03-06 H
Reported from FIN (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 933-26), recommending passage on Third Reading.
2026-03-04 H
The committee on FIN recommend that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes were as follows: 16 Ayes: Representative(s) Todd, Takenouchi, Hartsfield, Hussey, Keohokapu-Lee Loy, Kitagawa, Kusch, Lee, M., Miyake, Morikawa, Perruso, Templo, Yamashita, Alcos, Gedeon, Reyes Oda; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and Excused: none.
2026-03-02 H
Bill scheduled to be heard by FIN on Wednesday, 03-04-26 10:00AM in House conference room 308 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
2026-02-19 H
Report adopted; referred to the committee(s) on FIN as amended in HD 2 with none voting aye with reservations; Representative(s) Pierick voting no (1) and none excused (0).
2026-02-19 H
Reported from HSG (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 571-26) as amended in HD 2, recommending referral to FIN.
2026-02-13 H
The committee on HSG recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 8 Ayes: Representative(s) Evslin, Miyake, Cochran, Grandinetti, Kila, Kitagawa, La Chica, Muraoka; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and 1 Excused: Representative(s) Pierick.
2026-02-10 H
Bill scheduled to be heard by HSG on Friday, 02-13-26 9:00AM in House conference room 430 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
2026-02-04 H
Passed Second Reading as amended in HD 1 and referred to the committee(s) on HSG with none voting aye with reservations; Representative(s) Pierick voting no (1) and Representative(s) Kitagawa excused (1).
2026-02-04 H
Reported from AGR (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 7-26) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to HSG.
2026-01-30 H
The committee on AGR recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 7 Ayes: Representative(s) Chun, Kusch, Kahaloa, Lowen, Perruso, Quinlan, Matsumoto; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and Excused: none.
2026-01-27 H
Bill scheduled to be heard by AGR on Friday, 01-30-26 9:30AM in House conference room 325 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
2026-01-26 H
Referred to AGR, HSG, FIN, referral sheet 1
2026-01-21 H
Introduced and Pass First Reading.
2026-01-16 H
Prefiled.

Official Summary Text

RELATING TO AGRICULTURAL WORKFORCE HOUSING.
DAB; Agricultural Workforce Housing Working Group; Report; Appropriation ($)
Establishes an Agricultural Workforce Housing Working Group within the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity to address the shortage and challenges of agricultural workforce housing in the State. Requires reports to the Legislature. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

HB1604

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

1604

THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026

STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

relating
to agricultural workforce housing
.

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

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SECTION 1.
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(a)
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There is established within the department of
agriculture and biosecurity for administrative purposes an agricultural
workforce housing working group to address the shortage and challenges of
agricultural workforce housing in the State.

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(b)
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The working group shall comprise the following members or their
designees:

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(1)
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The
chairperson of the board of agriculture and biosecurity, who shall serve as
co-chair of the working group;

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(2)
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The
chairperson of the agribusiness development corporation, who shall serve as
co-chair of the working group;

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(3)
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The
executive director of the Hawaii housing finance and development corporation;

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(4)
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The
chairperson of the land use commission; and

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(5)
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The
director of the office of planning and sustainable development.

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(c)
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The co-chairs of the working group shall invite one representative from
each of the following organizations to participate as a member of the working
group:

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(1)
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Hawaii
Agricultural Foundation;

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(2)
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Hawaii
Agriculture Research Center;

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(3)
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Hawaii
Farm Bureau; and

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(4)
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Hawaii
Farmers Union United.

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(d)
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The co-chairs of the working group may invite other individuals with
relevant knowledge and expertise to serve as working group members.

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(e)
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No member shall be made subject to chapter 84, Hawaii Revised Statutes,
solely because of that member's participation as a member of the working group.

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(f)
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The department of agriculture and biosecurity is requested to provide
administrative support to the working group.

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(g)
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The working group shall:

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(1)
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Determine:

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(A)
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The
specific housing needs of each agricultural workforce within each county; and

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(B)
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Existing
government resources available for adaptive reuse into agricultural workforce
housing;

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(2)
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Assess
existing laws, policies, and procedures that would allow the construction of
workforce housing:

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(A)
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Near
agricultural zones; or

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(B)
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With
agricultural facilities in mixed-use developmental zones;

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(3)
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Consider
any revisions necessary to existing zoning and land use policies that would
allow the construction of workforce housing:

���������
(A)
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Near
agricultural zones; or

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(B)
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With
agricultural facilities in mixed-use developmental zones;

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(4)
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Explore
partnerships with private and public entities to construct agricultural
workforce housing projects;

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(5)
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Identify
any financial incentives, including tax credit programs for agricultural
employers who invest in housing solutions for their workforce, that would
support the construction of agricultural workforce housing projects in the
State; and

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(6)
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Study
the feasibility of implementing a state income tax credit to investors who
incur costs to construct, install, acquire, or rehabilitate agricultural
workforce housing in the State.

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(h)
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The
working group shall submit an interim report of its progress, including any
proposed legislation, to the legislature no later than twenty days prior to the
convening of the regular session of 2028, and submit a final 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 2029
.

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(i)
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The working group shall be dissolved on June 30, 2029.

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SECTION 2.
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There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii
the sum of $250,000 or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year
2026-2027 for the agricultural workforce housing working group established in
section 1 of this Act to gather the necessary data and prepare the required
reports, including any consultation fees and related expenses.

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

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

INTRODUCED BY:

_____________________________

Report Title:

DAB; Agricultural
Workforce Housing Working Group; Report; Appropriation

Description:

Establishes
an Agricultural Workforce Housing Working Group within the Department of Agriculture
and Biosecurity to address the shortage and challenges of agricultural
workforce housing in the State.
�
Requires
reports to the Legislature.
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Appropriates
funds.

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