HB1952 • 2026

RELATING TO AGRICULTURE.

Agriculture Budget

Active

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

Sponsor: CHUN, KAHALOA, KUSCH, MATSUMOTO, PERRUSO
Last action: 2026-04-16
Official status: Received notice of disagreement (Hse. Com. No. 599).
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The bill text specifies the exact amount of bonds that can be issued but does not provide details on how funds are allocated among projects.

Funding for Agricultural Improvements in Kauai

This bill allows the University of Hawaii to issue bonds worth up to $5 million for capital improvements at an agricultural research station on Kauai.

What This Bill Does

Allows the University of Hawaii to issue general obligation bonds worth up to $5 million.
Uses these funds for capital improvements such as new laboratories, greenhouses, field research facilities, a certified kitchen, farm manager cottages, fencing, and ADA compliance at the Agricultural Research and Extension Station in Kauai.

Who It Names or Affects

The University of Hawaii College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resilience
Residents and businesses in Kauai who benefit from the station's research

Terms To Know

General Obligation Bonds (GO Bonds): Bonds that are backed by the full faith and credit of a government entity, such as a state or city.
Capital Improvements: Major repairs or additions to existing facilities or construction of new ones.

Limits and Unknowns

The bill does not specify how the funds will be allocated among different projects.
It is unclear what happens if all funds are not used by June 30, 2028.

Amendments

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

HD1

Hawaii published version HD1

Plain English: This amendment authorizes the issuance of general obligation bonds to fund capital improvements at the University of Hawaii's agricultural research station on Kauai, including new facilities and compliance with disability standards.

Authorizes the issuance of general obligation bonds for fiscal year 2026-2027 to fund capital improvements at the University of Hawaii College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resilience’s Agricultural Research and Extension Station on Kauai.
Specifies that funds will be used for decommissioning a cesspool, demolishing old buildings, constructing new laboratories, greenhouses, field research facilities, and farm manager cottages, installing fencing, building a certified kitchen, and making improvements to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act.

The amendment specifies an effective date of July 1, 3000, which seems incorrect or possibly a placeholder for future implementation.

SD1

Hawaii published version SD1

Authorizes the director of finance to issue general obligation bonds for fiscal year 2026-2027 to fund capital improvements at the UH CTAHR Agricultural Research and Extension Station on Kauai.
Specifies that funds will be used for decommissioning a cesspool, demolishing old buildings, constructing new laboratories, greenhouses, field research facilities, and farm manager cottages, installing fencing, creating a certified kitchen, and making ADA compliance improvements.

The exact amount of bonds to be issued is not specified in the amendment text.
The amendment does not provide details on how funds will be managed or allocated beyond fiscal year 2028.

Bill History

2026-04-16 S
Received notice of disagreement (Hse. Com. No. 599).
2026-04-14 H
House disagrees with Senate amendment (s).
2026-04-10 H
Returned from Senate (Sen. Com. No. 537) in amended form (SD 1).
2026-04-10 S
Report Adopted; Passed Third Reading. Ayes, 25; Aye(s) with reservations: none. Noes, 0 (none). Excused, 0 (none). Transmitted to House.
2026-04-09 S
One Day Notice 04-10-26.
2026-04-09 S
Reported from WAM (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 3638) with recommendation of passage on Third Reading.
2026-04-06 S
The committee(s) on WAM recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes in WAM were as follows: 12 Aye(s): Senator(s) Dela Cruz, Moriwaki, DeCoite, Elefante, Hashimoto, Inouye, Kanuha, Kidani, Kim, Richards, Wakai, Fevella; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 1 Excused: Senator(s) Lee, C..
2026-04-01 S
The committee(s) on WAM will hold a public decision making on 04-06-26 10:32AM; Conference Room 211 & Videoconference.
2026-03-23 S
Report adopted; Passed Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referred to WAM.
2026-03-23 S
Reported from EDU (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 3136) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to WAM.
2026-03-17 S
The committee(s) on EDU recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in EDU were as follows: 3 Aye(s): Senator(s) Kim, Hashimoto, DeCorte; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 2 Excused: Senator(s) Kidani, Fukunaga.
2026-03-12 S
The committee(s) on EDU has scheduled a public hearing on 03-16-26 1:00PM; Conference Room 229 & Videoconference.
2026-03-10 S
Referred to EDU, WAM.
2026-03-06 S
Passed First Reading.
2026-03-06 S
Received from House (Hse. Com. No. 63).
2026-03-05 H
Passed Third Reading with Representative(s) Iwamoto voting aye with reservations; Representative(s) Pierick voting no (1) and Representative(s) Perruso excused (1). Transmitted to Senate.
2026-03-05 H
Reported from FIN (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 811-26), recommending passage on Third Reading.
2026-02-25 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.
2026-02-23 H
Bill scheduled to be heard by FIN on Wednesday, 02-25-26 2:00PM in House conference room 308 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
2026-02-20 H
Report adopted; referred to the committee(s) on FIN with none voting aye with reservations; Representative(s) Pierick voting no (1) and Representative(s) Quinlan excused (1).
2026-02-20 H
Reported from AGR (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 590-26), recommending referral to FIN.
2026-02-18 H
The committee on AGR recommend that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes were as follows: 7 Ayes: Representative(s) Chun, Kusch, Kahaloa, Lowen, Perruso, Quinlan, Matsumoto; Ayes with reservations: none; 0 Noes: none; and 0 Excused: none.
2026-02-13 H
Bill scheduled to be heard by AGR on Wednesday, 02-18-26 9:30AM in House conference room 325 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
2026-02-10 H
Passed Second Reading as amended in HD 1 and referred to the committee(s) on AGR with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and none excused (0).
2026-02-09 H
Reported from HED (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 121-26) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to AGR.
2026-02-04 H
The committee on HED recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 10 Ayes: Representative(s) Garrett, Amato, Evslin, Kapela, Kila, La Chica, Olds, Woodson, Muraoka, Souza; Ayes with reservations: none; 0 Noes: none; and 0 Excused: none.
2026-01-30 H
Bill scheduled to be heard by HED on Wednesday, 02-04-26 2:00PM in House conference room 309 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
2026-01-28 H
Referred to HED, AGR, FIN, referral sheet 3
2026-01-26 H
Introduced and Pass First Reading.
2026-01-23 H
Pending introduction.

Official Summary Text

RELATING TO AGRICULTURE.
UH; CTAHR; Agricultural Research and Extension Station Kauai; Capital Improvements; GO Bonds; Appropriation ($)
Authorizes the issuance of general obligation bonds and appropriates funds for capital improvements for the University of Hawaii at Manoa College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resilience's Agricultural Research and Extension Station on Kauai. Effective 7/31/2055. (SD1)

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

HB1952

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

1952

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 the university of
Hawaii college of tropical agriculture and human resilience's agricultural
research and extension station on Kauai develops research-based solutions to
pests, diseases, and climate-adaptation challenges in the production of coffee,
cacao, orchids, vegetables, forages, and goat.

����
The
legislature further finds that this agricultural research and extension station
also serves as the primary location of invasive species research and
coordination; seed production; Native Hawaiian kalo collection; and delivery of
multi-language training in pest and disease management, soil fertility,
pesticide education, and food safety on Kauai.

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However,
many of the station's facilities are very old and do not comply with the
requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act.
�
Furthermore, the community on Kauai has
expressed an urgent need for a certified kitchen for developing culturally relevant
recipes and products and addressing food and nutritional insecurity challenges.

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Therefore,
the purpose of this Act is to authorize the issuance of general obligation
bonds and appropriate funds to the university of Hawaii college of tropical
agriculture and human resilience's agricultural research and extension station
on Kauai for much-needed capital improvements to support its mission and benefit
the broader community.

����
SECTION
2.
�
The director of finance is authorized
to issue general obligation bonds in the sum of $5,000,000 or so much thereof
as may be necessary and the same sum or so much thereof as may be necessary is
appropriated for fiscal year 2026-2027 for capital improvements for the university
of Hawaii college of tropical agriculture and human resilience's agricultural
research and extension station on Kauai, including:

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(1)
�
Decommissioning a cesspool;

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(2)
�
Demolition of old buildings;

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(3)
�
Design, plans, and construction for new
laboratories, greenhouses, and field research facilities;

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(4)
�
A certified kitchen;

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(5)
�
Farm manager cottages;

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(6)
�
Fencing; and

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(7)
�
Improvements necessary to comply with the
requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act.

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The sum
appropriated shall be expended by the university of Hawaii for the purposes of
this Act.

����
SECTION
3.
�
The appropriation made for the
capital improvement project authorized by this Act shall not lapse at the end
of the fiscal biennium for which the appropriation is made; provided that all
moneys from the appropriation unencumbered as of June 30, 2028, shall lapse as
of that date.

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SECTION 4.
�
This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2026.

INTRODUCED BY:

_____________________________

Report Title:

University
of Hawaii College of Tropical Agriculture and Human R
esilience;
Agricultural Research and Extension
Station Kauai; Capital Improvements; GO Bonds; Appropriation

Description:

Authorizes
the issuance of GO bonds and appropriates funds for capital improvements for the
University of Hawaii College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resilience's
Agricultural Research and Extension Station on Kauai.

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