RELATING TO AGRICULTURAL DEVELOPMENT.

Agriculture Budget Taxes

Active

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

Sponsor: KAPELA
Last action: 2025-12-08
Official status: Carried over to 2026 Regular Session.
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The bill's effectiveness date is set for July 1, 3000, according to the official summary text.

Agricultural Land Purchase in Ka'u

This bill allows the Agribusiness Development Corporation to issue bonds worth up to $2,931,960 and use these funds to purchase a specific piece of land in Ka'u for agricultural development.

What This Bill Does

Authorizes the issuance of general obligation bonds worth up to $2,931,960 by the Agribusiness Development Corporation (ADC).
Appropriates money from these bonds to purchase a specific parcel of land identified as tax map key: (3) 9-6-5:63 in Ka'u on Hawaii island for agricultural development.
Ensures that funds not used by June 30, 2028, will lapse.

Who It Names or Affects

The Agribusiness Development Corporation (ADC).
Farmers and ranchers in Ka'u who may benefit from the land purchase.
Residents of Hawaii island involved in agriculture.

Terms To Know

General Obligation Bonds: Bonds that are backed by the full faith and credit of a government entity to raise money for public projects.
Agribusiness Development Corporation (ADC): A corporation established to support agricultural development through land acquisition and management in partnership with local farmers and ranchers.

Limits and Unknowns

The bill does not specify how the purchased land will be managed or used beyond agricultural purposes.
It is unclear what happens if the ADC cannot use all of the funds by June 30, 2028.
The bill's effectiveness date is set for July 1, 2025, but it has not yet been enacted.

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 the purchase of a specific land parcel in Kaʻū by the Agribusiness Development Corporation for agricultural development.

Authorizes the issuance of general obligation bonds and appropriation of funds for the Agribusiness Development Corporation to buy a particular piece of land in Kaʻū for farming purposes.

The amendment specifies a future effective date (July 1, 3000) which seems unusual and may be an error or placeholder.
Details on the exact amount of bonds to be issued are not provided in the text.

Bill History

2025-12-08 D
Carried over to 2026 Regular Session.
2025-02-14 H
Passed Second Reading as amended in HD 1 and referred to the committee(s) on FIN with none voting aye with reservations; Representative(s) Pierick voting no (1) and Representative(s) Cochran, Matayoshi, Poepoe, Ward excused (4).
2025-02-14 H
Reported from AGR (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 634) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to FIN.
2025-02-12 H
The committee on AGR recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 5 Ayes: Representative(s) Kahaloa, Kusch, Lowen, Perruso, Quinlan; Ayes with reservations: none; 0 Noes: none; and 1 Excused: Representative(s) Ward.
2025-02-07 H
Bill scheduled to be heard by AGR on Wednesday, 02-12-25 9:30AM in House conference room 325 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
2025-02-05 H
Re-referred to AGR, FIN, referral sheet 12
2025-01-21 H
Referred to LAB, FIN, referral sheet 2
2025-01-21 H
Introduced and Pass First Reading.
2025-01-17 H
Pending introduction.

Official Summary Text

RELATING TO AGRICULTURAL DEVELOPMENT.
ADC; Kau; GO Bonds; Appropriation ($)
Authorizes the issuance of general obligation bonds and appropriate funds for the Agribusiness Development Corporation to purchase a land parcel in Kau on the county of Hawaii for agricultural development. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

HB685

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

685

THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2025

STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

relating
to agricultural Development
.

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

����
SECTION 1.
�
The
legislature finds that Ka
ʻ
ū,
on Hawai
ʻ
i
island, has long been a cornerstone of the State's agricultural heritage.
�
Following the decline of the region's
large-scale sugar plantations in the 1990s, Ka
ʻ
ū
has successfully transitioned to a diverse range of agricultural enterprises,
including fruit and vegetable farming, coffee cultivation, macadamia nut
production, and livestock grazing.

����
The
legislature further finds that Ka
ʻ
ū's
fertile lands, coupled with its farmers' resilience and adaptability, uniquely
position the region to enhance the State's agricultural resilience and
contribute meaningfully to the State's food security.
�
Despite these strengths, Ka
ʻ
ū's
steadfast independence and self-reliance have often led to the region being
overlooked for state assistance in farming initiatives.

����
The
legislature also finds that to address this disparity and support local
farmers, it is necessary to acquire agricultural land in Ka
ʻ
ū.
�
Doing so will strengthen local farming
operations, promote sustainable agriculture, and advance the objectives of the
agribusiness development corporation (ADC).

����
The
legislature further finds that the ADC's mission is to acquire and manage, in
partnership with farmers, ranchers, and aquaculture groups, selected high-value
lands, water systems, and infrastructure for commercial agricultural use and to
direct research into areas that will lead to the development of new crops,
markets, and lower production costs.

����
The
legislature believes that, given the unique history of the community of Ka
ʻ
ū,
robust community outreach and legislative oversight are critical to ensuring
that the community's needs and aspirations are fully considered.
�
Therefore, engaging community in discussions
regarding the role of the ADC will help identify the specific types of support,
resources, and initiatives that align with the goals of local farmers and
uphold the values of the region.

����
The
legislature also finds that the ADC is uniquely equipped to provide critical
support to farmers in the region through land leasing options, increased
agricultural production, access to strategic resources, workforce development,
infrastructure enhancements, land preservation, and overall economic growth,
while ensuring that local lands remain in local hands by preventing acquisition
by foreign buyers.

����
Accordingly, the purpose of this Act is to
authorize the issuance of general obligations bonds to the agribusiness
development corporation to finance the purchase of a parcel of land in located
in Ka
ʻ
ū
for agricultural
development identified as tax map key: (3) 9-6-5:63.

����
SECTION 2.
�

The director of finance is authorized to issue general obligation bonds
in the sum of $2,931,960 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
2025-2026 for the purpose of financing the purchase of a parcel of land for
agricultural development identified as tax map key: (3) 9‑6‑5:63.

����
SECTION 3.
�

The sum appropriated in section 2 of this Act shall be expended by the agribusiness
development corporation for the purposes of this Act.

����
SECTION 4.
�

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.

����
SECTION 5.
�

This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2025.

INTRODUCED BY:

_____________________________

Report Title:

ADC; Kau;
GO Bonds; Appropriation

Description:

Authorizes
the issuance of general obligation bonds to the Agribusiness Development
Corporation for the purchase of a land parcel in Kau for agricultural
development.

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