RELATING TO AGRICULTURE.

Agriculture Budget

Active

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

Sponsor: KAHALOA, AMATO, EVSLIN, HASHEM, KAPELA, KILA, LAMOSAO, MORIKAWA, PERRUSO, TAKAYAMA
Last action: 2026-04-02
Official status: Received notice of the discharge of all House Conferees (Hse. Com. No. 457).
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The bill does not specify the exact amount of funding provided.

Agriculture Working Group

This bill establishes a working group within the Department of Agriculture to review outdated agricultural laws and recommend changes, with funding provided.

What This Bill Does

Establishes a working group inside the Department of Agriculture to examine unnecessary or obsolete agriculture-related laws.
The group will suggest amendments or repeals for these laws.
Requires the group to submit a report before the start of the next regular session in 2026.
Provides funding for the group's work.

Who It Names or Affects

Farmers and agricultural businesses
The Department of Agriculture

Terms To Know

Working Group: A team created to study a specific topic or issue and make suggestions for improvements.
Obsolete laws: Laws that are no longer useful or relevant because they have been replaced by newer laws or because the situation they addressed no longer exists.

Limits and Unknowns

The bill does not specify how much money will be provided for the working group.
It is unclear what specific changes might come from the recommendations of the working group.
The working group will end on June 30, 2026.

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This amendment establishes a working group within the Department of Agriculture to review and recommend changes to outdated agricultural laws, and it allocates funds for this purpose.

Establishes a working group within the Department of Agriculture to review and make recommendations on amending or repealing unnecessary or obsolete laws related to agriculture.
Specifies that the working group will consist of representatives from various state agencies and agricultural organizations.
Identifies specific areas for review, such as restrictions on leases of state agricultural land and caps on agricultural operation loan rates.

The exact amount of funds appropriated is not specified in the amendment text provided.

SD1

Hawaii published version SD1

Plain English: This amendment establishes a working group within the Department of Agriculture to review and recommend changes to outdated agricultural laws, with funding provided for its operations.

Establishes a working group within the Department of Agriculture to review and make recommendations on amending or repealing unnecessary or obsolete laws pertaining to agriculture.
Specifies that the working group will consist of representatives from various state agencies and agricultural organizations.
Identifies specific areas for review, including restrictions on leases of state agricultural land, caps on loan rates, workforce development regulations, water access, and procurement policies.
Requires the working group to submit a report with recommendations and proposed legislation by early 2026.

The exact amount of funding appropriated for the working group is not specified in the amendment text provided.

Bill History

2026-04-02 S
Received notice of the discharge of all House Conferees (Hse. Com. No. 457).
2026-04-01 H
House Conferee(s) discharged.
2026-03-20 H
Received notice of all Senate conferees being discharged (Sen. Com. No. 409).
2026-03-20 S
Senate Conferee(s) discharged.
2025-12-08 D
Carried over to 2026 Regular Session.
2025-04-24 S
Conference committee meeting to reconvene on 04-25-25 9:30AM; Conference Room 325.
2025-04-22 H
Received notice of Senate conferees (Sen. Com. No. 862).
2025-04-22 S
Conference committee meeting scheduled for 04-24-25 9:31AM; Conference Room 325.
2025-04-22 S
Senate Conferees Appointed: Gabbard Chair; DeCoite Co-Chair; Richards, Awa.
2025-04-21 S
Received notice of appointment of House conferees (Hse. Com. No. 755).
2025-04-17 H
House Conferees Appointed: Kahaloa, Kusch Co-Chairs; Perruso, Quinlan, Matsumoto.
2025-04-11 S
Received notice of disagreement (Hse. Com. No. 704).
2025-04-10 H
House disagrees with Senate amendment (s).
2025-04-08 H
Returned from Senate (Sen. Com. No. 676) in amended form (SD 1).
2025-04-08 S
Report adopted; Passed Third Reading. Ayes, 25; Aye(s) with reservations: none . Noes, 0 (none). Excused, 0 (none). Transmitted to House.
2025-04-04 S
One Day Notice 04-08-25.
2025-04-04 S
Reported from WAM (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1778) with recommendation of passage on Third Reading.
2025-04-02 S
The committee(s) on WAM recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes in WAM were as follows: 13 Aye(s): Senator(s) Dela Cruz, Moriwaki, Aquino, DeCoite, Elefante, Hashimoto, Inouye, Kanuha, Kidani, Kim, Lee, C., Wakai, Fevella; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 0 Excused: none.
2025-03-27 S
The committee(s) on WAM will hold a public decision making on 04-02-25 10:01AM; Conference Room 211 & Videoconference.
2025-03-19 S
Report adopted; Passed Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referred to WAM.
2025-03-19 S
Reported from AEN (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1167) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to WAM.
2025-03-17 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.
2025-03-14 S
The committee(s) on AEN deferred the measure until 03-17-25 1:02PM; Conference Room 224 & Videoconference.
2025-03-11 S
The committee(s) on AEN has scheduled a public hearing on 03-14-25 1:00PM; Conference Room 224 & Videoconference.
2025-03-04 S
Referred to AEN, WAM.
2025-02-28 S
Passed First Reading.
2025-02-28 S
Received from House (Hse. Com. No. 38).
2025-02-27 H
Passed Third Reading with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Cochran, Pierick, Templo, Ward excused (4). Transmitted to Senate.
2025-02-27 H
Reported from FIN (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 874), recommending passage on Third Reading.
2025-02-20 H
The committee on FIN recommend that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes were as follows: 14 Ayes: Representative(s) Yamashita, Takenouchi, Grandinetti, Holt, Hussey, Keohokapu-Lee Loy, Kitagawa, Kusch, Lamosao, Lee, M., Miyake, Morikawa, Templo, Reyes Oda; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and 2 Excused: Representative(s) Alcos, Ward.
2025-02-18 H
Bill scheduled to be heard by FIN on Thursday, 02-20-25 2:00PM in House conference room 308 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
2025-02-11 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, Ward excused (2).
2025-02-11 H
Reported from AGR (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 399) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to FIN.
2025-02-07 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; Noes: none; and 1 Excused: Representative(s) Ward.
2025-02-05 H
Bill scheduled to be heard by AGR on Friday, 02-07-25 9:30AM in House conference room 325 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
2025-01-21 H
Referred to AGR, FIN, referral sheet 2
2025-01-21 H
Introduced and Pass First Reading.
2025-01-17 H
Pending introduction.

Official Summary Text

RELATING TO AGRICULTURE.
DOA; Working Group; Report; Appropriation ($)
Establishes within the Department of Agriculture a working group to review and make recommendations on amending or repealing unnecessary or obsolete laws pertaining to agriculture. Requires a report to the Legislature. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

HB782

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

782

THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2025

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 agricultural industry
in Hawaii has been significantly affected by climate change, globalization, the
influx of devastating invasive species and diseases, market conditions, a lack
of agricultural workers, and various other factors.
�
The legislature further finds that the State
must modernize and adapt its policies and laws accordingly.
�
The legislature also finds that unnecessary
or obsolete sections of the Hawaii Revised Statutes are actually impeding the
growth and success of agriculture in Hawaii and should be carefully reviewed to
ensure that this important part of the islands' economy and way of life can
survive and thrive into the future.

����
Therefore,
the purpose of this Act is to establish within the department of agriculture a
working group to review and make recommendations on
amending
or repealing unnecessary or obsolete laws pertaining to agriculture
.

����
SECTION
2.
�
(a)
�

There is established within the department of agriculture a working
group to review and make recommendations on amending or repealing unnecessary
or obsolete laws pertaining to agriculture.

����
(b)
�
The working group shall consist of the
following members:

����
(1)
�
The chairperson of the board of agriculture,
or the chairperson's designee
, who shall serve as the chairperson of the
working group;

����
(2)
�
The chairperson of the board of land and
natural resources, or the chairperson's designee;

����
(3)
�
The director of business, economic
development, and tourism, or the director's designee;

����
(4)
�
The executive director of the agribusiness
development corporation, or the executive director's designee;

����
(5)
�
A representative of the mayor of the city and
county of Honolulu;

����
(6)
�
A representative of the mayor of the county of
Hawaii;

����
(7)
�
A representative of the mayor of the county of
Kauai;

����
(8)
�
A representative of the mayor of the county of
Maui;

����
(9)
�
The executive director of the Hawaii Farm
Bureau, who shall be invited by the chairperson of the working group;

���
(10)
�
The executive director of the Hawaii
Agriculture Research Center, who shall be invited by the chairperson of the
working group; and

���
(11)
�
The managing director of the Hawaii
Cattlemen's Council, who shall be invited by the chairperson of the working
group.

����
(c)
�
The working group shall review and make
recommendations on amending or repealing unnecessary or obsolete laws
pertaining to agriculture, including:

����
(1)
�
Restrictions on leases of state agricultural
land that prohibit a residence on the property;

����
(2)
�
Restrictions on leases of state agricultural
land that prohibit the raising of poultry and swine on the property; and

����
(3)
�
Caps on agricultural operation loan rates.

����
(d)
�
The issues identified in subsection (c) shall
not be construed to limit the laws pertaining to agriculture that the working
group may consider for review and recommendation.

����
(e)
�
Members of the working group who are employed
by the State and serving in their official capacity on the working group shall
serve without compensation.
�
Other
members of the working group who are not employed by the State shall receive
compensation for their travel expenses.

����
(f)
�
No later than twenty days prior to the
convening of the regular session of 2026, the working group shall submit a
report of its findings and recommendations, including any proposed legislation,
regarding its review of unnecessary or obsolete laws pertaining to agriculture.

����
(g)
�
The working group shall cease to exist on
June 30, 2026.

����
SECTION
3.
�
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 for the working group
established pursuant to section 2 of this Act.

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

����
SECTION 4.
�
This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2025.

INTRODUCED BY:

_____________________________

Report Title:

Department
of Agriculture; Working Group; Appropriation

Description:

Establishes
within the Department of Agriculture a working group to review and make
recommendations on amending or repealing unnecessary or obsolete laws
pertaining to agriculture.
�
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.