SB2706 • 2026

RELATING TO WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT.

Agriculture Budget

Active

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

Sponsor: GABBARD, CHANG, HASHIMOTO, RICHARDS
Last action: 2026-05-01
Official status: Conference committee meeting to reconvene on 05-01-26 5:00 PM; Conference Room 411.
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

Using official source text because the generated explanation was unavailable or could not be confirmed against the official bill text.

RELATING TO WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT.

What This Bill Does

RELATING TO WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT.
DAB; LCC; DHRD; Agriculture and Biosecurity Workforce Development Pilot Program; Report; Appropriation Establishes a five-year Agriculture and Biosecurity Workforce Development Pilot Program within the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity, in collaboration with the University of Hawaii's Leeward Community College and the Department of Human Resources Development.
Requires a report to the Legislature.
Appropriates funds.

Limits and Unknowns

This entry is temporarily using official source text because the generated explanation could not be confirmed against the official bill text during the last sync.

Amendments

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

HD1

Hawaii published version HD1

Plain English: SB2706 HD1 THE SENATE S.B.

SB2706 HD1 THE SENATE S.B.
NO.
2706 THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026 S.D.
1 STATE OF HAWAII H.D.

SD1

Hawaii published version SD1

Plain English: SB2706 SD1 THE SENATE S.B.

SB2706 SD1 THE SENATE S.B.
NO.
2706 THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026 S.D.
1 STATE OF HAWAII A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT .

Bill History

2026-05-01 S
Conference committee meeting to reconvene on 05-01-26 5:00 PM; Conference Room 411.
2026-05-01 S
Conference committee meeting to reconvene on 05-01-26 12:45 PM; Conference Room 325.
2026-04-30 S
Conference committee meeting to reconvene on 05-01-26 9:15AM; Conference Room 325.
2026-04-29 S
Conference committee meeting to reconvene on 04-30-26 9:30AM; Conference Room 325.
2026-04-28 S
Conference committee meeting to reconvene on 04-29-26 9:30AM; Conference Room 325.
2026-04-24 S
Conference committee meeting to reconvene on 04-28-26 9:30AM; Conference Room 325.
2026-04-23 S
Conference committee meeting scheduled for 04-24-26 11:00AM; Conference Room 325.
2026-04-22 H
Received notice of Senate conferees (Sen. Com. No. 720).
2026-04-21 S
Senate Conferees Appointed: Gabbard Chair; Kim, Richards Co-Chairs; Awa.
2026-04-21 S
Received notice of appointment of House conferees (Hse. Com. No. 800).
2026-04-21 H
House Conferees Appointed: Chun, Garrett, Kusch Co-Chairs; Matsumoto.
2026-04-16 H
Received notice of disagreement (Sen. Com. No. 710).
2026-04-16 S
Senate disagrees with House amendments.
2026-04-16 S
Received from House (Hse. Com. No. 693).
2026-04-14 H
Passed Third Reading with none voting aye with reservations; Representative(s) Pierick voting no (1) and Representative(s) Quinlan excused (1). Transmitted to Senate.
2026-04-10 H
Reported from FIN (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 2085-26), recommending passage on Third Reading.
2026-04-07 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; 0 Noes: none; and 0 Excused: none.
2026-04-02 H
Bill scheduled to be heard by FIN on Tuesday, 04-07-26 2:00PM in House conference room 308 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
2026-03-30 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) Cochran, Lowen, Perruso, Quinlan excused (4).
2026-03-30 H
Reported from HED (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1497-26), recommending referral to FIN.
2026-03-25 H
The committee on HED recommend that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes were as follows: 7 Ayes: Representative(s) Garrett, Amato, Kapela, Kila, La Chica, Olds, Souza; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and 3 Excused: Representative(s) Evslin, Woodson, Muraoka.
2026-03-20 H
Bill scheduled to be heard by HED on Wednesday, 03-25-26 2:10PM in House conference room 309 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
2026-03-20 H
Passed Second Reading as amended in HD 1 and referred to the committee(s) on HED with none voting aye with reservations; Representative(s) Pierick voting no (1) and Representative(s) Quinlan excused (1).
2026-03-20 H
Reported from AGR (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1251-26) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to HED.
2026-03-18 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.
2026-03-12 H
Bill scheduled to be heard by AGR on Wednesday, 03-18-26 9:30AM in House conference room 325 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
2026-03-12 H
This measure has been deleted from the meeting scheduled on Friday 03-13-26 10:00AM in conference room 325 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
2026-03-11 H
Bill scheduled to be heard by AGR on Friday, 03-13-26 10:00AM in House conference room 325 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
2026-03-10 H
Referred to AGR, HED, FIN, referral sheet 16
2026-03-10 H
Pass First Reading
2026-03-06 H
Received from Senate (Sen. Com. No. 76) in amended form (SD 1).
2026-03-06 S
Report Adopted; Passed Third Reading. Ayes, 24; Aye(s) with reservations: none. Noes, 0 (none). Excused, 1 (Senator(s) Ihara). Transmitted to House.
2026-03-05 S
One Day Notice 03-06-26.
2026-03-05 S
Reported from WAM (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 2735) with recommendation of passage on Third Reading.
2026-03-03 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, Lee, C., Richards, Wakai; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 1 Excused: Senator(s) Fevella.
2026-02-25 S
The committee(s) on WAM deferred the measure until 03-03-26 10:15AM; Conference Room 211 & Videoconference.
2026-02-23 S
The committee(s) on WAM will hold a public decision making on 02-25-26 10:57AM; Conference Room 211 & Videoconference.
2026-02-20 S
Report adopted; Passed Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referred to WAM.
2026-02-20 S
Reported from AEN/EDU (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 2643) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to WAM.
2026-02-18 S
The committee(s) on AEN recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in AEN were as follows: 4 Aye(s): Senator(s) Gabbard, Richards, DeCoite, Rhoads; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 1 Excused: Senator(s) Awa.
2026-02-18 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.
2026-02-12 S
The committee(s) on AEN/EDU has scheduled a public hearing on 02-18-26 4:15PM; Conference Room 224 & Videoconference.
2026-01-28 S
Referred to AEN/EDU, WAM.
2026-01-26 S
Passed First Reading.
2026-01-23 S
Introduced.

Official Summary Text

RELATING TO WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT.
DAB; LCC; DHRD; Agriculture and Biosecurity Workforce Development Pilot Program; Report; Appropriation
Establishes a five-year Agriculture and Biosecurity Workforce Development Pilot Program within the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity, in collaboration with the University of Hawaii's Leeward Community College and the Department of Human Resources Development. Requires a report to the Legislature. Appropriates funds. Sunsets 6/30/2031. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

SB2706

THE SENATE

S.B. NO.

2706

THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026

STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

relating
to workforce development
.

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

����
SECTION 1.
�
(a)
�
There is established within the department of
agriculture and biosecurity, in collaboration with the university of Hawaii's
Leeward community college and the department of human resources development, a
five-year agriculture and biosecurity workforce development pilot program to
equip interested students with the necessary entry-level knowledge, skill set,
expertise, and advancement potential in the field of agriculture and
biosecurity.

����
(b)
�

The agriculture and biosecurity workforce development pilot program
shall:

����
(1)
�
Develop
a curriculum of a broad spectrum of topics relevant to agriculture and
biosecurity;

����
(2)
�
Provide
practical, hands-on training and work opportunities that allow students to gain
real-world experience in the agriculture and biosecurity sector; provided that the
training and provision of work opportunities shall not interfere with the existing
operations of the department of agriculture and biosecurity; and

����
(3)
�
Encourage
additional training and credential attainment by offering increased
compensation to participants who transition into biosecurity employment.

����
(c)
�
The
department of agriculture and biosecurity, in collaboration with the university
of Hawaii's Leeward community college and the department of human resources
development, shall submit a report of its findings and recommendations on the
agriculture and biosecurity workforce development pilot program, including any
proposed legislation, to the legislature no later than twenty days prior to the
convening of the regular session of 2031.

����
SECTION 2.
�

This Act shall take effect upon its approval and shall be repealed on June
30, 2031.

INTRODUCED BY:

_____________________________

Report Title:

DAB; LCC;
DHRD; Agriculture and Biosecurity Workforce Development Pilot Program; Report

Description:

Establishes
a five-year agriculture and biosecurity workforce development pilot program
within the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity, in collaboration with the
University of Hawaii's Leeward Community College and the Department of Human Resources
Development.
�
Requires a report to the
Legislature.
�
Sunsets 6/30/2031.

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