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SB2708 • 2026

RELATING TO AGRICULTURE.

RELATING TO AGRICULTURE.

Agriculture Budget
Active

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

Sponsor
GABBARD, CHANG, RICHARDS, San Buenaventura
Last action
2026-01-28
Official status
Referred to EDU, WAM.
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 AGRICULTURE.

RELATING TO AGRICULTURE.

What This Bill Does

  • RELATING TO AGRICULTURE.
  • University of Hawaii College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resilience; Agricultural Research and Extension Station Kauai; Capital Improvements; GO Bonds; Appropriation ($) 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.

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.

Bill History

  1. 2026-01-28 S

    Referred to EDU, WAM.

  2. 2026-01-26 S

    Passed First Reading.

  3. 2026-01-23 S

    Introduced.

Official Summary Text

RELATING TO AGRICULTURE.
University of Hawaii College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resilience; Agricultural Research and Extension Station Kauai; Capital Improvements; GO Bonds; Appropriation ($)
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.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text
SB2708

THE SENATE

S.B. NO.

2708

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.

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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.

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