REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF LAND AND NATURAL RESOURCES AND BOARD OF LAND AND NATURAL RESOURCES TO EXEMPT ANY AGRICULTURAL ENTERPRISE PRACTICING DIVERSIFIED AGRICULTURE ON FORMER SUGARCANE LANDS WITHIN THE CONSERVATION DISTRICT FROM ANY REQUIREMENT FOR A PERMIT OR SIGHT PLAN APPROVAL GRANTED BY THE DEPARTMENT.

SCR73

THE SENATE

S.C.R. NO.

73

THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026

STATE OF HAWAII

SENATE CONCURRENT

RESOLUTION

requesting the department of land and natural resources and
board of land and natural resources to exempt any agricultural enterprise
practicing diversified agriculture on former sugarcane lands within the
conservation district from any requirement for a permit or sight plan approval
granted by the Department
.

����
WHEREAS, promoting
the development of diversified agriculture on certain former sugarcane lands
would support the State's food system resilience goals by increasing local food
production and reducing reliance on imports; and

����
WHEREAS, currently,
however, the permitting approval process for farmers and ranchers to undertake
this diversified agricultural activity on land in the state conservation
district is time consuming and burdensome, effectively disincentivizing these
activities; and

����
WHEREAS, depending
on how many acres of land a farmer or rancher plans to use for diversified
agriculture, they would have to obtain either a departmental or board permit
from the Department of Land and Natural Resources or the Board of Land and
Natural Resources; and

����
WHEREAS, both
permits require an extensive, detailed application that can take up to one
hundred eighty days to be approved, delaying the beneficial reuse and
maintenance of former plantation lands across the State; and

����
WHEREAS, expediting
the productive reuse of former sugarcane plantation lands for diversified
agriculture would support the State's food production goals and offer
opportunities for revegetation, ecological recovery, and improved wildfire
resilience; now, therefore,

����
BE IT
RESOLVED by the Senate of the Thirty-third Legislature of the State of Hawaii,
Regular Session of 2026, the House of Representatives concurring, that the
Department of Land and Natural Resources and Board of Land and Natural
Resources are requested to exempt any agricultural enterprise practicing
diversified agriculture on former sugarcane lands within the conservation
district from any requirement for a permit or site plan approval granted by the
Department or Board, respectively; and

����
BE IT FURTHER
RESOLVED that a certified copy of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to Chairperson
of the Board of Land and Natural Resources.

OFFERED BY:

_____________________________

Report Title:
�

DLNR;
Agriculture; Conservation District; Right to Farm; Sugarcane Lands; Exemption;
Permit