HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.B. NO.	1831
THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026
STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

relating to agricultural lands.

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

SECTION 1. The legislature finds that Act 90, Session Laws of Hawaii 2003, later codified as chapter 166E, Hawaii Revised Statutes, allowed various agricultural lands to be transferred by the department of land and natural resources to what is now the department of agriculture and biosecurity. Since then, tens of thousands of acres have been transferred and are now administered by the department of agriculture and biosecurity under various leases.

The legislature further finds that the current lessees of the transferred lands received lands with unresolved survey issues and noncompliant cesspools or other wastewater systems that they did not create. These legacy conditions have created regulatory uncertainty, limited lessees' access to financing and permits, and constrained agricultural use of otherwise productive lands. Addressing these barriers will help allow agricultural lands already in the State's inventory to be fully utilized for food production.

Accordingly, the purpose of this Act is to provide the department of agriculture and biosecurity with the authority and moneys to address long-standing survey deficiencies and wastewater compliance issues on lands transferred pursuant to Act 90, Session Laws of Hawaii 2003.

SECTION 2. Chapter 166E, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

"§166E- Survey; wastewater; infrastructure. Subject to available funds, the department, in coordination with relevant state agencies, shall identify and resolve survey deficiencies and wastewater compliance issues, including unresolved cesspool assessments, unresolved remediation requirements, and any necessary equipment and infrastructure replacement, on non‑agricultural park lands."

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 2026-2027 for land surveys, wastewater compliance, and other costs to support the agricultural use of non-agricultural park lands.

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

SECTION 4. New statutory material is underscored.

SECTION 5. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2026.

INTRODUCED BY:

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Report Title:

DAB; Non-Agricultural Park Lands; Compliance; Survey; Appropriation

Description:

Authorizes and provides funding for the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity, in coordination with relevant state agencies, to identify and resolve survey deficiencies and wastewater compliance issues on non-agricultural park lands. Appropriates moneys.

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