HB2585 SD1

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.B. NO.	2585
THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026		H.D. 3
STATE OF HAWAII		S.D. 1

A BILL FOR AN ACT

RELATING TO AGRICULTURAL TOURISM.

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

SECTION 1. The legislature finds that, throughout the nation, cattle ranches, agricultural farms, and other farming operations are diversifying their businesses by expanding into agricultural tourism activities. These activities provide critical supplemental revenue streams and are increasingly becoming an essential part of the business models for many ranches and farms.

The legislature further finds that the State's four counties each have their own agricultural tourism activity permitting processes, standards, procedures, and definitions. This lack of consistency results in a disjointed regulatory framework that impedes the growth of the State's agricultural sector, inhibits the development of viable farming and ranching business models, and creates systemic impediments and exacerbates existing impediments in zoning and permitting.

The legislature acknowledges that existing law allows agricultural tourism activities to be conducted through the special permitting process. However, the use of this process pushes agricultural tourism activities to the periphery of farming operations and exacerbates the State's inconsistent permitting framework, further impeding growth in the agricultural sector and limiting the revenue potential of the agricultural businesses that the State is trying to nurture.

Therefore, the legislature finds that there should be a uniform, statewide approach to approving agricultural tourism activities. With the enactment of targeted, meaningful legislation, agricultural tourism can become an area of growth and expansion for farmers while also creating opportunities for the types of regenerative tourism being encouraged by the Hawaii tourism authority. The creation of a uniform framework will increase investment in agricultural tourism activities, promote unique partnerships between farmers and local businesses interested in agriculture, and increase support for affiliated farming pathway programs in the State.

Accordingly, the purpose of this Act is to establish a task force to research and identify possible statewide, uniform standards for agricultural tourism activities.

SECTION 2. (a) There is established the statewide agricultural tourism standards task force to research and identify possible statewide, uniform standards for agricultural tourism activities.

(b) The membership of the task force shall include representatives of the following bodies, to be designated by the body's head or chairperson, as applicable:

(1) The department of agriculture and biosecurity, whose designees shall lead the task force;

(2) The department of business, economic development, and tourism;

(3) Each county council;

(4) The Hawaii Farm Bureau; and

(5) The Hawaii Farmer's Union United.

(1) The creation of agricultural tourism activity requirements that are applicable to all counties that have adopted an agricultural tourism ordinance;

(2) The requirement that agricultural tourism activities be registered with the county planning department;

(3) The requirement that agricultural tourism activities coexist with an agricultural activity on a farming operation and be accessory and secondary to the principal farming operation; and

(4) A process for the termination of the authorization for agricultural tourism activities upon a determination that productive agricultural activities have ceased.

(d) The members of the task force shall serve without compensation but may be reimbursed for reasonable expenses, including travel expenses, necessary for their duties.

(e) The task force shall submit a report of its findings and recommendations, including any proposed legislation, to the legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the regular session of 2027.

(f) The task force shall dissolve on June 30, 2027.

SECTION 3. This Act shall take effect upon July 1, 3000.