STAND. COM. REP. NO. 6-26

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2026

RE: H.B. No. 1603

H.D. 1

Honorable Nadine K. Nakamura

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2026

State of Hawaii

Madame:

Your Committee on Agriculture & Food Systems, to which was referred H.B. No. 1603 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO AGRICULTURAL PARK LEASES,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to repeal the requirement for land covered by an agricultural park lease with a remaining term of fifteen years or less to be located in a county having a population of less than five hundred thousand for the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity to extend the lease.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from Ahiki Acres, LLC; Hawaii Floriculture and Nursery Association; Hawaiʻi Farm Bureau; Agriculture Stewardship Hawaiʻi; Hawaiʻi Farmers Union United; East Oahu County Farm Bureau; Hawaii Cattlemen's Council; and four individuals. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity.

Your Committee finds that the existing population-based restriction on extending agricultural park leases with a remaining term of fewer than fifteen years creates unnecessary limitations and inconsistencies in lease administration. Farmers in counties with a population greater than 500,000 are disproportionately impacted, as they face higher land costs, greater development pressure, and limited access to agricultural land. This measure repeals the population-based restriction and will allow the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity to manage agricultural park leases more equitably statewide and better support the long‑term viability of agricultural operations.

Your Committee has amended this measure by changing the effective date to July 1, 3000, to encourage further discussion.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Agriculture & Food Systems that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1603, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1603, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Water & Land.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Agriculture & Food Systems,

____________________________

CORY CHUN, Chair