STAND. COM. REP. NO. 9-26

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2026

RE: H.B. No. 1606

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. 1606 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO AGRICULTURE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to transfer the powers, duties, personnel, personal property, and materials of the Aquaculture and Livestock Support Services Branch and Agricultural Development Division of the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity to the Agribusiness Development Corporation.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from HIplan; and Hawaii Aquaculture and Aquaponics Association. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity; Hawaii Cattlemen's Council, Inc.; and Animal Rights Hawaiʻi. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Agribusiness Development Corporation; Hawaiʻi County Department of Research and Development; and Hawaiʻi Farmers Union United.

Your Committee finds that a significant portion of the State's aquaculture industry operates within the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism through the Natural Energy Laboratory of Hawaii Authority and with the administering of land and leases for aquaculture operations by the Agribusiness Development Corporation. Your Committee further finds that bringing aquaculture development, land management, and support services into closer alignment under a single department by transferring the Aquaculture and Livestock Support Services Branch to the Agribusiness Development Corporation will improve coordination, reduce fragmentation, and support more effective long-term planning for Hawaii's aquaculture industry.

Your Committee additionally finds that transferring the Agricultural Development Division to the Agribusiness Development Corporation will provide additional resources and tools that the Corporation has to the Division to further promote the economic viability of commercial agriculture in the State.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Changing the effective date to July 1, 3000, to encourage further discussion; and

(2) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

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. 1606, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1606, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Economic Development & Technology.

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

____________________________

CORY CHUN, Chair