STAND. COM. REP. NO. 5-26

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2026

RE: H.B. No. 1616

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. 1616 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO AGRICULTURE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to:

(1) Clarify that the disposition of agricultural park lots for commercial activity may occur after the initial development of the agricultural park and regardless of whether the applicable county council approved plans and specifications for the future disposition of lots for commercial activity, with certain exceptions; and

(2) Authorize the care and production of swine and swine products within certain agricultural parks and under certain conditions.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawaiʻi Farm Bureau and Hawaiʻi Food+ Policy. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity.

Your Committee finds that allowing for the disposition of agricultural park lots for commercial activity after the initial development of the agricultural park without regard to certain county council approvals, unless such activity is expressly prohibited by the park's final plans, will support farm viability without converting agricultural parks into commercial zones.

Your Committee further finds that increasing local hog production will support the State's goal of doubling local food production and strengthen the food supply for state food programs, including the Farm to School Program and the Department of Education's regional kitchens.

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. 1616, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1616, 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