STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2104

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 2126

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2026

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Agriculture and Environment, to which was referred S.B. No. 2126 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO AGRICULTURAL GRANTS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to:

(1) Establish the Conventional Farming Grant Program to be administered by the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity to provide grants to owners of small and midsized farms who practice conventional farming; and

(2) Appropriate funds.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity; Hawaiʻi Farm Bureau; Hawaii Cattlemen's Council, Inc.; Hawaiʻi Floriculture and Nursery Association; and Restore the Commons.

Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from the Libertarian Party of Hawaii and three individuals.

Your Committee received comments on this measure from Hawaiʻi Farmers Union United.

Your Committee finds that small and midsized farms make up a critical component of the State's food production. These farming operations face significant challenges, including high input costs, labor shortages, rising energy and transportation expenses, and limited access to capital. By providing targeted financial support to aid these farmers, this measure aims to protect food security, sustain rural communities, and strengthen the State's overall agricultural capacity.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Renaming the grant program to provide inclusivity to all farms regardless of farming methods;

(2) Specifying that small and midsized farms that use sustainable, organic, or regenerative farming methods shall also qualify for moneys under the grant program;

(3) Inserting language that specifies allowable uses of grant funds under the program;

(4) Inserting an effective date of July 1, 2050, to encourage further discussion; and

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

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Agriculture and Environment that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2126, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2126, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Agriculture and Environment,

________________________________

MIKE GABBARD, Chair