CONFERENCE COMMITTEE REP. NO. 136-26

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2026

RE: S.B. No. 2598

H.D. 1

C.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2026

State of Hawaii

Honorable Nadine K. Nakamura

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2026

State of Hawaii

Sir and Madam:

Your Committee on Conference on the disagreeing vote of the Senate to the amendments proposed by the House of Representatives in S.B. No. 2598, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO NON-GENERAL FUNDS,"

having met, and after full and free discussion, has agreed to recommend and does recommend to the respective Houses the final passage of this bill in an amended form.

The purpose of this measure is to authorize:

(1) The Agribusiness Development Corporation to use moneys in the Hawaii agricultural development revolving fund for personnel and operating costs of the Corporation;

(2) The Hawaii Community Development Authority to use moneys in the Hawaii community development special fund for administrative costs of the Authority;

(3) The Hawaii Technology Development Corporation to use moneys in the strategic development programs revolving fund to administer and fund the costs of strategic development programs; and

(4) The School Facilities Authority to use moneys in the school facilities special fund for operating costs of the Authority.

Your Committee on Conference finds that expanding the authorized uses of various funds to include operating and related costs will provide the relevant entities with the flexibility to maintain services throughout periods of shifting and uncertain revenues. Your Committee further finds that expanding the authorized uses of the Hawaii agricultural development revolving fund to include the acquisition of land for agricultural uses and to pay related costs will help to increase agricultural production in the State.

Your Committee on Conference has amended this measure by:

(1) Further expanding the purposes for which the Agribusiness Development Corporation may use moneys in the Hawaii agricultural development revolving fund to include:

(A) Acquiring land for agricultural production, agricultural infrastructure, irrigation, watershed protection related to agricultural viability, or other purpose consistent with Chapter 163D, Hawaii Revised Statutes;

(B) Paying costs related to the operation, maintenance, and management of lands acquired; and

(C) Paying debt service on state financial instruments relating to the acquisition of land acquired;

(2) Requiring that the net proceeds or revenues generated by land acquired by the Board of the Agribusiness Development Corporation be deposited into or credited to the Hawaii agricultural development revolving fund; and

(3) Changing the measure's effective date from July 1, 3000, to upon the measure's approval.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the managers of your Committee on Conference that is attached to this report, your Committee on Conference is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2598, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Final Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2598, H.D. 1, C.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the managers:

ON THE PART OF THE HOUSE

ON THE PART OF THE SENATE

____________________________ CHRIS TODD Chair

____________________________ SHARON MORIWAKI Chair