STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1105-26

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 Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs, to which was referred H.B. No. 1603, H.D. 1, 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 in order for the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity to extend the lease.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from Agriculture Stewardship Hawaiʻi; Hawaiʻi Farm Bureau; Hilo County Farm Bureau; Hawaii Cattlemen's Council, Inc.; East Oʻahu County Farm Bureau; Maui County Farm Bureau; Ahiki Acres, LLC; Hawaii Floriculture and Nursery Association; Waimanalo Agricultural Association; and three individuals. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity.

Your Committee finds that long-term lease stability is essential to the viability of agricultural park operations and to supporting sustained agricultural production. Repealing the county population requirement promotes uniform application of lease term eligibility statewide, while preserving the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity's discretion to manage agricultural park leases.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1603, H.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs,

____________________________

DAVID A. TARNAS, Chair