CONFERENCE COMMITTEE REP. NO. 151-26

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2026

RE: H.B. No. 1707

H.D. 1

S.D. 2

C.D. 1

Honorable Nadine K. Nakamura

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2026

State of Hawaii

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2026

State of Hawaii

Madam and Sir:

Your Committee on Conference on the disagreeing vote of the House of Representatives to the amendments proposed by the Senate in H.B. No. 1707, H.D. 1, S.D. 2, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO AGRICULTURE,"

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:

(1) Establish a three-year Local Agriculture Transportation Cost Reimbursement Pilot Program (Pilot Program) within the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity to reimburse eligible ranchers and farmers a portion of their costs to transport livestock, livestock products, agricultural commodities, and certain supplies, under certain conditions; and

(2) Appropriate funds for the Pilot Program and to establish a position to administer the Pilot Program.

Your Committee on Conference has amended this measure by:

(1) Clarifying that an agricultural producer shall provide proof to the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity that the agricultural producer has annual gross receipts totaling $2,500 or more to be eligible to receive reimbursement payments from the Pilot Program;

(2) Specifying that the total amount of reimbursements disbursed through the Pilot Program shall not exceed $2,000,000 in any year;

(3) Inserting an appropriation amount of:

(A) $1,000,000 for the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity to fund and administer the Pilot Program; and

(B) $55,200 to establish and fund one full-time equivalent position to administer the Pilot Program;

(4) Changing the effective date to July 1, 2026; and

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

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 H.B. No. 1707, H.D. 1, S.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Final Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1707, H.D. 1, S.D. 2, C.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the managers:

ON THE PART OF THE SENATE

ON THE PART OF THE HOUSE

____________________________ MIKE GABBARD Chair	____________________________ CORY CHUN Co-Chair
____________________________ DRU KANUHA Co-Chair	____________________________ MATTHIAS KUSCH Co-Chair