CONFERENCE COMMITTEE REP. NO. 25-26

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2026

RE: H.B. No. 1737

H.D. 3

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. 1737, H.D. 3, S.D. 2, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO FARM EMPLOYEE HOUSING,"

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 clarify the allowable uses within agricultural districts with respect to farm dwellings and farm employee housing.

Your Committee on Conference has amended this measure by:

(1) Clarifying the definition of "farm dwelling";

(2) Amending the definition of "farm employee housing" by authorizing a county to limit occupancy of farm employee housing to agricultural employees and their immediate family members and deleting language that would have deemed any farm employee housing that was issued a building permit or certificate of occupancy before the effective date of this measure a nonconforming use;

(3) Defining "agricultural activity" for purposes of farm dwellings and farm employee housing;

(4) Changing the effective date to upon approval; 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. 1737, H.D. 3, S.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Final Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1737, H.D. 3, 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	____________________________ LUKE A. EVSLIN Co-Chair
____________________________ STANLEY CHANG Co-Chair	____________________________ MARK J. HASHEM Co-Chair
____________________________ KARL RHOADS Co-Chair	____________________________ CORY CHUN Co-Chair
	____________________________ DAVID A. TARNAS Co-Chair