STAND. COM. REP. NO. 599-26

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2026

RE: H.B. No. 1737

H.D. 2

Honorable Nadine K. Nakamura

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2026

State of Hawaii

Madame:

Your Committee on Agriculture & Food Systems, to which was referred H.B. No. 1737, H.D. 1, entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to clarify the allowable uses within the agricultural district with respect to farm dwellings and farm employee housing.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Office of Planning and Sustainable Development; Hawaiʻi Farm Bureau; Hawaiʻi Food+ Policy; Hawaiʻi Farmers Union United; Grassroot Institute of Hawaii; and three individuals. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity and Department of Planning and Permitting of the City and County of Honolulu.

Your Committee finds that Hawaii's farmers struggle to provide adequate onsite employee housing, making it difficult to rapidly respond to livestock and crop needs and maintain productive farms, particularly in rural areas where housing options are limited. Your Committee further finds that this measure ensures that farmers have clear, reliable authority to provide appropriately scaled onsite employee housing, supporting long‑term agricultural viability statewide.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Clarifying that farm dwellings and farm employee housing are permitted on lands with soil classified as overall productivity rating class C, D, E, or U within the agricultural district; and

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

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Agriculture & Food Systems that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1737, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it be referred to your Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1737, H.D. 2.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Agriculture & Food Systems,

____________________________

CORY CHUN, Chair