STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3154

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.B. No. 2155

H.D. 2

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2026

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Agriculture and Environment, to which was referred H.B. No. 2155, H.D. 2, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO AGRICULTURAL STATISTICS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to:

(1) Statutorily establish the Agricultural Statistics Program within the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity to collect data on local agricultural interests; and

(2) Appropriate funds.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity; Office of Climate Change, Sustainability, and Resiliency of the City and County of Honolulu; Hawaiʻi Farm Bureau; Chamber of Commerce Hawaii; Hawaiʻi Farmers Union United; Maui Chamber of Commerce; Hawaii Floriculture and Nursery Association; Local Food Coalition; Hawaiʻi Food+ Policy; and Maui County Farm Bureau.

Your Committee received comments on this measure from the University of Hawaiʻi at Manoa College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resilience.

Your Committee finds that a robust and well-resourced agricultural statistics program is essential to supporting the State's agricultural production goals, measuring the impact of public investments, and identifying opportunities to strengthen local supply chains in alignment with established benchmarks. While the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity is mandated to collect accurate agricultural data, the Department has faced several challenges due to both State and federal budget cuts, ultimately impeding its ability to maintain a robust system for tracking essential agricultural data. By revitalizing the State's agricultural statistics program, this measure will support the long-term success of agricultural producers in the State.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Inserting an effective date of July 1, 2050, to encourage further discussion; and

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

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Agriculture and Environment that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2155, H.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2155, H.D. 2, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Agriculture and Environment,

________________________________

MIKE GABBARD, Chair