STAND. COM. REP. NO. 42-26

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2026

RE: H.B. No. 2425

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 Agriculture & Food Systems, to which was referred H.B. No. 2425 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO AGRICULTURE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to exempt any agricultural enterprise practicing diversified agriculture on lands formerly used for commercial sugarcane production within the conservation district from any permitting and site plan approval requirements established for lands in a conservation district.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawaiʻi Farmers Union United; Grassroot Institute of Hawaii; and three individuals. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from the Hawaiʻi Food+ Policy and Sierra Club of Hawaiʻi. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity and Hawaiʻi Farm Bureau.

Your Committee finds that commercial sugarcane production has caused significant harm to native plants and animals. Former sugarcane lands offer an opportunity for revegetation, ecological recovery, and improved wildfire resilience, which can be accomplished through the development of diversified agriculture on the lands.

Your Committee further finds that the permit and site approval process may delay the beneficial reuse and maintenance of former sugarcane lands. This measure seeks to expedite the use of diversified agriculture on former sugarcane lands within the conservation district by exempting such activity from any permitting and site plan approval requirements established for conservation districts.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Establishing the provisions that exempt any agricultural enterprise practicing diversified agriculture on lands formerly used for commercial sugarcane production within the conservation district from any permitting and site plan approval requirements established for lands in a conservation district within chapter 183C, Hawaii Revised Statutes, which relates to conservation districts, rather than within chapter 165, Hawaii Revised Statutes, which establishes the Hawaii Right to Farm Act;

(2) Deleting language that would have amended the findings and purpose of the Hawaii Right to Farm Act;

(3) Inserting a preamble;

(4) Changing the effective date to July 1, 3000, to encourage further discussion; and

(5) 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. 2425, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2425, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Water & Land.

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

____________________________

CORY CHUN, Chair