STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1487-26

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2026

RE: S.B. No. 2110

S.D. 1

H.D. 1

Honorable Nadine K. Nakamura

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2026

State of Hawaii

Madame:

Your Committees on Agriculture & Food Systems and Energy & Environmental Protection, to which was referred S.B. No. 2110, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO AGRICULTURE,"

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to establish and appropriate funds for a Conservation Agriculture and Soil Health Incentive Program within the Hawaii Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation Commission to provide assistance to farmers that supports science-based conservation practices.

Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity; Office of Hawaiian Affairs; Hawaiʻi Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation Commission; Hawaiʻi State Youth Commission; University of Hawaiʻi College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resilience; Office of Climate Change, Sustainability and Resiliency of the City and County of Honolulu; Carbon Cashback Hawaiʻi; Kauai Women's Caucus; Kanalani Ohana Farm; Hawaiʻi ʻUlu Producers Cooperative; Hawaii Cattlemen's Council, Inc.; Hawaiʻi Alliance for Progressive Action; 350Hawaii.org; Hawaiʻi Farm Bureau; Hawaiʻi Farmers Union United; Simonpietri Enterprises LLC; The Nature Conservancy Hawaiʻi and Palmyra; Hawaiʻi Climate Future Forum; Hawaiʻi Youth Food Council; and numerous individuals.

Your Committees find that the State's agricultural sector is facing increasing difficulties due to climate change, soil degradation, and the demand for food security and economic stability. Your Committees further find that the Hawaii Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation Commission has shown considerable expertise in land management, conservation planning, and stewardship responsibilities, which align closely with overseeing conservation agriculture and soil health initiatives. Your Committees believe that by uniting existing conservation efforts under the Commission through a Conservation Agriculture and Soil Health Incentive Program, structural obstacles that limit access to conservation incentives, especially for small farms and socially disadvantaged farmers, can be eliminated.

Your Committees have amended this measure by:

(1) Specifying that the comprehensive program evaluation for the Conservation Agriculture and Soil Health Incentive Program shall include a review of the Program and recommendations for updates to any program procedures;

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

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

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Agriculture & Food Systems and Energy & Environmental Protection that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2110, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2110, S.D. 1, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Finance.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Agriculture & Food Systems and Energy & Environmental Protection,

____________________________ NICOLE E. LOWEN, Chair

____________________________ CORY CHUN, Chair