CONFERENCE COMMITTEE REP. NO. 32-26

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2026

RE: S.B. No. 2153

S.D. 2

H.D. 1

C.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2026

State of Hawaii

Honorable Nadine K. Nakamura

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2026

State of Hawaii

Sir and Madam:

Your Committee on Conference on the disagreeing vote of the Senate to the amendments proposed by the House of Representatives in S.B. No. 2153, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO AGRICULTURE,"

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:

(1) Require the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity to convene a Bona Fide Farmer Working Group to develop multi‑tiered, matrix-based definitions for the terms "bona fide farmer" and "bona fide agricultural activity"; and

(2) Require a report to the Legislature.

Your Committee on Conference finds that there are numerous policies, programs, and land use designations that require clarity surrounding the terms "bona fide farmer" and "bona fide agricultural activity", which are not uniformly standardized or defined, creating challenges for policymakers, agencies, and counties tasked with implementing those programs fairly and consistently. This measure represents the State's commitment to a collaborative process that will help ensure that any resulting policy framework reflects the diversity of statewide agricultural operations and support the State's efforts to preserve land for legitimate commercial agriculture.

Your Committee on Conference has amended this measure by:

(1) Making it effective on July 1, 2026; and

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

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 S.B. No. 2153, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Final Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2153, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, C.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the managers:

ON THE PART OF THE HOUSE

ON THE PART OF THE SENATE

____________________________ CORY CHUN Co-Chair	____________________________ MIKE GABBARD Chair
____________________________ MATTHIAS KUSCH Co-Chair	____________________________ HERBERT M. RICHARDS, III Co-Chair