STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2929

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 2407

S.D. 2

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2026

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 2407, S.D. 1, entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to advance an effort to purchase the Halaula agricultural parcel in North Kohala on Hawaii Island.

More specifically, this measure:

(1) Authorizes the issuance of general obligation bonds to the Agribusiness Development Corporation to complete the purchase of the fee simple interest in the North Kohala agricultural parcel identified as Tax Map Key: (3) 5‑3‑7:16; and

(2) Establishes a Hawaii Island property manager position with the Agribusiness Development Corporation.

Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the Agribusiness Development Corporation, Surety Kohala Corporation, Hawaii Farm Bureau, Hawaii Farmers Union, Kohala Community Land Trust/Kohala Community Plan, Hawaii Institute of Pacific Agriculture, Fuertes Ohana Ranch, and numerous individuals.

Your Committee received written comments on this measure from the Attorney General, Hawaii Food+ Policy--Purple Maia Foundation, and two individuals.

Your Committee finds that the Agribusiness Development Corporation could utilize a full-time property manager on the island of Hawaii. Accordingly, your Committee believes that this measure will provide the necessary funds to hire a Hawaii Island‑based property manager under the Agribusiness Development Corporation.

Your Committee has amended this measure by removing sections 1 through 4 of the measure related to the purchase of the agricultural parcel.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2407, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2407, S.D. 2.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,

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DONOVAN M. DELA CRUZ, Chair