STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1251-26

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2026

RE: S.B. No. 2706

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 Committee on Agriculture & Food Systems, to which was referred S.B. No. 2706, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to require the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity, in collaboration with the University of Hawaii's Leeward Community College and Department of Human Resources Development, to establish a five-year Agriculture and Biosecurity Workforce Development Pilot Program to equip interested students with the necessary entry-level knowledge, skill set, expertise, and advancement potential in the field of agriculture and biosecurity.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources; Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity; University of Hawaiʻi Community Colleges; Hawaiʻi Farm Bureau; Chamber of Commerce Hawaii; Hawaiʻi Food+ Policy; and two individuals. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Human Resources Development.

Your Committee finds that the establishment of the Agriculture and Biosecurity Workforce Development Pilot Program is a step toward agricultural workforce development that emphasizes practical training, collaboration with educational institutions, and alignment with workforce needs and will strengthen the State's workforce capacity in agriculture and biosecurity.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Inserting language that appropriates an unspecified amount of funds to the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity for the Agriculture and Biosecurity Workforce Development Pilot Program;

(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.

Your Committee respectfully requests your Committee on Finance, should it deliberate on this measure, to consider appropriating:

(1) $166,000 for two full-time equivalent positions to administer the Agriculture and Biosecurity Workforce Development Pilot Program; and

(2) $4,500 per pilot program participant for program registration and fees, supplies, books, and other related expenses.

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 S.B. No. 2706, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2706, S.D. 1, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Higher Education.

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

____________________________

CORY CHUN, Chair