STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1247-26

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2026

RE: S.B. No. 2798

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. 2798, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO LAW ENFORCEMENT,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to make permanent, rename, and expand statewide the Agricultural Enforcement Pilot Program established pursuant to Act 235, Session Laws of Hawaii 2025.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity; Department of Law Enforcement; Office of the Mayor of the County of Maui; Department of the Prosecuting Attorney of the County of Maui; Office of the Prosecuting Attorney of the County of Hawaiʻi; Hawaii Cattlemen's Council, Inc.; Hawaiʻi Farm Bureau; Hawaiʻi Food+ Policy; Maui County Farm Bureau; and one individual.

Your Committee finds that agricultural crimes pose a significant and growing threat to the sustainability and growth of the State's agricultural industry. Act 235, Session Laws of Hawaii 2025, established the Agricultural Enforcement Pilot Program on the islands of Oahu and Hawaii to focus law enforcement resources on addressing agricultural crimes. Your Committee recognizes the success of the Agricultural Enforcement Pilot Program and believes that making the Pilot Program permanent and expanding it statewide will further protect Hawaii's agricultural industry.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

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

(2) 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 S.B. No. 2798, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2798, S.D. 1, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs.

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

____________________________

CORY CHUN, Chair