THE SENATE

KA AHA KENEKOA

 

THE THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE

REGULAR SESSION OF 2026

 

COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE AND ENVIRONMENT

Senator Mike Gabbard, Chair

Senator Herbert M. "Tim" Richards, III, Vice Chair

 

NOTICE OF HEARING

 

 

DATE:

Monday, March 16, 2026

TIME:

3:05 PM

PLACE:

Conference Room 224 & Videoconference

State Capitol

415 South Beretania Street

 

 

PHOTO ID REQUIRED FOR ENTRANCE TO THE STATE CAPITOL

BUILDING HOURS: 7AM TO 5PM, MONDAY - FRIDAY

 

The Legislature is accepting written, videoconference, and in-person testimony at public hearings.

A live stream of all Senate Standing Committee meetings will be available on the Senate YouTube Channel.

 

 

A G E N D A

 

HB 1603, HD1

      (HSCR1105-26)

      Status & Testimony

RELATING TO AGRICULTURAL PARK LEASES.

Repeals the requirement for land covered by an agricultural park lease with a remaining term of fifteen years or less to be located in a county having a population of less than five hundred thousand in order for the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity to extend the lease.  Effective 7/1/3000.  (HD1)

 

AEN, JDC

HB 1707, HD1

      (HSCR787-26)

      Status & Testimony

RELATING TO AGRICULTURE.

Establishes a Local Agriculture Transportation Cost Reimbursement Program within the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity to reimburse eligible ranchers and farmers a portion of their costs to transport livestock, livestock products, agricultural commodities, and certain supplies, under certain conditions.  Establishes a position to administer the Program.  Appropriates funds.  Effective 7/1/3000.  (HD1)

 

AEN, WAM

HB 2155, HD2

      (HSCR1027-26)

      Status & Testimony

RELATING TO AGRICULTURAL STATISTICS.

Statutorily establishes the Agricultural Statistics Program within the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity to collect data on local agricultural interests.  Appropriates funds.  Effective 7/1/3000.  (HD2)

 

AEN, WAM

HB 2594, HD1

      (HSCR927-26)

      Status & Testimony

RELATING TO AGRICULTURE.

Directs the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity to conduct a study on insurance coverage for small agricultural producers.  Requires a report to the Legislature.  Appropriates funds.  Effective 7/1/3000.  (HD1)

 

AEN, WAM

HB 2595, HD1

      (HSCR929-26)

      Status & Testimony

RELATING TO REGIONAL AGRICULTURE AND FOOD PRODUCTION.

Establishes the Regional Agricultural Feasibility and Food Systems Production Studies Working Group within the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity to provide coordinated, region-specific agricultural production and crop feasibility analysis across the State.  Requires reports to the Legislature.  Appropriates funds.  Repeals 6/30/2028.  Effective 7/1/3000.  (HD1)

 

AEN, WAM

 

 

 

 

Decision Making to follow, if time permits.

 

All testimony received by the Hawai‘i Senate is posted on the Hawai‘i Legislature's website, which is accessible to the public. Please do not include private information that you do not want disclosed to the public.

 

Please go to the Legislature's website, https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov, to submit written testimony at least 24 hours prior to the hearing. Create a free account on the website, or sign in to an existing account, then click on the "Participate" drop down menu and select the "Submit Testimony" option to get started. While submitting your written testimony, you will be prompted to indicate if you would also like to testify at the hearing in-person or remotely via videoconference.

 

Please note the following:

 

·         The number of oral testifiers and/or time allotted to each testifier may be limited by the Chair when necessary to adhere to the committee hearing schedule. We may not be able to accommodate everyone who requests to testify orally.

·         Testifiers for this hearing will be limited to 2 minutes each.

 

If you wish to testify via videoconference during the hearing, please review the detailed step-by-step instructions for testimony procedures before you submit your written testimony. Here's a direct link to the instructions: https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/docs/testimonyinstructions.pdf

 

For general help navigating the committee hearing process, please contact the Public Access Room at (808) 587-0478 or par@capitol.hawaii.gov. You can also visit their website at https://lrb.hawaii.gov/par/.

 

For special assistance: The cable TV broadcast and/or live stream of this meeting will include closed captioning. If you need an auxiliary aid/service or other accommodation due to a disability, please call the committee clerk at the telephone number listed below or email AENcommittee@capitol.hawaii.gov. Requests made as early as possible have a greater likelihood of being fulfilled.

 

For amended notices: Measures that have been deleted are stricken through and measures that have been added are underscored.  If a measure is both underscored and stricken through, that measure has been deleted from the agenda.

 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, PLEASE CALL THE COMMITTEE CLERK AT 808-586-6830.

 

 

 

 

_____________________________________

Senator Mike Gabbard

Chair