HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

THE THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE

REGULAR SESSION OF 2026

 

COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE & FOOD SYSTEMS

Rep. Cory M. Chun, Chair

Rep. Matthias Kusch, Vice Chair

 

Rep. Kirstin Kahaloa

Rep. Sean Quinlan

Rep. Nicole E. Lowen

Rep. Lauren Matsumoto

Rep. Amy A. Perruso

 

 

 

CORRECTED NOTICE OF HEARING

 

The hearing has been cancelled.

These measures may be rescheduled for a future hearing date.  Please re-submit testimony at that time. 

 

DATE:

Friday, March 13, 2026

TIME:

10:00 AM

PLACE:

VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE

Conference Room 325

State Capitol

415 South Beretania Street

 

 

 

Click here to submit testimony and to testify remotely or in person.

 

A live stream link of all House Standing Committee meetings will be available online

shortly before the scheduled start time.

 

Click here for the live stream of this meeting via YouTube.

 

 

 

 A G E N D A

 

 

 

SB 2319, SD1

(SSCR2775)

Status

RELATING TO THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND BIOSECURITY.

Appropriates funds for one full-time equivalent (1.0 FTE) grant writer position within the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity and converts the position from temporary to permanent.  Effective 7/1/2050.  (SD1)

 

AGR, FIN

SB 2798, SD1

(SSCR2725)

Status

RELATING TO LAW ENFORCEMENT.

Makes permanent the Agricultural Enforcement Pilot Program established pursuant to Act 235, SLH 2025.  Renames the program as the Agricultural Enforcement Program and expands the program statewide.  Effective 7/1/2050.  (SD1)

 

AGR, JHA, FIN

SB 2320, SD1

(SSCR2755)

Status

RELATING TO AGRICULTURE.

Establishes the Kuleana AgTech Pathways Program to create career pipelines in the fields of agriculture and agricultural technology.  Requires the University of Hawaii to collaborate with the Department of Education, Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity, Agribusiness Development Corporation, Department of Labor and Industrial Relations, and appropriate community organizations to develop and administer the program.  Requires reports to the Legislature.  Appropriates funds.  Effective 7/1/2050.  (SD1)

 

AGR, HED, FIN

SB 2800, SD1

(SSCR2776)

Status

RELATING TO IRRIGATION SYSTEMS.

Appropriates funds to the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity, Department of Land and Natural Resources, and the Agribusiness Development Corporation to acquire, repair, and maintain irrigation systems in the State.  Effective 7/1/2050.  (SD1)

 

AGR, WAL, FIN

SB 1230, SD2

(SSCR742)

Status

RELATING TO MEAT DONATION.

Exempts the donation of wild game meat, including axis deer, by a hunter for the use or distribution by a charitable, religious, or nonprofit organization to needy persons from certain laws regarding the inspection and transportation of meat.  Effective 7/1/2050.  (SD2)

 

AGR, HLT, JHA

SB 2706, SD1

(SSCR2735)

Status

RELATING TO WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT.

Establishes a five-year Agriculture and Biosecurity Workforce Development Pilot Program within the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity, in collaboration with the University of Hawaii's Leeward Community College and the Department of Human Resources Development.  Requires a report to the Legislature.  Sunsets 6/30/2031.  Effective 7/1/2050.  (SD1)

 

AGR, HED, FIN

SB 3233, SD1

(SSCR2746)

Status

RELATING TO AGRICULTURAL WORKFORCE HOUSING.

Requires state agencies, including the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity and Agribusiness Development Corporation, that administer agricultural leases, licenses, development programs, or procurement involving agricultural products to award points or preferences to agricultural projects incorporating agricultural workforce housing.  Requires a report to the Legislature.  Effective 7/1/2050.  (SD1)

 

AGR, HSG, FIN

SB 2595, SD1

(SSCR2773)

Status

RELATING TO THE AGRIBUSINESS DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION.

Requires payments to the Agribusiness Development Corporation for letting, licensing, or renting of its properties to be at market rates or higher.  Exempts lessees, licensees, and tenants who grow, raise, and harvest fresh local agricultural products for the Department of Education or are partner members of the Food and Product Innovation Network.  Effective 7/1/2050.  (SD1)

 

AGR, FIN

SB 3320, SD1

(SSCR2770)

Status

RELATING TO THE FOOD AND PRODUCT INNOVATION NETWORK.

Requires the Food and Product Innovation Network to integrate a coordinated food safety and regulatory framework.  Requires the Agribusiness Development Corporation to establish key performance indicators for the Food and Product Innovation Network, develop a market access strategy, align and harmonize state branding initiatives, and report certain data to the Legislature.  Requires the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism to evaluate or adapt enterprise zone incentives in all counties to better support the Food and Product Innovation Network.  Effective 7/1/2050.  (SD1)

 

AGR, ECD, FIN

 

 

 

 

DECISION MAKING TO FOLLOW

 

Persons wishing to offer comments should submit testimony at least 24 hours prior to the hearing.  Testimony received after this time will be stamped late and left to the discretion of the chair to consider.  While every effort will be made to incorporate all testimony received, materials received on the day of the hearing or improperly identified or directed, may not be processed.

 

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The chair may institute a per-testifier time limit.

 

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FOR AMENDED NOTICES:  Measures that have been deleted are stricken through and measures that have been added are bolded.

 

For more information, please contact the Committee Clerk at (808) 586-6170.

 

 

 

 

 

________________________________________

Rep. Cory Chun

Chair