HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
THE THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE
REGULAR SESSION OF 2026
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Rep. Cory M. Chun, Chair |
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Rep. Matthias Kusch, Vice Chair |
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Rep. Kirstin Kahaloa |
Rep. Sean Quinlan |
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Rep. Nicole E. Lowen |
Rep. Lauren Matsumoto |
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Rep. Amy A. Perruso |
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NOTICE OF HEARING
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DATE: |
Wednesday, March 18, 2026 |
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TIME: |
9:30AM |
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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
Testimony submitted for the cancelled hearing on March 13 should be re-submitted for this hearing in order to be considered.
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RELATING TO BIOSECURITY. Beginning 1/1/2027, establishes mandatory handling and storage rules for commercial and residential coconut rhinoceros beetle host material to reduce the spread of CRB within infested zones and to prevent spread into non-infested zones. Establishes penalties. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)
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AGR, CPC, FIN |
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RELATING TO AGRICULTURE. Authorizes the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity to declare an emergency quarantine when it has been reasonably determined that there is a threat to agriculture or the environment in the State. Authorizes the Department to halt operations related to or within the affected area for ninety-six hours, subject to extension by vote of the Board of Agriculture and Biosecurity. Authorizes the Department to quarantine any business or other area that is known or reasonably suspected to be infested or infected with any pest. Requires the Department to provide certain notices to affected farmers and provide compensation. Authorizes the Department to establish interim rules governing the transportation of any material into and within the State known to harbor or transport a high-impact invasive species or pest. (SD2)
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AGR, JHA |
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RELATING TO COCONUT TREES. Establishes recognition of coconut trees as a source of food and water, and as a cultural treasure. Requires the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity to establish rules to allow the use of coconut tree seed banks in the State. Requires owners or operators of property where any coconut tree is located to post and maintain a sign that clearly indicates that the coconut tree is a landscape palm, when applicable. Requires the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity to establish labeling standards for non-consumable landscape palms. Establishes an income tax credit for consumable coconut trees maintained through natural management practices. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)
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AGR, ECD, FIN |
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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)
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AGR, JHA, FIN |
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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)
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AGR, HED, FIN |
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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)
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AGR, WAL, FIN |
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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)
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AGR, HLT, JHA |
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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)
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AGR, HED, FIN |
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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)
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AGR, HSG, FIN |
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RELATING TO AGRICULTURAL WORKFORCE HOUSING. Establishes an Agricultural Workforce Housing Working Group within the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity to address the shortage and challenges of agricultural workforce housing in the State. Requires reports to the Legislature. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)
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AGR, HSG, WAL |
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RELATING TO AGRICULTURE. Transfers the rights, powers, functions, and duties of the Aquaculture and Livestock Support Services Branch of the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity that relate to agricultural enterprises to the Agribusiness Development Corporation. Requires that the regulatory functions of the Aquaculture and Livestock Support Services Branch remain within the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD2)
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AGR, ECD, FIN |
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RELATING TO THE AGRIBUSINESS DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION. Authorizes the Agribusiness Development Corporation to acquire by condemnation any real property or interest in real property, under certain conditions. Prohibits any real property acquired by the Corporation by condemnation from subsequently being transferred or taken for any other public use without the Corporation's consent. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)
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AGR, JHA |
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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)
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AGR, ECD, FIN |
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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.
Testimony submitted will be placed on the legislative website. This public posting of testimony on the website should be considered when including personal information in your testimony.
The chair may institute a per-testifier time limit.
Committees meeting in the morning must adjourn prior to the day's Floor Session. Therefore, due to time constraints, not all testifiers may be provided an opportunity to offer verbal comments. However, written submissions will be considered by the committee.
Please refrain from profanity or uncivil behavior. Violations may result in ejection from the hearing without the ability to rejoin.
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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.
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________________________________________ Rep. Cory Chun Chair |
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