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: |
Friday, March 20, 2026 |
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TIME: |
9:30 AM |
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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 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)
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AGR, FIN |
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RELATING TO AGRICULTURAL LAND. Establishes and appropriates moneys for one full-time equivalent (1.0 FTE) Hawaii Island Property Manager position within the Agribusiness Development Corporation. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD2)
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AGR, FIN |
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RELATING TO INVASIVE SPECIES. Requires each lease that the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity enters into, renews, or extends to include provisions stating that the Department may: (1) enter the leased premises; (2) order or otherwise require the lessee to maintain control of any invasive species on the leased premises; and (3) terminate the lease for refusal or violation. (SD1)
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AGR, JHA |
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RELATING TO AGRICULTURE. Requires the Board of Agriculture and Biosecurity to develop and adopt a multi-tiered, matrix-based assessment framework to develop definitions for the terms "bona fide farmer" and "bona fide agricultural activity" to be codified into the Hawaii Revised Statutes. Requires the Board to collaborate with stakeholders to draft the terms "bona fide farmer" and "bona fide agricultural activity". Requires a report to the Legislature. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD2)
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AGR, FIN |
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RELATING TO THE TWO-LINED SPITTLEBUG. Establishes a two-year Two-Lined Spittlebug Response Pilot Program to mitigate and control the spread of the two-lined spittlebug. Requires reports to the Legislature. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)
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AGR, FIN |
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RELATING TO AGRICULTURE. Establishes a nonrefundable income tax credit to incentivize significant investment in agricultural production and support the expansion of agricultural crops that take longer to become productive. Sunsets 1/1/2031. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD2)
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AGR, FIN |
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RELATING TO ANIMAL ENDANGERMENT. Allows law enforcement officers, animal control officers, and firefighters to enter an unattended vehicle to protect the health, safety, or well-being of a pet animal that is endangered by being left or confined in an unattended vehicle. Allows private citizens to rescue a pet animal that has been left in an unattended vehicle under certain circumstances. (SD2)
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AGR, JHA |
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RELATING TO FERAL CHICKENS. Appropriates funds to each county to facilitate the collection of feral chickens that have already been caught. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)
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AGR, FIN |
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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)
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AGR, FIN |
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RELATING TO LEI. Requires the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity to convene a working group that shall identify, gather, and report on any existing studies or assessments conducted or data assembled by the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity or University of Hawaii on flower farms, lei materials, and the capacity of local floriculture to meet public and private demand; conduct a study of the State's floriculture industry; and submit a report to the Legislature. Sunsets the working group on 6/30/2027. Effective 1/1/2525. (SD1)
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AGR, 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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Click here for a complete list of House Guidelines for remote testimony.
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 |