SB 1111: RELATING TO AGRICULTURAL STATISTICS.

A BILL FOR AN ACT

RELATING TO AGRICULTURAL STATISTICS.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

     SECTION 1.  The legislature finds that the department of agriculture's existing agricultural statistics program plays a crucial role in providing producers and policymakers with essential data to guide short-term decision making and long-term strategic planning.  In fact, the department of agricultural has a statutory duty and also a contractual obligation with the United States Department of Agriculture to ensure robust data collection and reporting across the State.  However, the department has experienced several shortcomings in the agricultural statistics program, including limited access to accurate and timely agricultural data and outdated collection, analysis, and dissemination of agricultural statistics, which results in limited insights to data that is critical to the movement of agricultural goods into and within the State.

     The legislature further finds that in 2024, the department of agriculture launched a statewide process to address key economic challenges facing the agricultural sector and developed short‑term actions and a long-term strategy aimed at addressing the shortcomings of its statistics program and other goals, such as boosting local product availability and expanding market capacity.  The objectives of the long-term strategy are to:

     (1)  Collect, analyze, and report data and trends on the intra- and inter-island production, distribution, and sale of select agricultural products;

     (2)  Provide producers with the information needed to make informed decisions about planting, scaling operations, and exploring new growth or market opportunities;

     (3)  Provide other decisionmakers with key analyses of production and production opportunities, trends, and growth to better allocate public resources to support agriculture and the public; and

     (4)  Support the strategic growth and development of Hawaii's agricultural sector by enhancing the statistics program's data collection, analysis, and reporting capabilities.

     Accordingly, the purpose of this Act is to revitalize and enhance the department of agriculture's agricultural statistics program by statutorily establishing an agricultural statistics program and appropriating funds for the program.

     SECTION 2.  Chapter 148, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new part to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

"Part     .  Agricultural statistics

     §148-    Agricultural statistics program.  The department of agriculture shall:

     (1)  Collect data, provide analysis, and report on the intra- and inter-island transportation of fresh fruit and vegetable products;

     (2)  Develop and maintain electronic systems for capturing and analyzing data on the intra- and inter-island transportation of fresh fruit and vegetable products; and

     (3)  Establish a structured rotation schedule for expanded, consistent, sector-specific surveys to collect comprehensive data on key agricultural activities, including:

          (A)  Agricultural theft;

          (B)  Agricultural tourism;

          (C)  Aquaculture;

          (D)  Crop and livestock losses;

          (E)  Farm technology;

          (F)  Horticulture and nursery;

          (G)  Livestock numbers and productivity;

          (H)  Producer expansion;

          (I)  Seed;

          (J)  Tropical fruits;

          (K)  Vegetables and melons; and

          (L)  Other surveys as may be determined necessary.

     §148-    Exemption.  Data and information collected by the department of agriculture for the purposes of this part or collected, compiled, and stored in the agricultural statistics program, shall be confidential and shall not be subject to discovery or to disclosure under chapter 92F; provided that nothing in this section shall preclude the disclosure of the information in a statistical or aggregate form that does not allow the identification of an individual or entity.  Unauthorized review, use, disclosure, or distribution of data shall be strictly prohibited.  The State shall not be liable for any dissemination of information collected, compiled, or stored for use in the agricultural statistics program.

     §148-    Collaboration; partnerships.  The department of agriculture may:

     (1)  Collaborate with national and local entities, including the following, to enhance data collection, analyses, and reporting efforts:

          (A)  United States Department of Agriculture;

          (B)  United States National Agricultural Statistics Service;

          (C)  United States Agricultural Marketing Service;

          (D)  United States Bureau of Labor Statistics;

          (E)  University of Hawaii college of tropical agriculture and human resilience;

          (F)  University of Hawaii economic research organization; and

          (G)  Other state agencies as needed; and

     (2)  Establish partnerships with local producers, transportation companies, aggregators, and distributors to facilitate the electronic capture of and access to other data sets."

     SECTION 3.  There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $           or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2025-2026 and the same sum or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2026-2027 for the following:

     (1)  $           for the establishment of two full-time equivalent (2.0 FTE) agricultural economist positions;

     (2)  $           for the establishment of four full-time equivalent (4.0 FTE) research statistician positions;

     (3)  $           for the establishment of secured office space, equipment, the development of electronic data collection systems, and program expenses for six islands; and

     (4)  $           for contracted specialty surveys to be conducted by third-party entities, focusing on critical agricultural data needs.

     The sums appropriated shall be expended by the department of agriculture for the purposes of this Act.

     SECTION 4.  This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2050.

Report Title:

Department of Agriculture; Agricultural Statistics Program; Appropriations

Description:

Establishes the Agricultural Statistics Program in statute.  Appropriates funds for the Program.  Effective 7/1/2050.  (SD1)

The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.

A BILL FOR AN ACT

relating to agricultural statistics.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

     SECTION 1.  The legislature finds that the department of agriculture's existing agricultural statistics program plays a crucial role in providing producers and policymakers with essential data to guide short-term decision making and long-term strategic planning.  In fact, the department of agricultural has a statutory duty and also a contractual obligation with the United Stated Department of Agriculture to ensure robust data collection and reporting across the State.  However, the department has experienced several shortcomings in the agricultural statistics program, including limited access to accurate and timely agricultural data and outdated collection, analysis, and dissemination of agricultural statistics, which results in limited insights to data that is critical to the movement of agricultural goods into and within the State.

     The legislature further finds that in 2024, the department of agriculture launched a statewide process to address key economic challenges facing the agricultural sector and developed short‑term actions and a long-term strategy aimed at addressing the shortcomings of its statistics program and other goals, such as boosting local product availability and expanding market capacity.  The objectives of the long-term strategy are to:

     (1)  Collect, analyze, and report data and trends on the intra- and inter-island production, distribution, and sale of select agricultural products;

     (2)  Provide producers with the information needed to make informed decisions about planting, scaling operations, and exploring new growth or market opportunities;

     (3)  Provide other decisionmakers with key analyses of production and production opportunities, trends, and growth to better allocate public resources to support agriculture and the public; and

     (4)  Support the strategic growth and development of Hawaii's agricultural sector by enhancing the statistics program's data collection, analysis, and reporting capabilities.

     Accordingly, the purpose of this Act is to revitalize and enhance the department of agriculture's agricultural statistics program by statutorily establishing an agricultural statistics program and appropriating funds for the program.

     SECTION 2.  Chapter 148, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new part to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

"Part    .  Agricultural statistics

     §148-     Agricultural statistics program.  The department of agriculture shall:

     (1)  Collect data, provide analysis, and report on the intra- and inter-island transportation of fresh fruit and vegetable products;

     (2)  Develop and maintain electronic systems for capturing and analyzing data on the intra- and inter-island transportation of fresh fruit and vegetable products; and

     (3)  Establish a structured rotation schedule for expanded, consistent, sector-specific surveys to collect comprehensive data on key agricultural activities, including:

          (A)  Agricultural theft;

          (B)  Agricultural tourism;

          (C)  Aquaculture;

          (D)  Crop and livestock losses;

          (E)  Farm technology;

          (F)  Horticulture and nursery;

          (G)  Livestock numbers and productivity;

          (H)  Producer expansion;

          (I)  Seed;

          (J)  Tropical fruits;

          (K)  Vegetables and melons; and

          (L)  Other surveys as may be determined necessary.

     §148-     Exemption.  (a)  Data and information collected by the department of agriculture for the purposes of this part shall not be subject to disclosure under chapter 92F.

     (b)  All data collected, compiled, and stored in the agricultural statistics program shall be confidential and protected from discovery, production, and disclosure.  Unauthorized review, use, disclosure, or distribution of data shall be strictly prohibited.  The State shall not be liable for any dissemination of information collected, compiled, or stored for use in the agricultural statistics program.

     §148-     Collaboration; partnerships.  The department of agriculture may:

     (1)  Collaborate with national and local entities, including the following, to enhance data collection, analyses, and reporting efforts:

          (A)  United States Department of Agriculture;

          (B)  United States National Agricultural Statistics Service;

          (C)  United States Agricultural Marketing Service;

          (D)  United States Bureau of Labor Statistics;

          (E)  University of Hawaii college of tropical agriculture and human resources;

          (F)  University of Hawaii economic research organization; and

          (G)  Other state agencies as needed; and

     (2)  Establish partnerships with local producers, transportation companies, aggregators, and distributors to facilitate the electronic capture of and access to other data sets."

     SECTION 3.  There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $880,000 or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2025-2026 and the same sum or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2026-2027 for the following:

     (1)  $170,000 for the establishment of two full-time equivalent (2.0 FTE) agricultural economist positions;

     (2)  $280,000 for the establishment of four full-time equivalent (4.0 FTE) research statistician positions;

     (3)  $130,000 for the establishment of secured office space, equipment, the development of electronic data collection systems, and program expenses for six islands; and

     (4)  $300,000 for contracted specialty surveys to be conducted by third-party entities, focusing on critical agricultural data needs.

     The sums appropriated shall be expended by the department of agriculture for the purposes of this Act.

     SECTION 4.  This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2025.

Report Title:

Department of Agriculture; Agricultural Statistics Program; Appropriation

Description:

Establishes the agricultural statistics program in statute.  Appropriates funds for the program.

The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.

STAND. COM. REP. NO. 179

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 1111

       S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2025

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Agriculture and Environment, to which was referred S.B. No. 1111 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO AGRICULTURAL STATISTICS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to:

     (1)  Statutorily establish the Agricultural Statistics Program; and

     (2)  Appropriate $880,000 for the establishment of positions and other expenses for the Program.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Agriculture, Ulupono Initiative, Hawaiʻi Farmers Union United, Hawaiʻi Food+ Policy, and Hawaiʻi Farm Bureau.

     Your Committee received comments on this measure from the University of Hawaiʻi System and Office of Information Practices.

     Your Committee finds that, due to the inherently high risks associated with agricultural activities, a greater amount of data and information is essential to help mitigate, if not fully manage, these challenges.  Your Committee recognizes that in 2024, the Department of Agriculture (Department) launched a statewide outreach effort to identify the agricultural industry's top priorities and long-standing challenges, one of which is a significant need for consistent agricultural statistics.  As a result, the Department developed a series of short-term actions and a long-term strategy to revitalize and enhance its Agricultural Statistics Program.  Your Committee notes that the staff positions and surveys to be established and performed in this measure will support the Program to empower local farmers and stakeholders to make informed decisions, develop effective policies, and monitor the efficacy of the state's agricultural programs.

     Your Committee has heard concerns from the Office of Information Practices as this measure requires all the information collected for the Program to be confidential.  Your Committee acknowledges that because the intent of the Program is to provide agricultural producers and decision-makers with better information and analyses related to agricultural production, it would be counterproductive to require this broad level of confidentiality.  Amendments are therefore necessary to address this matter.

     Accordingly, your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Clarifying that all data and information collected by the Department for the purposes of the Agricultural Statistics Program, or collected, compiled, and stored in the Program, shall be confidential and shall not be subject to discovery or to disclosure under chapter 92F, Hawaii Revised Statutes; provided that nothing in the measure shall preclude the disclosure of the information in a statistical or aggregate form that does not allow the identification of an individual or entity;

     (2)  Changing the appropriation to an unspecified amount;

     (3)  Inserting an effective date of July 1, 2050, to encourage further discussion; and

     (4)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity and consistency.

     Your Committee notes that this measure, as amended, contains an unspecified appropriation.  Should your Committee on Ways and Means choose to deliberate on this measure, your Committee respectfully requests that it insert an appropriation of $880,000 to be allocated as follows:

     (1)  $170,000 for the establishment of two full-time equivalent (2.0 FTE) agricultural economist positions;

     (2)  $280,000 for the establishment of four full-time equivalent (4.0 FTE) research statistician positions;

     (3)  $130,000 for the establishment of secured office space, equipment, the development of electronic data collection systems, and program expenses for six islands; and

     (4)  $300,000 for contracted specialty surveys to be conducted by third-party entities, focusing on critical agricultural data needs.

     Your Committee also notes that with their recent hiring of additional agricultural economists, the University of Hawaii College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resilience (CTAHR) now has the capacity to contribute to the implementation of the Agricultural Statistics Program proposed in this measure.  Thus, your Committee encourages the Department and CTAHR to continue discussions on future collaboration.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Agriculture and Environment that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 1111, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 1111, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Agriculture and Environment,