SB 2154: DAB; Agricultural Markets Study; Report; Agricultural Statistics Service; Positions; Appropriations

A BILL FOR AN ACT

RELATING TO AGRICULTURE.

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

     SECTION 1.  The legislature finds that over the past four decades, the value of all agricultural products in the State has been in decline.  Investing in the State's agricultural data and statistics gathering system is a necessary and critical component to the revitalization and future of Hawaii's agricultural sector.

     The legislature further finds that utilizing modern data and statistics gathering methodologies can promote access to high-quality data, which can then be used to help empower policymakers and agricultural stakeholders in making informed decisions and supporting sustainable farming practices.  Improving the technical, data-gathering component of the department of agriculture and biosecurity is necessary to provide the State and its farmers with the ability to track and anticipate patterns of agricultural activity, guide land use practices, support commodity investment and agricultural resource development, and inform future infrastructure investments.

     Accordingly, the purpose of this Act is to appropriate funds to the department of agriculture and biosecurity to conduct a study of agricultural markets for Hawaii farmers and establish positions to conduct and collect relevant agricultural data for public consumption.

     SECTION 2.  (a)  The department of agriculture and biosecurity shall conduct a study of agricultural markets for Hawaii farmers, which shall include strategies and actions that support agriculture and a robust agricultural sector in the State.

     (b)  The department of agriculture and biosecurity shall submit a report of its findings and recommendations, including any proposed legislation, to the legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the regular session of 2027.

     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 2026-2027 for a one-year study of agricultural markets for Hawaii farmers.

     The sum appropriated shall be expended by the department of agriculture and biosecurity for the purposes of this Act.

     SECTION 4.  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 2026-2027 for the establishment of:

     (1)  One full-time equivalent (1.0 FTE) data scientist, statistician, or market analyst position to conduct data analysis; and

     (2)  One full-time equivalent (1.0 FTE) field researcher position to collect relevant agricultural data for the agricultural statistics service to build an agricultural data dashboard for public consumption.

     The sum appropriated shall be expended by the department of agriculture and biosecurity for the purposes of this Act.

     SECTION 5.  This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2050.

Report Title:

DAB; Agricultural Markets Study; Report; Agricultural Statistics Service; Positions; Appropriations

Description:

Requires the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity to conduct a study of agricultural markets for Hawaii farmers.  Requires a report to the Legislature.  Appropriates funds for the one-year study of agricultural markets for Hawaii farmers.  Appropriates funds to establish positions to collect agricultural data and conduct data analysis for public consumption.  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 Agriculture.

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

     SECTION 1.  The legislature finds that over the past four decades, the value of all agricultural products in the State has been in decline.  Investing in the State's agricultural data and statistics gathering system is a necessary and critical component to the revitalization and future of Hawaii's agricultural sector.

     The legislature further finds that utilizing modern data and statistics gathering methodologies can promote access to high-quality data, which can then be used to help empower policymakers and agricultural stakeholders in making informed decisions and supporting sustainable farming practices.  Improving the technical, data-gathering component of the department of agriculture and biosecurity is necessary to provide the State and its farmers with the ability to track and anticipate patterns of agricultural activity, guide land use practices, support commodity investment and agricultural resource development, and inform future infrastructure investments.

     Accordingly, the purpose of this Act is to appropriate funds to the department of agriculture and biosecurity to conduct a study of agricultural markets for Hawaii farmers and to establish positions to conduct and collect relevant agricultural data for public consumption.

     SECTION 2.  (a)  The department of agriculture and biosecurity shall conduct a study of agricultural markets for Hawaii farmers, which shall include strategies and actions that support agriculture and a robust agricultural sector in the State.

     (b)  The department of agriculture and biosecurity shall submit a report of its findings and recommendations, including any proposed legislation, to the legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the regular session of 2027.

     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 2026-2027 for a one-year study of agricultural markets for Hawaii farmers.

     The sum appropriated shall be expended by the department of agriculture and biosecurity for the purposes of this Act.

     SECTION 4.  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 2026-2027 for the establishment of:

     (1)  One full-time equivalent (1.0 FTE) data scientist, statistician, or market analyst position to conduct data analysis; and

     (2)  One full-time equivalent (1.0 FTE) field researcher position to collect relevant agricultural data for the agricultural statistics service to build an agricultural data dashboard for public consumption.

     The sum appropriated shall be expended by the department of agriculture and biosecurity for the purposes of this Act.

     SECTION 5.  This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2026.

Report Title:

DAB; Agricultural Markets Study; Report; Agricultural Statistics Service; Positions; Appropriations

Description:

Requires the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity to conduct a study of agricultural markets for Hawaii farmers.  Requires a report to the Legislature.  Appropriates funds for the one-year study of agricultural markets for Hawaii farmers.  Appropriates funds to establish two full-time equivalent (2.0 FTE) positions to collect agricultural data and conduct data analysis for public consumption.

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. 2105

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:     S.B. No. 2154

        S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2026

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Agriculture and Environment, to which was referred S.B. No. 2154 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO AGRICULTURE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to:

     (1)  Require the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity to conduct a study of agricultural markets for Hawaii farmers;

     (2)  Require a report to the Legislature;

     (3)  Appropriate funds for the one-year study of agricultural markets for Hawaii farmers; and

     (4)  Appropriate funds to establish two full-time equivalent (2.0 FTE) positions to collect agricultural data and conduct data analysis for public consumption.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity; Hawaiʻi Farm Bureau; Hawaiʻi Farmers Union United; Hawaii Cattlemen's Council, Inc.; Hawaii Floriculture and Nursery Association; and Agriculture Stewardship Hawaiʻi.

     Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from the Libertarian Party of Hawaii.

     Your Committee finds that over the past four decades, the value of all agricultural products in the State has been in decline.  Your Committee further finds that knowledge of agricultural markets both locally and abroad will help Hawaii farmers make strategic decisions for their operations and increase the likelihood of successful farming.  In addition, having staff that are experienced and knowledgeable about Hawaiian agriculture is key to interpreting and understanding data that is collected.  Your Committee concludes that by increasing staffing and funding for a study of agricultural markets, this measure will give farmers and ranchers the information they need to guide land use practices and conduct effective farming operations.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

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

     (2)  Making a technical, nonsubstantive amendment for the purposes of clarity and consistency.

     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. 2154, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2154, 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,