SR 118: requesting the Department of Land and Natural Resources to transfer active agricultural land leases under the jurisdiction of the Department of Land and Natural Resources to THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE TO support agriculture in the State.

SENATE RESOLUTION

requesting the Department of Land and Natural Resources to transfer active agricultural land leases under the jurisdiction of the Department of Land and Natural Resources to THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE TO support agriculture in the State.

     WHEREAS, Act 90, Session Laws of Hawaii 2003, was passed to ensure the long-term productive use of public lands leased or available to be leased by the Department of Land and Natural Resources, for agricultural purposes by authorizing the Department of Agriculture to accept the transfer and management of these lands upon mutual agreement and approval between the Board of Agriculture and the Board of Land and Natural Resources; and

     WHEREAS, lands for agricultural purposes remain under the jurisdiction of the Department of Land and Natural Resources that have not yet been transferred to the Department of Agriculture; and

     WHEREAS, the Department of Land and Natural Resources does not plan to renew these leases for agricultural purposes at the end of their lease terms; and

     WHEREAS, beef cattle production is a significant agricultural industry in the State that contributes over $48 million to the State's economy each year; and

     WHEREAS, the State's communities benefit from the ecosystem services that rangelands provide, including the stabilization of soils, enhancement of watershed capacity, sequestration of carbon, cycling of nutrients, and suppression of noxious weeds; and

     WHEREAS, the ranchers managing these rangelands are essentially grass farmers who utilize cattle to manage the ground cover to minimize bare soil and erosion, maximize water infiltration, improve soil health, and minimize the spread of noxious weeds while generating operating income that subsidizes their continued resource management; and

     WHEREAS, without beef cattle ranchers and the land stewardship they provide, these lands would be left unmanaged, becoming inundated with noxious weeds and an increased fire fuel load; and

     WHEREAS, the cattle industry contributes to the State's economy through job creation, business and property taxes, purchase of goods and services, and the sale of animals and meat products which in turn improve the State's food security; now, therefore,

     BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Thirty-third Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2025, that the Department of Land and Natural Resources is requested to transfer active agricultural land leases under the jurisdiction of the Department of Land and Natural Resources, specifically the parcels identified as Tax Map Keys: (3) 4-1-6: 7; (3) 2-6-18: 1; (3) 4-3-1: 2; and (2) 1-8-1: 3 to the Department of Agriculture to support agriculture in the State; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Department of Land and Natural Resources is requested to:

     (1)  Identify agricultural lands under its jurisdiction available for lease; and

     (2)  Transfer the identified agricultural lands to the Department of Agriculture; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Resolution be transmitted to Chairperson of the Board of Land and Natural Resources and Chairperson of the Board of Agriculture.

Report Title: 

DLNR; DOA; Agricultural Lands; Public Lands; Leases

STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1400

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.R. No. 118

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2025

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Water and Land, to which was referred S.R. No. 118 entitled:

"SENATE RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF LAND AND NATURAL RESOURCES TO TRANSFER ACTIVE AGRICULTURAL LAND LEASES UNDER THE JURISDICTION OF THE DEPARTMENT OF LAND AND NATURAL RESOURCES TO THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE TO SUPPORT AGRICULTURE IN THE STATE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to request the Department of Land and Natural Resources to transfer active agricultural land leases under the jurisdiction of the Department of Land and Natural Resources to the Department of Agriculture to support agriculture in the State.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawaii Cattlemen's Council, Inc.; Hawaiʻi Farm Bureau; Kapapala Ranch; Ponoholo Ranch; SC Ranch Company, Inc.; Barbed S Ranch; Kealia Ranch; and eight individuals.

     Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources and one individual.

     Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Agriculture.

     Your Committee finds that Act 90, Session Laws of Hawaii 2003, was passed to ensure the long-term productive use of public lands leased or available to be leased by the Department of Land and Natural Resources for agricultural purposes by authorizing the Department of Agriculture to accept the transfer and management of these lands upon mutual agreement and approval between the Board of Agriculture and the Board of Land and Natural Resources.  Your Committee further finds that there are lands for agricultural purposes that the Department of Land and Natural Resources have not yet transferred to the Department of Agriculture and the Department of Land and Natural Resources does not plan to renew these leases for agricultural purposes at the end of their lease terms.  Accordingly, this measure requests the Department of Land and Natural Resources to transfer certain active agricultural land leases under its jurisdiction to the Department of Agriculture to support agriculture in the State.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Water and Land that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of S.R. No. 118 and recommends its adoption.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Water and Land,