SB 3258

THE SENATE
S.B. NO.
3258
THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026
STATE OF HAWAII
A BILL FOR AN ACT
relating
to regional agriculture and food production.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:
���� SECTION 1.� The
legislature finds the State's long-term food security, rural economic
resilience, and institutional procurement strategies depend on a clear,
data-driven understanding of what crops can be grown profitably, at scale, in
different regions of the State. �Current
food systems plans frequently rely on assumptions regarding production
capacity, supply readiness, and labor availability, rather than comprehensive
agricultural feasibility assessments.
���� The legislature further finds that comprehensive
agricultural feasibility assessments require a coordinated, multi-agency,
evidence-based planning framework that integrates agro-ecological science,
economic modeling, workforce analysis, and infrastructure feasibility to ensure
food systems plans are adequate to support agriculture in the State. �A working group is therefore necessary to
produce the necessary data and information to support farmers at all scales;
strengthen neighbor island food system development; align production capacity
with institutional demand; and guide state investment in agricultural
infrastructure, regional kitchens, and procurement initiatives.
���� The purpose of this Act is to establish the
regional agricultural feasibility and food systems production studies working
group to provide coordinated, region-specific agricultural production and crop
feasibility analysis across the State.
���� SECTION 2.�
(a)� The department of agriculture
and biosecurity shall establish and implement a two-year regional agricultural
feasibility and food systems production studies working group to conduct island
and region-specific agricultural feasibility studies to inform statewide food
system planning, public procurement strategies, and agricultural investment.
���� (b)�
The working group shall be conducted through a multi-agency framework
that shall consist of the following members:
���� (1)� A
representative from university of Hawaii at Manoa college of tropical
agriculture and human resilience who shall be responsible for agro-ecological
analysis, crop suitability, soil health, assessments, climate and elevation
modeling, and production systems research;
���� (2)� A
representative from the department of business, economic development, and
tourism who shall be responsible for economic modeling, cost-of-production
analysis, institutional demand alignment, regional market feasibility, and
integration with economic development strategies;
���� (3)� A
representative from the agribusiness development corporation who shall be
responsible for feasibility analysis of state agricultural lands, irrigation
and water systems, processing and aggregation infrastructure, and other
relevant agricultural facilities relevant to projected production scenarios;
���� (4)� A
representative from the department of agriculture and biosecurity who shall be
responsible for statewide agricultural policy coordination and alignment with
food security and agricultural development initiatives; and
���� (5)� A
representative from the department of land and natural resources who shall
serve in an advisory capacity to provide information on land classification,
water resource availability, and constraints relevant to agricultural
suitability.
���� (c)� The
regional agricultural feasibility and food systems production studies working
group shall conduct island- and region-specific agricultural feasibility
studies that assess:
���� (1)� Crop
feasibility and production potential, including:
��������� (A)� Crops
that can be grown profitably by island, region, elevation, and climate zone;
��������� (B)� Expected
production volumes under real-world conditions; and
��������� (C)� Production
risks associated with pests, water constraints, weather variability, and market
volatility;
���� (2)� Infrastructure
constraints and requirements, including:
��������� (A)� Processing,
aggregation, and cold storage capacity;
��������� (B)� Access
to land, water, electricity, and transportation corridors; and
��������� (C)� Regional
gaps in equipment, technology, and shared-use facilities;
���� (3)� Labor
and mechanization needs, including:
��������� (A)� Current
and projected agricultural labor gaps by crop and production systems;
��������� (B)� Opportunities
to improve labor efficiency through mechanization or automation; and
��������� (C)� Workforce
development needs, training capacity, and barriers to entry for new growers;
���� (4)� Controlled
environment agriculture opportunities, including:
��������� (A)� Identification
of crops best suited for vertical farming, aquaponics, and other controlled
environment systems;
��������� (B)� Feasibility
of locating controlled environment systems in industrial areas or enterprise
zones; and
��������� (C)� Strategies
to reduce pressure on arable lands while expanding local production capacity;
and
���� (5)� Alignment
of agricultural supply with institutional demand, including:
��������� (A)� Comparison
of cost-of-production to institutional price points;
��������� (B)� Compatibility
with regional kitchen and farm-to-school procurement forecasts; and
��������� (C)� Capacity
for small-, mid-, and large-scale farms to supply institutional buyers,
including off-grade products.
���� (d)�
The regional agricultural feasibility and food systems production
studies working group shall prioritize neighbor island needs by:
���� (1)� Conducting
island-specific studies that reflect regional conditions, infrastructure gaps,
and market access constraints;
���� (2)� Developing
recommendations that do not assume Oahu-level economies of scale; and
���� (3)� Providing
tailored strategies for infrastructure, procurement readiness, and production
scaling.
���� (e)�
The working group may consult with:
���� (1)� County
agricultural offices;
���� (2)� Farmers,
ranchers, processors, and agricultural cooperatives;
���� (3)� Institutional
buyers, including the department of education, university of Hawaii, and
healthcare institutions;
���� (4)� The
Hawaii emergency management agency, for climate resilience considerations; and
���� (5)� Any
other community or technical partners the working group deems relevant.
���� (f)�
The working group shall submit an interim report of its preliminary
findings, recommendations, and any identified data gaps, to the legislature no
later than twenty days prior to the convening of the regular session of 2027.
���� (g)�
The working group shall submit a final statewide agricultural
feasibility and food systems production report, including island-specific
feasibility assessments, policy recommendations, and proposed investment strategies
to the legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the
regular session of 2028.
���� (h)�
Each report identified in subsections (f) and (g) shall include:
���� (1)� Region-by-region
crop feasibility maps and production scenarios;
���� (2)� Infrastructure
investment priorities;
���� (3)� Workforce
and mechanization needs assessments;
���� (4)� Controlled-environment
agriculture recommendations;
���� (5)� Institutional
procurement alignment analyses; and
���� (6)� Strategies
to support small-, mid-, and large-scale farmers.
���� 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 the department
of agriculture and biosecurity to implement the regional agricultural
feasibility and food systems production studies working group.
���� The sum appropriated shall be expended by
the department of agriculture and biosecurity for the purposes of this Act.
���� SECTION 4.�
This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2026, and shall be repealed on
June 30, 2028.
INTRODUCED BY:
_____________________________
Report Title:
DAB;
Agriculture; Regional Agriculture Feasibility; Food Systems Planning; Study;
Working Group; Reports; Appropriation
Description:
Establishes
the Regional Agricultural Feasibility and Food Systems Production Studies
Working Group within the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity to provide
coordinated, region-specific agricultural production and crop feasibility
analysis across the State.� Requires
reports to the Legislature.� Appropriates
funds.� Repeals 6/30/2028.
The summary description
of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is
not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.