STAND. COM. REP. NO. 194

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2025

RE: H.B. No. 189

H.D. 1

Honorable Nadine K. Nakamura

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2025

State of Hawaii

Madame:

Your Committees on Agriculture & Food Systems and Tourism, to which was referred H.B. No. 189 entitled:

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

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to:

(1) Require the counties to adopt ordinances setting forth procedures and requirements for the review and permitting of agricultural tourism uses and activities as secondary uses, in addition to accessory uses, on a working farm or farming operation; and

(2) Require the counties' ordinances to include certain requirements.

Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawaii Food+ Policy; Hawai‘i Farmers Union; Hawai‘i Farm Bureau; Maui Chamber of Commerce; and two individuals. Your Committees received testimony in opposition to this measure from Heavenly Hawaiian Farms; Hawaii Cattlemen's Council; Kualoa Ranch; and one individual. Your Committees received comments on this measure from the Department of Agriculture.

Your Committees find that agricultural tourism, or agritourism, offers a vital opportunity to support Hawaii's farmers while promoting cultural heritage, sustainability, and economic growth. The agricultural sector faces challenges such as competition from imports and climate change, making diversification crucial for long-term viability. This measure allows agritourism as a secondary use on working farms and farming operations, providing farmers with an additional revenue stream while ensuring agricultural activities remain the primary focus.

Your Committees have amended this measure by:

(1) Deleting language that would have required the counties to establish certain requirements for agricultural tourism to include only those activities that are allowed under existing zoning and land use regulations;

(2) Clarifying the definition of "productive agricultural use" to not include minimum active agricultural cultivation and annual revenue requirements;

(3) Changing the effective date to July 1, 3000, to encourage further discussion; and

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

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Agriculture & Food Systems and Tourism that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 189, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 189, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Water & Land.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Agriculture & Food Systems and Tourism,

____________________________ ADRIAN K. TAM, Chair

____________________________ KIRSTIN KAHALOA, Chair