STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1409

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2025

RE: S.B. No. 1099

H.D. 1

Honorable Nadine K. Nakamura

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2025

State of Hawaii

Madame:

Your Committee on Agriculture & Food Systems, to which was referred S.B. No. 1099, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO IMPORTANT AGRICULTURAL LANDS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to authorize the Land Use Commission to designate county or state lands as Important Agricultural Lands and adopt maps for the designated lands in counties that fail to identify and recommend Important Agricultural Lands by December 31, 2027.

Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Agriculture; Land Use Commission; and Hawai‘i Farm Bureau.

Your Committee finds that the designation of Important Agricultural Lands is essential for preserving agricultural viability and ensuring long-term food security in the State. While counties are responsible for identifying county lands and recommending those lands for designation as Important Agricultural Lands, delays in this process threaten the protection of prime agricultural lands from urbanization and other non-agricultural uses. This measure addresses this issue by authorizing the Land Use Commission to designate county or state lands as Important Agricultural Lands if a county fails to fulfill its obligations by December 31, 2027, ensuring that vital lands remain available for farming and food production.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Agriculture & Food Systems that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 1099, H.D. 1, and recommends that it be referred to your Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Agriculture & Food Systems,

____________________________

KIRSTIN KAHALOA, Chair