Hawaii legislation · 2026 Regular Session
Hawaii HB1417: Relating to Farms.
Status: Failed, December 8, 2025
Creates an exclusion from income tax for the first $50,000 of income earned by farmers.
What the bill says
A bill for an act relating to farms.
From the introduced text:
A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO FARMS. SECTION 1. The legislature finds that the State has struggled to attract young people into the agricultural sector. Hawaii has the oldest farmers in the United States, with twice as many farmers over the age of seventy-five as there are under thirty-five. The legislature further finds that as of 2022, most of the State's over seven thousand farms are small operations bearing not much financial fruit, with nearly eighty per cent having annual sales under $25,000. As the State seeks to achieve overlapping goals of reducing reliance on imports, diversifying our economy, and increasing local food production, it is critical to incentivize the rejuvenation of our State's agricultural sector, especially among younger generations. The legislature finds that a partial tax exclusion for such businesses will not significantly affect existing tax revenue HE HMIA 2025-18-17 fT/I H.B. NO. collected but will strengthen the State's economy and improve the long-term economic well--being of the State as a whole. Accordingly, the purpose of this Act is to create an exclusion from income tax for the first $50,000 of income earned by farmers in order to encourage the growth of small, diversified farming businesses. SECTION 2. Section 235-7, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsection (a) to read as follows: "(a) There shall be excluded …
Sponsors
- Gene Ward (R) · primary sponsor
- David Alcos (R, 41)
- Lauren Matsumoto (R, 38)
- Elijah Pierick (R, 39)
- Julie Reyes Oda (R, 40)
- Garner Shimizu (R, 32)
- Christopher Muraoka (R, 45)
Latest actions
- : Carried over to 2026 Regular Session.
- : Passed Second Reading as amended in HD 1 and referred to the committee(s) on FIN with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Cochran, Matayoshi, Poepoe, Ward excused (4).
- : Reported from AGR (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 635) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to FIN.
- : The committee on AGR recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 5 Ayes: Representative(s) Kahaloa, Kusch, Lowen, Perruso, Quinlan; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and 1 Excused: Representative(s) Ward.
- : Bill scheduled to be heard by AGR on Wednesday, 02-12-25 11:00AM in House conference room 325 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
- : Referred to AGR, FIN, referral sheet 4
- : Introduced and Pass First Reading.
Votes
- Second Reading as amended in HD 1 and referred to the committee(s) on FIN with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Cochran, Matayoshi, Poepoe, Ward excused (4) (February 14, 2025): 47 yea, 0 nay, passed
- AGR: recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS (February 12, 2025): 5 yea, 0 nay, passed
Subjects: Report, Exemption, Farms, Insurance
Common questions
- What is HB1417?
- HB1417 is a bill in the Hawaii Legislature (2026 Regular Session): Relating to Farms.
- What does HB1417 do?
- In its own words: A bill for an act relating to farms.
- What is the status of HB1417?
- Failed as of December 8, 2025. Latest action: Carried over to 2026 Regular Session. (December 8, 2025).
- Who sponsored HB1417?
- Gene Ward (R), with 6 co-sponsors.
- Where is the official record for HB1417?
- On the Hawaii Legislature website: https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/measure_indiv.aspx?billtype=HB&billnumber=1417&year=2026
Source: official Hawaii record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.