Hawaii legislation · 2026 Regular Session
Hawaii HB1616: Relating to Agriculture.
Status: In committee, March 30, 2026
Clarifies that the disposition of agricultural park lots for commercial activity may occur after the initial development of the agricultural park and regardless of whether the applicable county council approved plans and specifications for the future disposition of lots for commercial activity, with certain exceptions . Authorizes the care and production of swine and swine products within certain agricultural parks and under certain conditions.
What the bill says
A bill foran act relating to agriculture.
From the engrossed text:
A BILL FORAN ACT RELATING TO AGRICULTURE. SECTION 1. Section 166-2, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended as follows: 1. By amending the definition of "agricultural activities" to read: ""Agricultural [activities"] purposes" means the care and production of livestock, livestock products, poultry, or poultry products, or apiary, horticultural, or floricultural products, or the planting, cultivating, and harvesting of crops or trees, including tree farms." 2. By amending the definition of "aquacultural activities" to read: ""Aquacultural [activities"] purposes" means the farming or ranching of any plant or animal species in a controlled salt, brackish, or freshwater environment; provided that such farm or ranch is on or directly adjacent to land." SECTION 2. Section 166-3.5, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows: 2026-1826 HB1616 SDl SMA.docx III III mill iH[i IIII Illi I [III !iii III Page H.B. NO. E; " [-t] §166-3.5 [-3-] Commercial activity. The department may allow, in each of its existing and future agricultural parks, the disposition of no more than two lots within an agricultural park for the processing, marketing, and displaying of agricultural crops or commodities, which shall include any product created through value-added processes as defined by rules adopted by the board. The department may allow the disposition of lots for commercial activity pursuant to this section after the initial development of an agricultural …
Sponsors
- Greggor Ilagan (D, 4) · primary sponsor
- David Alcos (R, 41)
- Terez Amato (D, 11)
- Lisa Marten (D, 51)
- Scot Matayoshi (D, 49)
- Lauren Matsumoto (R, 38)
- Garner Shimizu (R, 32)
Latest actions
- : Report adopted; Passed Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referred to WAM.
- : Reported from AEN/WLA (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 3243) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to WAM.
- : The committee(s) on AEN recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in AEN were as follows: 3 Aye(s): Senator(s) Gabbard, DeCoite, Rhoads; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 2 Excused: Senator(s) Richards, Awa.
- : The committee(s) on WLA recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in WLA were as follows: 3 Aye(s): Senator(s) Lee, C., Chang, Lamosao; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 2 Excused: Senator(s) Inouye, DeCorte.
- : The committee(s) on AEN/WLA has scheduled a public hearing on 03-20-26 1:03PM; Conference Room 224 & Videoconference.
- : Referred to AEN/WLA, WAM.
- : Passed First Reading.
- : Received from House (Hse. Com. No. 142).
- : Passed Third Reading with none voting aye with reservations; Representative(s) Iwamoto voting no (1) and Representative(s) Perruso, Sayama excused (2). Transmitted to Senate.
- : Reported from FIN (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 934-26), recommending passage on Third Reading.
Votes
- WLA: recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS (March 20, 2026): 3 yea, 0 nay, passed
- AEN: recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS (March 20, 2026): 3 yea, 0 nay, passed
- Third Reading with none voting aye with reservations; Representative(s) Iwamoto voting no (1) and Representative(s) Perruso, Sayama excused (2) (March 6, 2026): 48 yea, 1 nay, passed
- FIN: recommend that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED (March 4, 2026): 16 yea, 0 nay, passed
- Report adopted; referred to the committee(s) on FIN with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and none excused (0) (February 19, 2026): 51 yea, 0 nay, passed
- WAL: recommend that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED (February 17, 2026): 7 yea, 1 nay, passed
Subjects: Report, Counties, Agriculture
Common questions
- What is HB1616?
- HB1616 is a bill in the Hawaii Legislature (2026 Regular Session): Relating to Agriculture.
- What does HB1616 do?
- In its own words: A bill foran act relating to agriculture.
- What is the status of HB1616?
- In committee as of March 30, 2026. Latest action: Report adopted; Passed Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referred to WAM. (March 30, 2026).
- Who sponsored HB1616?
- Greggor Ilagan (D, 4), with 6 co-sponsors.
- Where is the official record for HB1616?
- On the Hawaii Legislature website: https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/measure_indiv.aspx?billtype=HB&billnumber=1616&year=2026
Source: official Hawaii record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.