Informing the Legislature that on July 2, 2025, the Governor signed the following bill into law: SB739 SD2 HD1 CD1 (ACT 279).

This bill (SB739, enacted as Act 279) authorizes the State of Hawai'i to acquire fallow agricultural land - formerly used for sugar and pineapple production - for long-term lease to diversified farming operations. It directly affects the state government (as the acquirer), farmers seeking land access, and rural communities dependent on agriculture. The key mechanism requires the state to identify and secure suitable land to increase local food production, addressing the state's reliance on imported food and constitutional mandates to protect agricultural lands. The legislation does not directly address housing but references housing shortages as context for land use priorities. It aims to boost agricultural self-sufficiency through strategic land acquisition, not new housing construction.