SB 504 Hawaii Senate · 2025 Regular Session

RELATING TO AGRICULTURE.

Summary

Establishes a Local Agriculture Transportation Cost Reimbursement Program within the Department of Agriculture to reimburse eligible ranchers and farmers a portion of their costs to transport livestock, livestock products, agricultural commodities, and certain supplies, under certain conditions. Establishes a position to administer the Program. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Bill status in committee 1 of 4 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2025

Committee Review

Floor Vote

Governor

Introduced Jan 17, 2025 Last action Feb 10, 2025

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What changed between versions

SB504 → SB504_SD1 · 5 edits

MODERATE

The bill was reformatted from a standard legislative draft to a Senate markup version, but substantive policy changes were made to expand eligibility and add administrative requirements. The bill now includes cooperatives, food hubs, and small-scale farmers as eligible recipients, adds a cap on individual reimbursement amounts, requires annual reporting to the legislature, and extends the effective date to July 1, 2050.

Scope change

The bill's scope was expanded to include cooperatives, food hubs, and small-scale farmers in addition to traditional livestock owners and agricultural producers.

ELIGIBILITY

Added cooperatives, food hubs, and small-scale farmers as eligible recipients of transportation cost reimbursements.

REQUIREMENT

Added a cap limiting individual producers to $25,000 or 50% of eligible costs per fiscal year, whichever is less.

ENFORCEMENT

Added a requirement for the department to submit an annual report to the legislature within 20 days prior to each regular session.

TIMELINE

Changed the effective date from the original unspecified date to July 1, 2050.

DEFINITION

Expanded the definition of 'agricultural commodity' to explicitly include nursery production.

Floor votes

How they voted

No floor votes recorded yet.

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Feb 10, 2025

Committee

Reported from AEN (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 180) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to WAM.

upper

Feb 3, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on AEN recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in AEN were as follows: 4 Aye(s): Senator(s) Gabbard, Richards, Rhoads, Awa; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 1 Excused: Senator(s) DeCoite.

upper

Jan 31, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on AEN has scheduled a public hearing on 02-03-25 1:02PM; Conference Room 224 & Videoconference.

upper

Jan 21, 2025

Committee

Referred to AEN, WAM.

upper

Jan 17, 2025

Introduced

Introduced.

upper

8 primary · 0 co-sponsors