Informing the Legislature that on June 26, 2026, the Governor signed the following bill into law: SB2153 SD2 HD1 CD1 (ACT 167).

This bill directs the Hawaii Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity to create a working group that will develop new definitions for what constitutes a "bona fide farmer" and "bona fide agricultural activity." The proposed working group will include representatives from various agricultural organizations and will design a multi-tiered system to categorize different types of farming operations, ranging from entry-level farms to large corporate enterprises. By establishing these specific categories, the legislation aims to provide a uniform standard for applying agricultural zoning laws and tax classifications across the state. This process is intended to ensure that land use regulations and tax benefits are applied fairly to genuine farming activities while preventing the misuse of agricultural designations.