HB 1621 Hawaii House · 2026 Regular Session

RELATING TO AGRICULTURE.

Summary

Establishes a Conservation Agriculture and Soil Health Incentive Program within the Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation Commission. Requires an annual report to the Legislature. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Bill status in committee 1 of 4 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2026

Committee Review

Floor Vote

Governor

Introduced Jan 16, 2026 Last action Feb 11, 2026

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What changed between versions

HB1621 → HB1621_HD1 · 4 edits

MODERATE

The bill was amended to transfer the administration of the conservation agriculture and soil health incentive program from the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity to the Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation Commission. This change aims to leverage the Commission's existing land management expertise and improve coordination for small and socially disadvantaged farmers. Additionally, the specific funding amount was removed to allow for future appropriation decisions, and the effective date was set to July 1, 3000, likely as a placeholder.

Scope change

The program's administration scope shifted from the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity to the Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation Commission to better align with conservation planning and stewardship responsibilities.

SCOPE

Administrative authority for the conservation agriculture and soil health incentive program was transferred from the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity to the Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation Commission.

FISCAL

The specific appropriation amount of $1,500,000 was removed and replaced with a blank line, deferring the exact funding decision.

TIMELINE

The effective date was changed from July 1, 2026, to July 1, 3000, indicating a placeholder or error in the amendment.

REQUIREMENT

The bill's stated purpose was updated to explicitly include the appropriation of funds alongside the establishment of the program.

Floor votes

How they voted

No floor votes recorded yet.

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Feb 11, 2026

Committee

Reported from AGR/EEP (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 165-26) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to FIN.

lower

Feb 6, 2026

Lower · Passed

The committee on EEP recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 6 Ayes: Representative(s) Lowen, Perruso, Chun, Kahaloa, Kusch, Matsumoto; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and 1 Excused: Representative(s) Quinlan.

lower

Feb 6, 2026

Lower · Passed

The committee on AGR recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 6 Ayes: Representative(s) Chun, Kusch, Kahaloa, Lowen, Perruso, Matsumoto; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and 1 Excused: Representative(s) Quinlan.

lower

Jan 26, 2026

Committee

Referred to AGR/EEP, FIN, referral sheet 1

lower

Jan 21, 2026

Introduced

Introduced and Pass First Reading.

lower

Jan 16, 2026

Introduced

Prefiled.

lower

11 primary · 0 co-sponsors