SB 1257 Hawaii Senate · 2026 Regular Session

RELATING TO AGRICULTURAL CRIME.

Summary

Establishes a permanent Agricultural Crimes Task Force to address the issue of agricultural crime in the State. Establishes the offense of agricultural crime to increase penalties for committing certain property crimes on agricultural property. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2025

Committee Review

Mar 2025

Senate Passage

Mar 2025

House Passage

Governor

Introduced Jan 21, 2025 Last action Dec 8, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

SB1257_HD1 → SB1257_SD1 · 4 edits

MODERATE

The bill was revised to shift focus from creating a new task force and defining a new crime to increasing penalties for existing property crimes on agricultural land. The version also updated the effective date to 2050 and adjusted the task force member list to remove the attorney general's representative while adding a Honolulu prosecutor.

Scope change

The bill's scope changed from establishing a new offense of 'agricultural crime' to simply increasing penalties for existing property crimes committed on agricultural property.

ENFORCEMENT

The bill no longer creates a new crime called 'agricultural crime' but instead increases penalties for existing property crimes committed on agricultural land.

TIMELINE

The effective date for the legislation was changed from the year 3000 to 2050.

REQUIREMENT

The composition of the Agricultural Crimes Task Force was altered by removing the Attorney General's representative and adding a representative from the Honolulu Prosecuting Attorney's office.

FISCAL

The budget line item associated with the bill was updated, reflecting changes in the bill's scope and funding requirements.

Floor votes

How they voted

This bill passed the Senate by voice vote (no roll call recorded).

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Mar 14, 2025

Committee

Reported from AGR (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1220) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to JHA.

lower

Mar 12, 2025

Lower · Passed

The committee on AGR recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 5 Ayes: Representative(s) Kahaloa, Kusch, Lowen, Perruso, Quinlan; Ayes with reservations: none; 0 Noes: none; and 1 Excused: Representative(s) Ward.

lower

Mar 6, 2025

Committee

Referred to AGR, JHA, FIN, referral sheet 19

lower

Mar 4, 2025

Introduced

Received from Senate (Sen. Com. No. 288) in amended form (SD 1).

lower

Mar 4, 2025

Upper · Passed

Report adopted; Passed Third Reading. Ayes, 25; Aye(s) with reservations: none . Noes, 0 (none). Excused, 0 (none). Transmitted to House.

upper

Feb 26, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on JDC recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes in JDC were as follows: 5 Aye(s): Senator(s) Rhoads, Gabbard, Chang, San Buenaventura, Awa; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 0 Excused: none.

upper

Feb 26, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on WAM recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes in WAM were as follows: 13 Aye(s): Senator(s) Dela Cruz, Moriwaki, Aquino, DeCoite, Elefante, Hashimoto, Inouye, Kanuha, Kidani, Kim, Lee, C., Wakai, Fevella; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 0 Excused: none.

upper

Feb 21, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on WAM/JDC will hold a public decision making on 02-26-25 10:05AM; Conference Room 211 & Videoconference.

upper

Feb 13, 2025

Upper · Passed

Report adopted; Passed Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referred to WAM/JDC.

upper

Feb 13, 2025

Committee

Reported from AEN (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 459) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to WAM/JDC.

upper

Feb 10, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on AEN recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in AEN were as follows: 5 Aye(s): Senator(s) Gabbard, Richards, DeCoite, Rhoads, Awa; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 0 Excused: none.

upper

Feb 7, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on AEN has scheduled a public hearing on 02-10-25 1:01PM; Conference Room 224 & Videoconference.

upper

Jan 27, 2025

Committee

Referred to AEN, WAM/JDC.

upper

Jan 23, 2025

Introduced

Introduced and passed First Reading.

upper

Jan 21, 2025

Introduced

Pending Introduction.

upper

1 primary · 0 co-sponsors