SB 216 Hawaii Senate · 2026 Regular Session

RELATING TO FARM DWELLINGS.

Summary

Prohibits residing on agricultural park lots unless within a farm dwelling permitted by the Board of Agriculture. Authorizes the Department of Agriculture to conduct inspections of agricultural park lots for unpermitted farm dwellings during fiscal year 2025-2026. (SD1)

Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2025

Committee Review

Feb 2025

Senate Passage

Feb 2025

House Passage

Governor

Introduced Jan 13, 2025 Last action Dec 8, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

SB216 → SB216_SD1 · 4 edits

MODERATE

The bill was amended to shift its focus from prohibiting the construction of new farm dwellings to prohibiting anyone from residing on agricultural park lots unless they live in a permitted dwelling. The amendment also updated the enforcement review process to require input from adjacent landowners and lessees and removed a specific ban on new construction starting in 2026, replacing it with a broader prohibition on unauthorized living arrangements.

Scope change

The bill's scope expanded from strictly regulating the construction of new farm dwellings to broadly prohibiting unauthorized residence on agricultural park lots, regardless of whether the dwelling is new or existing.

REQUIREMENT

Changed the requirement for the board of agriculture to conduct a review to include mandatory input from adjacent landowners and lessees.

TIMELINE

Removed the specific provision that banned the construction of new farm dwellings beginning January 1, 2026.

ELIGIBILITY

Replaced the ban on constructing new dwellings with a prohibition on residing on agricultural park lots unless the dwelling is permitted by the board.

ENFORCEMENT

Added authorization for the Department of Agriculture to inspect agricultural park lots for unpermitted farm dwellings during fiscal year 2025-2026.

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

Feb 13, 2025

Upper · Passed

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

upper

Feb 13, 2025

Committee

Reported from AEN (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 457) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to 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 17, 2025

Committee

Referred to AEN, JDC.

upper

Jan 15, 2025

Introduced

Introduced and passed First Reading.

upper

Jan 13, 2025

Introduced

Pending Introduction.

upper

1 primary · 0 co-sponsors