SB 2319 Hawaii Senate · 2026 Regular Session

RELATING TO THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND BIOSECURITY.

Summary

Appropriates funds for one full-time equivalent (1.0 FTE) grant writer position within the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity and converts the position from temporary to permanent. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Issues: ✓ Budget & Taxes

Bill status passed both 4 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2026

Committee Review

Apr 2026

Senate Passage

Mar 2026

House Passage

Apr 2026

Governor

Introduced Jan 15, 2026 Last action Apr 23, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

SB2319_HD1 → SB2319_SD1 · 2 edits

MINOR

The bill was amended to change the effective date of the permanent grant writer position from the distant future (July 1, 3000) to a realistic date (July 1, 2050). Additionally, the funding language was updated to allow the position to be included in future fiscal bienniums rather than being restricted to the 2027-2028 budget year.

Scope change

The bill's scope regarding the duration of the funding authorization was expanded from a single fiscal biennium to an indefinite future period.

TIMELINE

The effective date for the permanent grant writer position was changed from July 1, 3000, to July 1, 2050, correcting a likely clerical error.

FISCAL

The requirement to include the funded position in the 2027-2028 base budget was removed and replaced with language allowing inclusion in future fiscal bienniums.

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

Amendments

Apr 23, 2026

Upper · Passed

Conference committee meeting scheduled for 04-24-26 11:00AM; Conference Room 325.

upper

Apr 10, 2026

Amended

Senate disagrees with House amendments.

upper

Apr 10, 2026

Introduced

Received from House (Hse. Com. No. 504).

upper

Apr 9, 2026

Lower · Passed

Passed Third Reading with none voting aye with reservations; Representative(s) Pierick voting no (1) and Representative(s) Cochran excused (1). Transmitted to Senate.

lower

Apr 7, 2026

Lower · Passed

The committee on FIN recommend that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes were as follows: 15 Ayes: Representative(s) Todd, Takenouchi, Hartsfield, Hussey, Keohokapu-Lee Loy, Kitagawa, Kusch, Lee, M., Miyake, Perruso, Templo, Yamashita, Alcos, Gedeon, Reyes Oda; Ayes with reservations: none; 0 Noes: none; and 1 Excused: Representative(s) Morikawa.

lower

Mar 24, 2026

Committee

Reported from AGR (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1387-26) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to FIN.

lower

Mar 20, 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

Mar 10, 2026

Committee

Referred to AGR, FIN, referral sheet 16

lower

Mar 6, 2026

Introduced

Received from Senate (Sen. Com. No. 47) in amended form (SD 1).

lower

Mar 6, 2026

Upper · Passed

Report Adopted; Passed Third Reading. Ayes, 24; Aye(s) with reservations: none. Noes, 0 (none). Excused, 1 (Senator(s) Ihara). Transmitted to House.

upper

Mar 2, 2026

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, DeCoite, Elefante, Hashimoto, Inouye, Kanuha, Kidani, Kim, Lee, C., Richards, Wakai, Fevella; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 0 Excused: none.

upper

Feb 23, 2026

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on WAM will hold a public decision making on 02-25-26 10:55AM; Conference Room 211 & Videoconference.

upper

Feb 13, 2026

Upper · Passed

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

upper

Feb 13, 2026

Committee

Reported from AEN (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 2235) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to WAM.

upper

Feb 4, 2026

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

Jan 30, 2026

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on AEN has scheduled a public hearing on 02-04-26 3:00PM; Conference Room 224 & Videoconference.

upper

Jan 26, 2026

Committee

Referred to AEN, WAM.

upper

Jan 21, 2026

Introduced

Introduced and passed First Reading.

upper

Jan 15, 2026

Introduced

Pending Introduction.

upper

4 primary · 0 co-sponsors