SB 443 Hawaii Senate · 2026 Regular Session

RELATING TO AGRICULTURAL LANDS.

Summary

Requires that lands within the agricultural district with class B or C soils that have solar or wind energy facilities must also obtain certification from the Department of Agriculture that the lands are also used for a farming operation. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

Issues: ✗ Energy

Bill status passed both 4 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2025

Committee Review

Apr 2026

Senate Passage

Feb 2025

House Passage

Apr 2025

Governor

Introduced Jan 16, 2025 Last action Apr 17, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 3 comparisons

What changed between versions

SB443_HD2 → SB443_SD1 · 4 edits

MODERATE

The bill was revised to remove wind energy facilities from the list of permitted uses in agricultural districts, focusing the legislation solely on solar energy. It also updated the effective date from July 1, 3000, to upon approval, and streamlined the text by removing redundant definitions and formatting errors.

Scope change

The bill's scope was narrowed by excluding wind energy facilities from the agricultural district regulations that previously applied to both solar and wind projects.

SCOPE

Wind energy facilities were removed from the list of permitted uses in agricultural districts, meaning this specific bill no longer regulates wind projects on these lands.

TIMELINE

The effective date was changed from July 1, 3000, to 'upon its approval,' making the law effective immediately after signing.

TECHNICAL

The bill text was reorganized to amend a different subsection of the statute and removed redundant definitions and formatting inconsistencies.

REQUIREMENT

The requirement for solar energy facilities to be certified as supporting farming operations remains, but the conditions for solar facilities on lower-productivity soil (Class C) were simplified.

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 17, 2026

Committee

Re-Referred to WLA/EIG, WAM.

upper

Apr 10, 2025

Amended

Senate disagrees with House amendments.

upper

Apr 10, 2025

Introduced

Received from House (Hse. Com. No. 648).

upper

Apr 8, 2025

Lower · Passed

Passed Third Reading as amended in HD 2 with none voting aye with reservations; Representative(s) Pierick voting no (1) and Representative(s) Cochran, Marten excused (2). Transmitted to Senate.

lower

Apr 2, 2025

Lower · Passed

The committee on CPC recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 9 Ayes: Representative(s) Matayoshi, Chun, Ilagan, Ichiyama, Iwamoto, Kong, Lowen, Marten, Tam; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and 1 Excused: Representative(s) Pierick.

lower

Mar 21, 2025

Committee

Reported from AGR/EEP (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1411) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to CPC.

lower

Mar 19, 2025

Lower · Passed

The committee on EEP recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 4 Ayes: Representative(s) Lowen, Perruso, Kahaloa, Kusch; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and 2 Excused: Representative(s) Quinlan, Ward.

lower

Mar 19, 2025

Lower · Passed

The committee on AGR recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 4 Ayes: Representative(s) Kahaloa, Kusch, Lowen, Perruso; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and 2 Excused: Representative(s) Quinlan, Ward.

lower

Mar 4, 2025

Committee

Referred to AGR/EEP, CPC, referral sheet 18

lower

Feb 28, 2025

Introduced

Received from Senate (Sen. Com. No. 42) in amended form (SD 1).

lower

Feb 28, 2025

Upper · Passed

Report Adopted; Passed Third Reading. Ayes, 23; Aye(s) with reservations: none. Noes, 0 (none). Excused, 2 (Senator(s) Fukunaga, Kidani). Transmitted to House.

upper

Feb 19, 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 14, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on WAM will hold a public decision making on 02-19-25 10:02AM; Conference Room 211 & Videoconference.

upper

Feb 14, 2025

Upper · Passed

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

upper

Feb 14, 2025

Committee

Reported from WTL/EIG (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 603) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to WAM.

upper

Feb 7, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on EIG recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in EIG were as follows: 3 Aye(s): Senator(s) Wakai, Chang, Richards; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 2 Excused: Senator(s) DeCoite, Fevella.

upper

Feb 7, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on WTL recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in WTL were as follows: 5 Aye(s): Senator(s) Inouye, Elefante, Chang, McKelvey, DeCorte; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 0 Excused: none.

upper

Feb 4, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on WTL/EIG has scheduled a public hearing on 02-07-25 1:11PM; Conference Room 229 & Videoconference.

upper

Jan 21, 2025

Committee

Referred to WTL/EIG, WAM.

upper

Jan 16, 2025

Introduced

Introduced.

upper

6 primary · 1 co-sponsor