SB 448 Hawaii Senate · 2026 Regular Session

RELATING TO AGRICULTURE.

Summary

Appropriates funds to the Agribusiness Development Corporation to acquire a conservation easement on agricultural lands in Central Oahu. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Issues: ✓ Environment

Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2025

Committee Review

Mar 2025

Senate Passage

Feb 2025

House Passage

Governor

Introduced Jan 16, 2025 Last action Dec 8, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

SB448_HD1 → SB448_SD1 · 4 edits

MODERATE

The bill was converted from a House version (HD1) to a Senate version (SD1), updating metadata and correcting a critical typo in the effective date from the year 3000 to 2050. The text was also modernized to reference specific Acts (175 and 176) instead of generic section numbers when describing food sourcing mandates.

Scope change

The bill's scope remains focused on funding the Agribusiness Development Corporation to acquire a conservation easement in Central Oahu, but the corrected effective date ensures the law applies to the intended fiscal period.

TIMELINE

The effective date of the Act was changed from July 1, 3000 to July 1, 2050, correcting a significant clerical error that would have delayed the law's implementation indefinitely.

TECHNICAL

References to food sourcing laws were updated to cite specific Acts (Act 175 and Act 176) rather than generic statute section numbers, improving legal clarity.

The purpose statement was slightly reworded to remove the specific phrase 'on agricultural lands' in favor of 'a conservation easement,' broadening the description slightly while maintaining the same intent.

The appropriation language was updated to use 'acquisition of a conservation easement' instead of 'acquire a conservation easement on agricultural lands,' aligning with the purpose statement.

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 11, 2025

Committee

Reported from AGR (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1176) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to FIN.

lower

Mar 7, 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, Lowen, Perruso, Quinlan; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and 2 Excused: Representative(s) Kusch, Ward.

lower

Mar 4, 2025

Committee

Referred to AGR, FIN, referral sheet 18

lower

Feb 28, 2025

Introduced

Received from Senate (Sen. Com. No. 44) 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 18, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on WAM recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes in WAM were as follows: 12 Aye(s): Senator(s) Dela Cruz, Moriwaki, Aquino, Elefante, Hashimoto, Inouye, Kanuha, Kidani, Kim, Lee, C., Wakai, Fevella; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 1 Excused: Senator(s) DeCoite.

upper

Feb 14, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on WAM will hold a public decision making on 02-18-25 10:01AM; Conference Room 211 & Videoconference.

upper

Feb 11, 2025

Upper · Passed

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

upper

Feb 11, 2025

Committee

Reported from EDT (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 215) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to WAM.

upper

Feb 4, 2025

Upper · Passed

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

upper

Jan 30, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on EDT has scheduled a public hearing on 02-04-25 1:00PM; Conference Room 229 & Videoconference.

upper

Jan 21, 2025

Committee

Referred to EDT, WAM.

upper

Jan 16, 2025

Introduced

Introduced.

upper

1 primary · 0 co-sponsors