SB 762 Hawaii Senate · 2026 Regular Session

RELATING TO AGRICULTURAL CRIMES.

Summary

Establishes the Hawaii Agricultural Crimes Council. Expands the duties of the Department of Agriculture to collaborate with and support the Council. Requires all moneys, revenues, and fines received and processed by the Council to be deposited into the Agricultural Enforcement Special Fund. Allows moneys in the Agricultural Enforcement Special Fund to be expended to cover the costs of the Council. Establishes positions. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/2050. (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 17, 2025 Last action Dec 8, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

SB762 → SB762_SD1 · 7 edits

MODERATE

This bill transforms the Hawaii Agricultural Crimes Council from a temporary pilot program into a permanent entity with a dedicated funding source. The most significant change is the creation of a new 'Agricultural Enforcement Special Fund' to replace the 'Animal Industry Special Fund,' ensuring the council has its own specific revenue stream rather than sharing resources with animal industry operations. Additionally, the bill expands the council's investigators' legal powers to enforce a broader range of state laws and county ordinances, not just Title 11, and formally exempts the executive director from standard civil service rules.

Scope change

The bill expands the scope of enforcement powers for council investigators to include all state laws and county ordinances within state lands, and broadens the council's definition of duties to include verifying all agricultural leases and permits.

FISCAL

Created a new 'Agricultural Enforcement Special Fund' to exclusively house moneys, revenues, and fines from the council, removing the requirement to share these funds with the Animal Industry Special Fund.

Changed the appropriation language to remove specific dollar amounts, indicating the funding will be determined through a future legislative act.

ENFORCEMENT

Expanded the legal authority of council investigators to enforce all state laws and county ordinances, not just Title 11, while explicitly prohibiting them from carrying firearms.

REQUIREMENT

Added specific duties for investigators to check and verify all agricultural leases, permits, and licenses issued by the Department of Agriculture.

TIMELINE

Extended the effective date of the act from July 1, 2025, to July 1, 2050, making the council a long-term or permanent institution.

DEFINITION

Updated the composition of the council to allow for designees of the chairperson, attorney general, prosecuting attorneys, and law enforcement directors to serve as members.

TECHNICAL

Added specific civil service exemptions for the executive director and senior software developers in the Department of Taxation.

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 WAM/JDC.

upper

Feb 13, 2025

Committee

Reported from AEN/PSM (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 403) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to WAM/JDC.

upper

Feb 7, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on PSM recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in PSM were as follows: 2 Aye(s): Senator(s) Elefante, Rhoads; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 1 No(es): Senator(s) DeCorte; and 2 Excused: Senator(s) Wakai, Fukunaga.

upper

Feb 7, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on AEN recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in AEN were as follows: 4 Aye(s): Senator(s) Gabbard, Richards, DeCoite, Rhoads; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 1 No(es): Senator(s) Awa; and 0 Excused: none.

upper

Feb 4, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on AEN/PSM has scheduled a public hearing on 02-07-25 1:00PM; Conference Room 224 & Videoconference.

upper

Jan 23, 2025

Committee

Referred to AEN/PSM, WAM/JDC.

upper

Jan 17, 2025

Introduced

Introduced.