Bill > SB240

This bill amends Hawaii's Right to Farm Act to provide more nuanced protections for agricultural operations while establishing clearer guidelines for what constitutes a legitimate farming operation. The bill expands the definition of "farming operation" to include customary and traditional subsistence farming by native Hawaiian cultural practitioners, while explicitly excluding concentrated animal feeding operations and businesses with non-transparent ownership structures. The legislation introduces new criteria for farming operations to be protected against nuisance claims, requiring that such operations were established before surrounding non-agricultural activities, are conducted using generally accepted agricultural practices, and do not cause significant environmental harm or public health concerns. Additionally, the bill empowers counties to create agricultural practice ordinances, mandates public disclosure of ownership and beneficiary structures, and emphasizes broader considerations such as protecting community rights, environmental preservation, and sustainable agricultural practices. The purpose is to balance agricultural protections with community standards, ensuring that farming operations are accountable and aligned with local environmental, health, and cultural priorities, while preventing misuse of agricultural protection laws by large-scale industrial operations.

Agriculture and Natural Resources

https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session/measure_indiv.aspx?billtype=SB&billnumber=240&year=2026