Bill > HB192

This bill addresses foreign ownership of agricultural land in Hawaii by establishing comprehensive restrictions and reporting requirements. The legislation limits foreign entities—defined as corporations, business associations, or organizations not incorporated in the United States—from owning, leasing, or holding a controlling interest in agricultural lands, though the specific acreage limit is not specified in the provided text. Foreign entities will be prohibited from leasing agricultural land for periods exceeding five years and must file annual reports with the Department of Agriculture detailing their land ownership, including total acreage, location, and types of agricultural production. The bill creates exceptions for inheritances, transfers to family members, non-agricultural land use, short-term leases, and lands already owned by foreign entities before July 1, 2025. Enforcement mechanisms include potential fines for ownership violations and non-compliance with reporting requirements, and any land transactions made in violation of the law can be deemed void. The legislature's motivation stems from concerns about food security and local farmer access, noting that in 2022, Hawaii had the second-highest percentage of foreign-held agricultural land in the United States at 12.8%. The bill also mandates the creation of a public online registry of foreign-owned agricultural lands and appropriates funds for maintaining this registry, with the entire act set to take effect on July 1, 2025.

Agriculture and Natural Resources

https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session/measure_indiv.aspx?billtype=HB&billnumber=192&year=2026