Bill > SB666

This bill addresses Hawaii's agricultural workforce challenges by converting two temporary Farm-to-School extension agent positions at the University of Hawaii at Manoa's College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resilience into permanent full-time positions, one on Kauai and one on Oahu, and establishing a new full-time Agriculture Education Coordinator position. The bill is motivated by concerns about Hawaii's aging farming population (average age of 60) and the lack of agricultural education, which has led to disinterest among youth in farming careers. The legislature believes that by supporting agriculture education, they can increase the number of students exposed to agricultural studies, improve career and technical education pathways in agriculture, expand higher education programs in food systems, train more agriculture teachers, and ultimately grow the local food production workforce. The bill appropriates funding for these positions in fiscal years 2025-2026 and 2026-2027, with the goal of enhancing food security, sustainability, and resilience in Hawaii. The legislation is part of a broader effort to support a coordinated framework for agriculture education, stemming from a working group's recommendations, and is considered a matter of statewide concern under the Hawaii State Constitution. The act is set to take effect on July 31, 2050.

Budget and Finance, Education

https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session/measure_indiv.aspx?billtype=SB&billnumber=666&year=2025