Bill > SB661

This bill appropriates funds to Hawaii's Department of Agriculture to establish and operate programs focused on developing innovative plant-based building materials, specifically biocements and materials made from hemp and bamboo. The funding will support activities such as educational seminars, equipment fairs, and approved seed sales related to these sustainable construction technologies. The bill allocates an unspecified amount of money from the state's general revenues for fiscal years 2025-2026 and 2026-2027, with the department of agriculture responsible for expending the funds to advance research, education, and potentially commercialization of these alternative building materials. While the bill sets an unusually distant future effective date of July 1, 2050, it represents a forward-looking investment in sustainable construction technologies that could potentially reduce the environmental impact of building materials by utilizing renewable plant resources like hemp and bamboo, and exploring innovative biocement technologies that might offer more eco-friendly alternatives to traditional concrete and construction materials.

Agriculture and Natural Resources, Budget and Finance

https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session/measure_indiv.aspx?billtype=SB&billnumber=661&year=2026