Bill > HB685

This bill aims to support agricultural development in the Ka?u region of Hawaii by authorizing the Agribusiness Development Corporation (ADC) to purchase a specific parcel of land (tax map key: (3) 9-6-5:63) owned by the Ellis Jacob Hester Trust. The legislation recognizes Ka?u's rich agricultural history, including its transition from sugar plantations to diverse agricultural enterprises like fruit and vegetable farming, coffee cultivation, macadamia nut production, and livestock grazing. The bill authorizes the director of finance to issue general obligation bonds to finance the land purchase for fiscal year 2025-2026, with the goal of enhancing the region's agricultural resilience and food security. The ADC will use the land to support local farmers through strategies such as land leasing, increasing agricultural production, providing access to resources, developing workforce skills, and improving infrastructure, while also preventing land acquisition by foreign buyers. The appropriated funds will not lapse until June 30, 2028, giving the ADC flexibility in implementing the land purchase, and the bill is set to take effect on July 1, 3000 (which appears to be a typographical error and likely means July 1, 2025).

Agriculture and Natural Resources, Budget and Finance, Labor and Employment

https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session/measure_indiv.aspx?billtype=HB&billnumber=685&year=2025