Bill > SB1155

This bill establishes the Agricultural Development and Food Security Special Fund within the state treasury, which will be funded through a portion of the Environmental Response, Energy, and Food Security Tax, legislative appropriations, grants, donations, and interest earnings. The special fund can be used for various agricultural purposes, including awarding grants to farmers, acquiring and improving agricultural property and infrastructure, purchasing agricultural equipment, conducting agricultural research, funding agricultural inspector positions, promoting agricultural products, improving water quality, and supporting activities that could reduce food importation. The Department of Agriculture will be required to submit an annual report to the legislature detailing the fund's spending plan, expenditures, targeted markets, beneficiaries, and specific objectives with measurable outcomes. Additionally, the bill requires that the Department of Agriculture's base budget be increased to three percent of the state budget, and it modifies the existing Environmental Response, Energy, and Food Security Tax to allocate a portion of the tax revenue to this new special fund. The bill is set to take effect on July 1, 2025.

Agriculture and Natural Resources

https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session/measure_indiv.aspx?billtype=SB&billnumber=1155&year=2025