Bill > SB1111

This bill establishes a comprehensive Agricultural Statistics Program within Hawaii's Department of Agriculture to improve data collection, analysis, and reporting on agricultural activities. The program will focus on collecting data about intra- and inter-island transportation of fresh fruits and vegetables, and will implement a structured rotation of surveys covering diverse agricultural sectors such as agricultural theft, aquaculture, farm technology, livestock productivity, and tropical fruits. The bill creates provisions for the program to collaborate with federal agencies like the USDA, national statistical services, and local institutions like the University of Hawaii, while ensuring data confidentiality. To support the program, the bill appropriates funds to establish six new positions (two agricultural economists and four research statisticians), create secured office space, develop electronic data collection systems, and conduct specialized agricultural surveys across six Hawaiian islands. The program aims to provide producers and policymakers with critical insights to support strategic agricultural planning, enhance local product availability, and expand market capacity. The bill is set to take effect on July 1, 2050, and emphasizes protecting the privacy of individual data while allowing aggregate statistical reporting.

Agriculture and Natural Resources, Budget and Finance

https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session/measure_indiv.aspx?billtype=SB&billnumber=1111&year=2026