Bill > HB1012

This bill requires the Office of Planning and Sustainable Development (OPSD) to update Hawaii's Land Study Bureau (LSB) Soil Rating System, which is a method for classifying and evaluating agricultural land based on soil characteristics. The bill addresses the fact that the current soil data has not been updated since the 1960s and 1970s, which undermines the system's credibility. The OPSD will update the soil data by incorporating the latest United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Natural Resources Conservation Service soil data, develop a process for regular updates, create detailed digital soil maps, and draft necessary statutory changes. The office will collaborate with the USDA and American Farmland Trust to ensure national standards are met, establish a public review process for the updated data, and present the final updated LSB Soil Rating System to the legislature within 24 months. The bill also requires cooperation from various state and county agencies, including the Department of Land and Natural Resources, Department of Agriculture, University of Hawaii's College of Tropical Agriculture, Land Use Commission, and county planning agencies. To support this work, the bill appropriates $400,000 from state general revenues for fiscal year 2025-2026, with the act taking effect on July 1, 2025. The overall goal is to improve the accuracy and reliability of soil data to better support agricultural land management and sustainability efforts in Hawaii.

Agriculture and Natural Resources

https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session/measure_indiv.aspx?billtype=HB&billnumber=1012&year=2026