Bill > SB2405

This bill establishes an Agricultural Workforce Housing Working Group within the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity to address the critical shortage and challenges related to housing for agricultural workers in the State of Hawaii. This working group will be comprised of representatives from various state departments, including agriculture, housing finance, land use, and planning, as well as invited members from agricultural organizations like the Hawaii Agricultural Foundation and the Hawaii Farm Bureau. The group's mandate includes identifying the specific housing needs of agricultural workers across different counties, assessing existing government resources that could be repurposed for housing, and evaluating current laws and policies to determine necessary revisions for constructing workforce housing near agricultural zones or in mixed-use areas. Furthermore, the working group will explore partnerships with public and private entities, identify financial incentives such as tax credits for employers who invest in worker housing, and study the feasibility of a state income tax credit for investors in agricultural workforce housing projects. The working group is required to submit an interim report to the Legislature by early 2028 and a final report by early 2029, after which it will be dissolved on June 30, 2029. The bill also appropriates funds for the fiscal year 2026-2027 to support the working group's data gathering, report preparation, and related expenses, and it is set to take effect on July 1, 2050.

Agriculture and Natural Resources, Budget and Finance

https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session/measure_indiv.aspx?billtype=SB&billnumber=2405&year=2026