Hawaii bills · 2026 Regular Session
Hawaii SB 2153
RELATING TO AGRICULTURE.
- Introduced
- In committee
- Passed Senate
- Passed House
- To Governor
- Became law
Sponsors
Cosponsors (5)
- Fukunaga (Democratic)
- Hashimoto (Democratic)
- Moriwaki (Democratic)
- San Buenaventura (Democratic)
- Wakai (Democratic)
Summary
Official abstract published by the Hawaii legislature· description
Requires the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity to convene a Bona Fide Farmer Working Group to develop multi-tiered, matrix-based definitions for the terms "bona fide farmer" and "bona fide agricultural activity". Requires a report to the Legislature. (CD1)
Text versions
Roll-call votes
State vote data last updated Oct 15, 2026, 8:06 AM.
Actions
- Jan 14, 2026 · Senate
Pending Introduction. - Jan 21, 2026 · Senate
Introduced and passed First Reading. - Jan 22, 2026 · Senate
Referred to AEN, WAM. - Jan 23, 2026 · Senate
The committee(s) on AEN has scheduled a public hearing on 01-28-26 3:00PM; Conference Room 224 & Videoconference. - Jan 28, 2026 · Senate
The committee(s) on AEN recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in AEN were as follows: 4 Aye(s): Senator(s) Gabbard, Richards, DeCoite, Rhoads; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 1 No(es): Senator(s) Awa; and 0 Excused: none. - Feb 11, 2026 · Senate
Reported from AEN (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 2187) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to WAM. - Feb 11, 2026 · Senate
Report adopted; Passed Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referred to WAM. - Feb 27, 2026 · Senate
The committee(s) on WAM will hold a public decision making on 03-03-26 10:17AM; Conference Room 211 & Videoconference. - Mar 3, 2026 · Senate
The committee(s) on WAM recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in WAM were as follows: 12 Aye(s): Senator(s) Dela Cruz, Moriwaki, DeCoite, Elefante, Hashimoto, Inouye, Kanuha, Kidani, Kim, Lee, C., Richards, Wakai; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 1 Excused: Senator(s) Fevella. - Mar 6, 2026 · Senate
Reported from WAM (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 2942) with recommendation of passage on Third Reading, as amended (SD 2). - Mar 6, 2026 · Senate
48 Hrs. Notice 03-10-26. - Mar 10, 2026 · Senate
Report Adopted; Passed Third Reading, as amended (SD 2). Ayes, 24; Aye(s) with reservations: none. Noes, 1 (Senator(s) Awa). Excused, 0 (none). Transmitted to House. - Mar 10, 2026 · House
Received from Senate (Sen. Com. No. 183) in amended form (SD 2). - Mar 12, 2026 · House
Pass First Reading - Mar 12, 2026 · House
Referred to AGR, FIN, referral sheet 17 - Mar 17, 2026 · House
Bill scheduled to be heard by AGR on Friday, 03-20-26 9:30AM in House conference room 325 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE. - Mar 20, 2026 · House
The committee on AGR recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 6 Ayes: Representative(s) Chun, Kusch, Kahaloa, Lowen, Perruso, Matsumoto; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and 1 Excused: Representative(s) Quinlan. - Mar 24, 2026 · House
Reported from AGR (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1389-26) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to FIN. - Mar 24, 2026 · House
Passed Second Reading as amended in HD 1 and referred to the committee(s) on FIN with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Garrett, Quinlan excused (2). - Mar 31, 2026 · House
Bill scheduled to be heard by FIN on Thursday, 04-02-26 2:00PM in House conference room 308 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE. - Apr 2, 2026 · House
The committee(s) on FIN recommend(s) that the measure be deferred until 04-07-26. - Apr 2, 2026 · House
Bill scheduled for decision making on Tuesday, 04-07-26 10:10AM in conference room 308 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE. - Apr 7, 2026 · House
The committee on FIN recommend that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes were as follows: 15 Ayes: Representative(s) Todd, Takenouchi, Hartsfield, Hussey, Keohokapu-Lee Loy, Kitagawa, Kusch, Lee, M., Miyake, Perruso, Templo, Yamashita, Alcos, Gedeon, Reyes Oda; Ayes with reservations: none; 0 Noes: none; and 1 Excused: Representative(s) Morikawa. - Apr 9, 2026 · House
Reported from FIN (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1998-26), recommending passage on Third Reading. - Apr 9, 2026 · House
Passed Third Reading with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Cochran excused (1). Transmitted to Senate. - Apr 10, 2026 · Senate
Received from House (Hse. Com. No. 502). - Apr 10, 2026 · Senate
Senate disagrees with House amendments. - Apr 10, 2026 · House
Received notice of disagreement (Sen. Com. No. 564). - Apr 20, 2026 · House
House Conferees Appointed: Chun, Kusch Co-Chairs; Kahaloa, Matsumoto. - Apr 20, 2026 · Senate
Received notice of appointment of House conferees (Hse. Com. No. 787). - Apr 20, 2026 · Senate
Senate Conferees Appointed: Gabbard Chair; Richards Co-Chair; DeCoite. - Apr 20, 2026 · House
Received notice of Senate conferees (Sen. Com. No. 714). - Apr 23, 2026 · Senate
Conference committee meeting scheduled for 04-24-26 11:00AM; Conference Room 325. - Apr 24, 2026 · Senate
Conference committee meeting to reconvene on 04-28-26 9:30AM; Conference Room 325. - Apr 28, 2026 · Senate
The Conference committee recommends that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes of the Senate Conference Managers were as follows: 3 Aye(s): Senator(s) Gabbard, Richards, DeCoite; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 0 Excused: none. - Apr 28, 2026 · House
The Conference Committee recommends that the measure be Passed, with Amendments. The votes were as follows: 4 Ayes: Representative(s) Chun, Kusch, Kahaloa, Matsumoto; Ayes with reservations: none; 0 Noes: none; and 0 Excused: none. - Apr 29, 2026 · Senate
Reported from Conference Committee as amended CD 1 (Conf. Com. Rep. No. 32-26). - Apr 29, 2026 · Senate
48 Hrs. Notice (as amended CD 1) 05-01-26. - Apr 29, 2026 · House
Reported from Conference Committee (Conf Com. Rep. No. 32-26) as amended in (CD 1). - Apr 29, 2026 · House
Forty-eight (48) hours notice Friday, 05-01-26. - May 1, 2026 · House
Deferred one day 05-06-26. - May 1, 2026 · Senate
Passed Final Reading, as amended (CD 1). Ayes, 24; Aye(s) with reservations: none. Noes, 0 (none). Excused, 1 (Senator(s) Fukunaga). - May 5, 2026 · House
Received notice of Final Reading (Sen. Com. No. 814). - May 6, 2026 · House
Passed Final Reading as amended in CD 1 with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and none excused (0). - May 8, 2026 · Senate
Received notice of passage on Final Reading in House (Hse. Com. No. 888). - May 7, 2026 · Senate
Enrolled to Governor. - Jun 26, 2026 · Senate
Act 167, 06/26/2026 (Gov. Msg. No. 1269). - Jun 26, 2026 · House
Act 167, on 06/26/2026 (Gov. Msg. No. 1269).