Hawaii House Bill HB1383

Hawaii 2024 Regular Session

• Introduced: 1/25/23
• Refer: 1/30/23
• Report Pass: 2/16/23
• Report Pass: 3/3/23
• Refer: 2/16/23
• Engrossed: 3/7/23
• Refer: 3/10/23
• Report Pass: 3/22/23
• Refer: 3/22/23

Caption

Relating To Agriculture.

Impact

To support this initiative, HB1383 includes provisions for an income tax credit aimed at incentivizing local farmers and qualified taxpayers to grow these identified produce items. The tax credit is designed to offset the costs incurred in producing agricultural import replacements, which can include equipment, materials, and other necessary expenses. This financial incentive is capped at a total of $5 million for all qualified taxpayers in any given year, with specific procedural requirements to claim the credit.

Summary

House Bill 1383, relating to agriculture, proposes the establishment of an Agricultural Import Replacement Task Force within the Department of Agriculture. The task force's mandate is to identify the top ten fruits and vegetables that are currently imported into Hawaii but could potentially be cultivated commercially within the state. The goal of this initiative is to reduce reliance on imported agricultural products, thereby enhancing local food production and sustainability.

Contention

Some notable points of contention may arise regarding the task force's composition and the tax credit's eligibility criteria. Critics might argue that the task force should include more diverse agricultural representation to ensure the interests of smaller farms are adequately represented. Additionally, there could be debates on the effectiveness of the tax credit—specifically, whether it will sufficiently motivate farmers to pivot towards more sustainable practices and local production or whether other support mechanisms might be more effective.

Implementation

The task force is expected to submit its findings and recommendations, including any associated proposed legislation, to the legislature by December 1, 2024, with the task force itself being dissolved by June 30, 2025. The bill's effective date is set provisionally to June 30, 3000, likely indicating a long-term vision for agricultural sustainability and infrastructure development in Hawaii.