Hawaii House Bill HCR23

Hawaii 2024 Regular Session

• Introduced: 2/22/24
• Refer: 3/8/24
• Report Pass: 3/25/24
• Refer: 3/25/24

Caption

Requesting The Board Of Agriculture To Conduct A Study On The Percentages Of Agricultural Lands Being Leased By The State That Are Suitable For Farming And Actively Being Used For Farming Purposes And Certain Dollar Amounts Relating To Lease Transfers.

Impact

The resolution aims to bring attention to the utilization of state agricultural leases, especially in high-demand locations where lessees often transfer their leases for profit. This situation is viewed as a possible misallocation of valuable agricultural resources, detracting from the intended purpose of these lands. The study will also explore the economic implications of subsidized leases that may inadvertently benefit a small number of individuals over the wider agricultural community.

Summary

HCR23 is a House Concurrent Resolution from the Thirty-Second Legislature of Hawaii, requesting the Board of Agriculture to conduct a study on state-leased agricultural lands. The focus of the study is to evaluate the percentages of agricultural lands suitable for farming and currently in active agricultural use. This resolution seeks to enhance the understanding of how agricultural lands are utilized and to assess the effectiveness of the current leasing practices in supporting the state's goals for food self-sufficiency and economic diversification.

Contention

One notable aspect of the discussion surrounding HCR23 is the potential for reforming how agricultural leases are managed. There are concerns that the current system enables lessees to profit from transfers of leases where the financial benefits may not align with agricultural productivity or community needs. The resolution underscores the necessity for greater oversight and data collection to ensure that the state’s agricultural assets are leveraged in a manner that promotes actual farming activities rather than other non-agricultural uses.