Informing the Legislature that on July 3, 2024, the Governor signed the following bill into law: SB2413 SD2 HD1 CD1 (ACT 181).

This bill requires the Hawaii Board of Agriculture to submit a detailed report to the legislature by May 2025 regarding the use and financial transactions of state agricultural leases. The report must specify the percentage of leased land that is suitable for farming versus actually being farmed, along with specific dollar amounts related to lease transfers between individuals. These provisions aim to provide data on whether state-subsidized land leases are being used for their intended agricultural purposes or converted into private windfall profits. The bill directly affects the Board of Agriculture and the legislature by mandating this transparency review of existing lease agreements.