HB 966 Hawaii House · 2025 Regular Session

RELATING TO AGRICULTURAL TOURISM.

Summary

Establishes statewide, uniform standards to promote agricultural tourism activities in the State for all counties that have adopted an agricultural tourism ordinance. Requires agricultural tourism activities to be registered by the county planning department. Requires agricultural tourism activities to coexist with an agricultural activity on a farming operation and requires termination of the agricultural tourism activities upon cessation of the agricultural activity, except under certain circumstances. Makes conforming amendments. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2025

Committee Review

Mar 2025

House Passage

Mar 2025

Senate Passage

Governor

Introduced Jan 21, 2025 Last action Mar 19, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

HB966_HD1 → HB966_HD2 · 6 edits

MODERATE

This bill updates Hawaii's agricultural tourism laws to create uniform statewide standards for all counties that have adopted agricultural tourism ordinances. It establishes clear requirements for registering agricultural tourism activities, ensures these activities remain secondary to primary farming operations, and mandates automatic termination of tourism activities if farming ceases. The bill also expands definitions of agricultural districts to include various commercial operations and renewable energy facilities while maintaining protections for productive agricultural land.

Scope change

The bill applies statewide to all counties that have adopted agricultural tourism ordinances, creating consistent regulations across Hawaii rather than allowing each county to set its own rules.

REQUIREMENT

Requires agricultural tourism activities to be registered with county planning departments, including details about farm access, facilities, visitor activities, tax returns, and agricultural water rates.

Mandates automatic termination of agricultural tourism authorization when the underlying agricultural activity ceases, except for temporary interruptions due to weather, disease, pests, market disruptions, or crop changes.

ELIGIBILITY

Establishes that agricultural tourism activities must be accessory and secondary to principal agricultural use and must not interfere with surrounding farm operations.

DEFINITION

Expands the definition of 'farming operation' to include agricultural-based commercial operations, noise and odors from facilities, machinery operation, and labor use.

SCOPE

Adds various agricultural-based commercial operations to agricultural districts, including roadside stands, retail activities, farmers' markets, food hubs, and certain renewable energy facilities.

TIMELINE

Sets the effective date of the Act to July 1, 3000, which appears to be a placeholder date that may need correction.

Floor votes

How they voted

This bill passed the House by voice vote (no roll call recorded).

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Mar 13, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on AEN/WTL/EDT/EIG has scheduled a public hearing on 03-19-25 1:00PM; Conference Room 229 & Videoconference.

upper

Mar 6, 2025

Committee

Referred to AEN/WTL/EDT/EIG, WAM.

upper

Mar 6, 2025

Introduced

Received from House (Hse. Com. No. 309).

upper

Mar 4, 2025

Lower · Passed

Passed Third Reading as amended in HD 2 with none voting aye with reservations; Representative(s) Marten voting no (1) and Representative(s) Pierick, Ward excused (2). Transmitted to Senate.

lower

Feb 20, 2025

Lower · Passed

The committee on JHA recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 10 Ayes: Representative(s) Tarnas, Poepoe, Belatti, Hashem, Kahaloa, Perruso, Takayama, Todd, Garcia, Shimizu; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and 1 Excused: Representative(s) Cochran.

lower

Feb 14, 2025

Committee

Report adopted; referred to the committee(s) on JHA with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Cochran, Matayoshi, Poepoe, Ward excused (4).

lower

Feb 14, 2025

Committee

Reported from WAL (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 716), recommending referral to JHA.

lower

Feb 13, 2025

Lower · Passed

The committee on WAL recommend that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes were as follows: 8 Ayes: Representative(s) Hashem, Lamosao, Belatti, Ichiyama, Iwamoto, Morikawa, Shimizu, Souza; Ayes with reservations: none; 0 Noes: none; and 2 Excused: Representative(s) Poepoe, Woodson.

lower

Feb 6, 2025

Committee

Reported from AGR/TOU (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 234) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to WAL.

lower

Feb 5, 2025

Lower · Passed

The committee on TOU recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 5 Ayes: Representative(s) Tam, Templo, Holt, Ilagan, Todd; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and 2 Excused: Representative(s) Hussey, Matsumoto.

lower

Feb 5, 2025

Lower · Passed

The committee on AGR recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 5 Ayes: Representative(s) Kahaloa, Kusch, Lowen, Perruso, Quinlan; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and 1 Excused: Representative(s) Ward.

lower

Jan 23, 2025

Committee

Referred to AGR/TOU, WAL, JHA, referral sheet 3

lower

Jan 23, 2025

Introduced

Introduced and Pass First Reading.

lower

Jan 21, 2025

Introduced

Pending introduction.

lower

22 primary · 0 co-sponsors