URGING THE COUNTIES TO ADOPT LOCAL ZONING ORDINANCES TO REQUIRE OWNERS OF AGRICULTURAL-ZONED LANDS TO EXECUTE AND RECORD DECLARATIONS THAT ACKNOWLEDGE STATE AND COUNTY AGRICULTURAL LAND USE REGULATIONS AND REQUIREMENTS AND PENALTIES FOR NONCOMPLIANCE.

This Senate Resolution (SR 97) urges Hawaii's counties to adopt local zoning rules requiring agricultural landowners to sign and record declarations acknowledging state and county land-use rules and penalties for not following them. It directly affects owners of agricultural-zoned land across all counties, aiming to increase active farming on the nearly 2 million acres designated for agriculture but currently underutilized (only ~14% used for crops or grazing). The resolution references existing Maui County practice and encourages counties to also share resources about farm mentorship programs to help landowners start farming. It is not a binding law but a recommendation to address Hawaii’s agricultural land underuse, as highlighted by state data showing most agricultural land is not actively farmed.