HB 1606 Hawaii House · 2026 Regular Session

RELATING TO AGRICULTURE.

Summary

Transfers powers, duties, personnel, personal property, and materials of the Aquaculture and Livestock Support Services Branch and Agricultural Development Division of the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity to the Agribusiness Development Corporation. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Bill status in committee 3 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2026

Committee Review

Feb 2026

House Passage

Feb 2026

Senate Passage

Governor

Introduced Jan 16, 2026 Last action Feb 4, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

HB1606 → HB1606_HD1 · 3 edits

MINOR

This bill amends HB 1606 to formally transfer the Aquaculture and Livestock Support Services Branch and the Agricultural Development Division from the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity to the Agribusiness Development Corporation. The amendment clarifies that all existing contracts and permits involving the former department will automatically apply to the new corporation, ensuring legal continuity. Additionally, the effective date of the transfer is set to July 1, 3000, a significant change from the previous provision that stated the act would take effect upon approval.

Scope change

The bill's scope has expanded by explicitly including the transfer of powers, duties, personnel, and assets of two specific divisions to a new corporation, whereas the original text focused more broadly on the department.

TIMELINE

The effective date of the transfer was changed from 'upon approval' to a fixed future date of July 1, 3000.

DEFINITION

Updated references to the 'department of agriculture and biosecurity' to ensure they are legally construed as the 'agribusiness development corporation' after the transfer.

REQUIREMENT

Explicitly added that powers, duties, personnel, and materials of the transferred divisions are now part of the Agribusiness Development Corporation.

Floor votes · House Feb 4, 2026

How they voted

45–5

Passed · 1 other

Total votes 51

Feb 4, 2026

D Democratic41

38 Yea 2 Nay 1

92% Yea

R Republican10

7 Yea 3 Nay

70% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Feb 4, 2026

Committee

Reported from AGR (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 9-26) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to ECD.

lower

Feb 4, 2026

House · Passed

House Vote: pass (45-5-1)

house

Jan 30, 2026

Lower · Passed

The committee on AGR recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 6 Ayes: Representative(s) Chun, Kusch, Kahaloa, Lowen, Quinlan; Ayes with reservations: Representative(s) Matsumoto; 1 Noes: Representative(s) Perruso; and Excused: none.

lower

Jan 26, 2026

Committee

Referred to AGR, ECD, FIN, referral sheet 1

lower

Jan 21, 2026

Introduced

Introduced and Pass First Reading.

lower

Jan 16, 2026

Introduced

Prefiled.

lower

1 primary · 0 co-sponsors