SB 2126 Hawaii Senate · 2026 Regular Session

RELATING TO AGRICULTURAL GRANTS.

Summary

Establishes the Farming Grant Program to be administered by the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity to provide grants to small and midsized farmers. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Issues: ✓ Budget & Taxes

Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2026

Committee Review

Feb 2026

Senate Passage

Feb 2026

House Passage

Governor

Introduced Jan 14, 2026 Last action Feb 3, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

SB2126 → SB2126_SD1 · 4 edits

MODERATE

The bill was amended to rename the program from 'Conventional Farming Grant Program' to 'Farming Grant Program' and significantly expanded eligibility to include sustainable, organic, and regenerative farming methods. While the original text required applicants to practice conventional farming, the new version allows grants for any of those four methods, though the program name no longer reflects this broader scope. The effective date was moved from July 1, 2026, to July 1, 2050, and specific allowable uses of grant funds were clarified to include soil health, equipment upgrades, and climate-smart techniques.

Scope change

The bill's scope expanded from exclusively supporting conventional farming to supporting conventional, sustainable, organic, and regenerative farming methods.

SCOPE

The program name changed from 'Conventional Farming Grant Program' to 'Farming Grant Program'.

ELIGIBILITY

Eligibility was broadened to include farms practicing sustainable, organic, or regenerative methods, removing the strict requirement for conventional farming.

REQUIREMENT

New specific categories were added for allowable grant expenditures, including soil health improvements, equipment upgrades, and climate-smart techniques.

TIMELINE

The effective date of the Act was changed from July 1, 2026, to July 1, 2050.

Floor votes

How they voted

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

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Feb 3, 2026

Upper · Passed

Report adopted; Passed Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referred to WAM.

upper

Feb 3, 2026

Committee

Reported from AEN (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 2104) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to WAM.

upper

Jan 28, 2026

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on AEN recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in AEN were as follows: 5 Aye(s): Senator(s) Gabbard, Richards, DeCoite, Rhoads, Awa; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 0 Excused: none.

upper

Jan 23, 2026

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on AEN has scheduled a public hearing on 01-28-26 3:00PM; Conference Room 224 & Videoconference.

upper

Jan 22, 2026

Committee

Referred to AEN, WAM.

upper

Jan 21, 2026

Introduced

Introduced and passed First Reading.

upper

Jan 14, 2026

Introduced

Pending Introduction.

upper

1 primary · 2 co-sponsors