SB 2371 Hawaii Senate · 2026 Regular Session

RELATING TO AGRIVOLTAICS.

Summary

Requires a landowner leasing agricultural sub-parcels on property used for agrivoltaics to prioritize lease offers for beginning farmers. Requires a landowner leasing agricultural sub-parcels on property used for agrivoltaics to submit an annual agrivoltaics compliance report to the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity. Authorizes DAB to penalize any landowner that fails to meet agrivoltaics requirements. Authorizes the development of solar energy facilities on agricultural lands with productivity ratings of B, C, or D under certain conditions. Authorizes a county planning commission to issue special permits for agrivoltaics requirements before the approval of the Land Use Commission under certain conditions. (SD1)

Issues: ✓ Energy

Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2026

Committee Review

Feb 2026

Senate Passage

Feb 2026

House Passage

Governor

Introduced Jan 16, 2026 Last action Feb 20, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

SB2371 → SB2371_SD1 · 5 edits

MODERATE

This bill updates the legislative metadata to reflect a Senate District 1 version and refines the rules for agrivoltaics on agricultural land. The most significant change is the removal of a requirement for solar projects to lease land at rates below fair market value, replacing it with a mandate that the land be actively used for commercial farming operations. Additionally, the definition of eligible land was slightly adjusted to include soil productivity ratings of B, C, or D, and new definitions were added to clarify what constitutes a 'farm operation' and 'agrivoltaics' under state law.

Scope change

The bill now explicitly includes lands with soil productivity ratings of B, C, or D (previously only B or C) and clarifies that eligible projects must be tied to active commercial farming operations rather than just having potential for such use.

REQUIREMENT

Removed the requirement that solar facilities lease land at rates below fair market rent; instead, the land must be actively used for commercial agricultural production.

ELIGIBILITY

Expanded eligible soil productivity ratings from B or C to include B, C, or D.

DEFINITION

Added specific definitions for 'agrivoltaics' and 'farm operation' to clarify eligibility and compliance standards.

Updated the definition of 'commercial agricultural production' to emphasize active pursuit including livestock and poultry.

TECHNICAL

Updated bill metadata including author names, dates, and revision numbers to reflect the Senate District 1 version.

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 20, 2026

Upper · Passed

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

upper

Feb 20, 2026

Committee

Reported from AEN/WLA/EIG (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 2685) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to CPN/JDC.

upper

Feb 18, 2026

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on AEN recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in AEN were as follows: 4 Aye(s): Senator(s) Gabbard, Richards, DeCoite, Rhoads; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 1 Excused: Senator(s) Awa.

upper

Feb 18, 2026

Upper · Passed

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

upper

Feb 18, 2026

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on WLA recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in WLA were as follows: 3 Aye(s): Senator(s) Lee, C., Inouye, Chang; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 2 Excused: Senator(s) Lamosao, DeCorte.

upper

Feb 12, 2026

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on AEN/WLA/EIG has scheduled a public hearing on 02-18-26 3:00PM; Conference Room 224 & Videoconference.

upper

Jan 26, 2026

Committee

Referred to AEN/WLA/EIG, CPN/JDC.

upper

Jan 21, 2026

Introduced

Introduced and passed First Reading.

upper

Jan 16, 2026

Introduced

Pending Introduction.

upper

2 primary · 0 co-sponsors