SB 552 Hawaii Senate · 2026 Regular Session

RELATING TO AGRICULTURE.

Summary

Requires the Department of Agriculture to establish a Healthy Soils Program. Requires an annual report to the Legislature. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2025

Committee Review

Mar 2025

Senate Passage

Feb 2025

House Passage

Governor

Introduced Jan 17, 2025 Last action Dec 8, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

SB552_HD1 → SB552_SD1 · 4 edits

MODERATE

The bill was revised from a House draft to a Senate version, significantly overhauling the Healthy Soils Program. The Senate version removes the original 'findings' section, replaces the program's operational duties with a focus on creating statewide assessment standards and carbon-negative incentives, and extends the effective date from the year 3000 to 2050.

Scope change

The bill's scope shifted from a general soil data update and program integration to a specific mandate for establishing soil health assessment standards based on carbon sequestration findings and creating a plan for state agricultural lands.

REQUIREMENT

Removed the initial 'findings' section that detailed the historical context of soil data obsolescence and the need for sustainability.

Changed the program's duties from managing existing reimbursement programs to creating new statewide assessment standards and financial incentives for carbon-negative actions.

Added a requirement to develop a plan for all state lands leased for agricultural use.

TIMELINE

Extended the bill's effective date from July 1, 3000, 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

Mar 11, 2025

Committee

Reported from AGR (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1177) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to FIN.

lower

Mar 7, 2025

Lower · Passed

The committee on AGR recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 4 Ayes: Representative(s) Kahaloa, Lowen, Perruso, Quinlan; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and 2 Excused: Representative(s) Kusch, Ward.

lower

Feb 28, 2025

Committee

Referred to AGR, FIN, referral sheet 17

lower

Feb 19, 2025

Introduced

Received from Senate (Sen. Com. No. 6) in amended form (SD 1).

lower

Feb 19, 2025

Upper · Passed

Report Adopted; Passed Third Reading, as amended (SD 1). Ayes, 22; Aye(s) with reservations: none. Noes, 0 (none). Excused, 3 (Senator(s) Gabbard, Kouchi, Richards). Transmitted to House.

upper

Feb 12, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on WAM recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes in WAM were as follows: 13 Aye(s): Senator(s) Dela Cruz, Moriwaki, Aquino, DeCoite, Elefante, Hashimoto, Inouye, Kanuha, Kidani, Kim, Lee, C., Wakai, Fevella; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 0 Excused: none.

upper

Feb 10, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on WAM will hold a public decision making on 02-12-25 10:01AM; Conference Room 211 & Videoconference.

upper

Feb 4, 2025

Upper · Passed

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

upper

Feb 4, 2025

Committee

Reported from AEN (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 17) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to WAM.

upper

Jan 27, 2025

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 24, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on AEN has scheduled a public hearing on 01-27-25 1:00PM; Conference Room 224 & Videoconference.

upper

Jan 21, 2025

Committee

Referred to AEN, WAM.

upper

Jan 17, 2025

Introduced

Introduced.

upper

7 primary · 1 co-sponsor