Legislative Update - Which Bills Made It to the Governor?
Good Food & Agriculture
Great news! There are a multitude of good food and agriculture bills that have made it all the way through the session and to the Governor’s desk.
SB2990 SD1 HD1 CD1: Cover Crops
SB3004 SD1 HD1 CD1: Composting
SB2989 SD1 HD1 CD1: Healthy Soils
SB3197 SD2 HD1 CD1: Farmer Apprentice Mentioning Program
SB3325 SD2 HD1 CD1: Carbon Sequestration
HB2466 HD2 SD1 CD1: Taro Tax Exemption
HB1768 HD2 SD2 CD1: Kalo Farming Water Access
HB1517 HD2 SD2 CD1: Coffee Labeling
HB1568 HD2 SD2 CD1: Local Food Procurement
HB1992 HD3 SD1 CD1: Composting
Agribusiness Development Corporation (ADC) Reform
Unfortunately, SB2473 SD2 HD2 CD1, a bill that HAPA strongly opposes, is the only ADC reform measure that made it through the session. SB2473 largely avoids the deeper reforms needed to address the ADC’s failures. The bill transfers the ADC from the Department of Agriculture (DOA) to the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism (DBEDT).
HAPA strongly OPPOSES this provision because it does not make sense to further alienate the ADC from agricultural expertise. While some business expertise should guide the work of the ADC, it does not need to be moved to DBEDT to access business acumen. The ADC needs to be more connected to and informed by the needs of our local food producers – not less so.
While we do agree with some of the amendments made to the bill, these provisions do not have the same accountability and specificity as HB2418 HD2, which HAPA strongly supported. This measure provided a comprehensive approach to addressing the failures of the ADC. The bill included real metrics that would’ve made ADC lands more accessible to smaller-scale, sustainable food producers.
SB2473 still lacks expanded board expertise and mechanisms to level the playing field for small-scale, sustainable food producers. In conclusion, we believe that the bill fails to ensure that our public ag lands are utilized sustainably for the public good.
Check out the recent coverage of the ADC in the News:
Other Environmental, Social, and Economic Justice Measures
There were also several environmental, economic, and social justice bills that we testified in support of that have passed to the Governor’s desk. We deeply appreciate the various organizations and advocates leading the charge on these important measures!
Red Hill
SB3124 SD1 HD1: Emergency Appropriation
SB2600 SD2 HD2 CD1: Underground Storage Tanks
Economic Justice
HB2510 HD2 SD1 CD1: Raising the Minimum Wage
Environmental Justice
HB1644 HD1 SD1 CD1: Environmental Protection
SB2021 SD1 HD2 CD1: Public Land Trust
Government Transparency & Reclaiming Democracy
SB555 SD1 HD1: Campaign Fundraising
SB2162 SD1 HD1 CD1: Ranked Choice Voting
HB1475 HD1 SD1 CD1: Mandatory Ethics Training
Social Justice
HB2309 HD2 SD2 CD1: Diversion, Reentry and Rehabilitation
HB1567 HD1 SD1 CD1: Cash Bail Reform
What’s Next?
The Hawaiʻi State Constitution requires the governor to notify the Legislature of the bills he intends to veto no later than June 27, 2022. Final approval or veto deadline is July 12, 2022. Any measure that the governor has not signed or vetoed will become law without his signature.
We thank our lawmakers and everyone who has taken action this legislative session. Robust community engagement in session is important in building momentum towards policy that priorities Hawaiʻi’s land and people before corporate profit.
Together, we can fight for a more just and sustainable Hawaiʻi.
