Bill Commons

HI SB 2153

enacted

RELATING TO AGRICULTURE.

Hawaii · 2026 Regular Session · upper

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Quick answers

Did HI SB 2153 pass?

Yes. HI SB 2153 has been enacted into law. Latest recorded action (2026-06-26): Act 167, 06/26/2026 (Gov. Msg. No. 1269).

What is HI SB 2153 about?

Requires the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity to convene a Bona Fide Farmer Working Group to develop multi-tiered, matrix-based definitions for the terms "bona fide farmer" and "bona fide agricultural activity". Requires a report to the Legislature. (CD1)

Who sponsors HI SB 2153?

RICHARDS, KIDANI, MCKELVEY are the primary sponsors of HI SB 2153, joined by 5 cosponsors.

Description

Requires the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity to convene a Bona Fide Farmer Working Group to develop multi-tiered, matrix-based definitions for the terms "bona fide farmer" and "bona fide agricultural activity". Requires a report to the Legislature. (CD1)

Introduced
2026-01-21
Latest action
2026-06-26 — Act 167, 06/26/2026 (Gov. Msg. No. 1269).
Bill type
bill
Last updated
—

Subjects

Sponsors

  • RICHARDSprimary
  • KIDANIprimary
  • MCKELVEYprimary
  • Fukunagacosponsor
  • Hashimotocosponsor
  • Moriwakicosponsor
  • San Buenaventuracosponsor
  • Wakaicosponsor

Committees

Not provided by source.

Action timeline

Newest first

  1. 2026-06-26

    Act 167, 06/26/2026 (Gov. Msg. No. 1269).

    became-law

  2. 2026-06-26

    Act 167, on 06/26/2026 (Gov. Msg. No. 1269).

    became-law

  3. 2026-05-08

    Received notice of passage on Final Reading in House (Hse. Com. No. 888).

    receipt

  4. 2026-05-07

    Enrolled to Governor.

    executive-receipt

  5. 2026-05-06

    Passed Final Reading as amended in CD 1 with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and none excused (0).

    passage

  6. 2026-05-05

    Received notice of Final Reading (Sen. Com. No. 814).

    receipt

  7. 2026-05-01

    Deferred one day 05-06-26.

    deferral

  8. 2026-05-01

    Passed Final Reading, as amended (CD 1). Ayes, 24; Aye(s) with reservations: none. Noes, 0 (none). Excused, 1 (Senator(s) Fukunaga).

    passage

  9. 2026-04-29

    Reported from Conference Committee as amended CD 1 (Conf. Com. Rep. No. 32-26).

  10. 2026-04-29

    48 Hrs. Notice (as amended CD 1) 05-01-26.

  11. 2026-04-29

    Reported from Conference Committee (Conf Com. Rep. No. 32-26) as amended in (CD 1).

  12. 2026-04-29

    Forty-eight (48) hours notice Friday, 05-01-26.

  13. 2026-04-28

    The Conference committee recommends that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes of the Senate Conference Managers were as follows: 3 Aye(s): Senator(s) Gabbard, Richards, DeCoite; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 0 Excused: none.

    committee-passage-favorable

  14. 2026-04-28

    The Conference Committee recommends that the measure be Passed, with Amendments. The votes were as follows: 4 Ayes: Representative(s) Chun, Kusch, Kahaloa, Matsumoto; Ayes with reservations: none; 0 Noes: none; and 0 Excused: none.

    committee-passage-favorable

  15. 2026-04-24

    Conference committee meeting to reconvene on 04-28-26 9:30AM; Conference Room 325.

  16. 2026-04-23

    Conference committee meeting scheduled for 04-24-26 11:00AM; Conference Room 325.

  17. 2026-04-20

    House Conferees Appointed: Chun, Kusch Co-Chairs; Kahaloa, Matsumoto.

  18. 2026-04-20

    Received notice of appointment of House conferees (Hse. Com. No. 787).

    receipt

  19. 2026-04-20

    Senate Conferees Appointed: Gabbard Chair; Richards Co-Chair; DeCoite.

  20. 2026-04-20

    Received notice of Senate conferees (Sen. Com. No. 714).

    receipt

  21. 2026-04-10

    Received from House (Hse. Com. No. 502).

    introduction,receipt

  22. 2026-04-10

    Senate disagrees with House amendments.

    amendment-failure

  23. 2026-04-10

    Received notice of disagreement (Sen. Com. No. 564).

    receipt

  24. 2026-04-09

    Reported from FIN (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1998-26), recommending passage on Third Reading.

  25. 2026-04-09

    Passed Third Reading with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Cochran excused (1). Transmitted to Senate.

    passage

  26. 2026-04-07

    The committee on FIN recommend that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes were as follows: 15 Ayes: Representative(s) Todd, Takenouchi, Hartsfield, Hussey, Keohokapu-Lee Loy, Kitagawa, Kusch, Lee, M., Miyake, Perruso, Templo, Yamashita, Alcos, Gedeon, Reyes Oda; Ayes with reservations: none; 0 Noes: none; and 1 Excused: Representative(s) Morikawa.

    committee-passage-favorable

  27. 2026-04-02

    The committee(s) on FIN recommend(s) that the measure be deferred until 04-07-26.

    deferral

  28. 2026-04-02

    Bill scheduled for decision making on Tuesday, 04-07-26 10:10AM in conference room 308 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.

  29. 2026-03-31

    Bill scheduled to be heard by FIN on Thursday, 04-02-26 2:00PM in House conference room 308 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.

  30. 2026-03-24

    Reported from AGR (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1389-26) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to FIN.

  31. 2026-03-24

    Passed Second Reading as amended in HD 1 and referred to the committee(s) on FIN with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Garrett, Quinlan excused (2).

    reading-2,referral-committee

  32. 2026-03-20

    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, Perruso, Matsumoto; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and 1 Excused: Representative(s) Quinlan.

    committee-passage-favorable

  33. 2026-03-17

    Bill scheduled to be heard by AGR on Friday, 03-20-26 9:30AM in House conference room 325 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.

  34. 2026-03-12

    Pass First Reading

    reading-1

  35. 2026-03-12

    Referred to AGR, FIN, referral sheet 17

    referral-committee

  36. 2026-03-10

    Report Adopted; Passed Third Reading, as amended (SD 2). Ayes, 24; Aye(s) with reservations: none. Noes, 1 (Senator(s) Awa). Excused, 0 (none). Transmitted to House.

    passage

  37. 2026-03-10

    Received from Senate (Sen. Com. No. 183) in amended form (SD 2).

    introduction,receipt

  38. 2026-03-06

    Reported from WAM (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 2942) with recommendation of passage on Third Reading, as amended (SD 2).

  39. 2026-03-06

    48 Hrs. Notice 03-10-26.

  40. 2026-03-03

    The committee(s) on WAM recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in WAM were as follows: 12 Aye(s): Senator(s) Dela Cruz, Moriwaki, DeCoite, Elefante, Hashimoto, Inouye, Kanuha, Kidani, Kim, Lee, C., Richards, Wakai; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 1 Excused: Senator(s) Fevella.

    committee-passage-favorable

  41. 2026-02-27

    The committee(s) on WAM will hold a public decision making on 03-03-26 10:17AM; Conference Room 211 & Videoconference.

  42. 2026-02-11

    Reported from AEN (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 2187) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to WAM.

  43. 2026-02-11

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

    passage,reading-2,referral-committee

  44. 2026-01-28

    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 ; 1 No(es): Senator(s) Awa; and 0 Excused: none.

    committee-passage-favorable

  45. 2026-01-23

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

  46. 2026-01-22

    Referred to AEN, WAM.

    referral-committee

  47. 2026-01-21

    Introduced and passed First Reading.

    introduction,reading-1

  48. 2026-01-14

    Pending Introduction.

Versions

Documents

Votes

  • The committee(s) on AEN recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS.

    2026-01-28 · pass · 4-1

    Member-level votes (5)
    • Gabbard: yes
    • Richards: yes
    • DeCoite: yes
    • Rhoads: yes
    • Awa: no

  • The committee(s) on WAM recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS.

    2026-03-03 · pass · 12-0

    Member-level votes (14)
    • Dela Cruz: yes
    • Moriwaki: yes
    • DeCoite: yes
    • Elefante: yes
    • Hashimoto: yes
    • Inouye: yes
    • Kanuha: yes
    • Kidani: yes
    • Kim: yes
    • Lee: yes
    • C: yes
    • Richards: yes
    • Wakai: yes
    • Fevella: not voting

  • Report Adopted; Passed Third Reading, as amended (SD 2).

    2026-03-10 · pass · 24-1

  • The committee on AGR recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS.

    2026-03-20 · pass · 6-0

    Member-level votes (7)
    • Chun: yes
    • Kusch: yes
    • Kahaloa: yes
    • Lowen: yes
    • Perruso: yes
    • Matsumoto: yes
    • Quinlan: not voting

  • The committee on FIN recommend that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED.

    2026-04-07 · pass · 15-0

    Member-level votes (17)
    • Todd: yes
    • Takenouchi: yes
    • Hartsfield: yes
    • Hussey: yes
    • Keohokapu-Lee Loy: yes
    • Kitagawa: yes
    • Kusch: yes
    • Lee: yes
    • M: yes
    • Miyake: yes
    • Perruso: yes
    • Templo: yes
    • Yamashita: yes
    • Alcos: yes
    • Gedeon: yes
    • Reyes Oda: yes
    • Morikawa: not voting

  • The Conference Committee recommends that the measure be Passed, with Amendments.

    2026-04-28 · pass · 4-0

    Member-level votes (4)
    • Chun: yes
    • Kusch: yes
    • Kahaloa: yes
    • Matsumoto: yes

  • The Conference committee recommends that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS.

    2026-04-28 · pass · 3-0

    Member-level votes (3)
    • Gabbard: yes
    • Richards: yes
    • DeCoite: yes

  • Passed Final Reading, as amended (CD 1).

    2026-05-01 · pass · 24-0

    Member-level votes (1)
    • Senator(s: not voting

Related bills

No related bills recorded for this bill.

Official source

https://capitol.hawaii.gov/session/measure_indiv.aspx?billtype=SB&billnumber=2153&year=2026

Attribution

Data from openstates_bulk_csv, retrieved 2026-07-24T05:20:09.051962Z

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