Bill Text: HI SB2805 | 2024 | Regular Session | Amended
Bill Title: Relating To Agriculture.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 5-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2024-02-07 - Report adopted; Passed Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referred to WAM. [SB2805 Detail]
Download: Hawaii-2024-SB2805-Amended.html
|
THE SENATE |
S.B. NO. |
2805 |
|
THIRTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2024 |
S.D. 1 |
|
|
STATE OF HAWAII |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
|
|
||
A BILL FOR AN ACT
RELATING TO AGRICULTURE.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:
The legislature further finds that lands supporting viable agricultural activities should be maintained in agricultural use by bona fide farmers or ranchers. Unfortunately, the State's agricultural workforce is aging. A recent article in Hawaii Business Magazine indicated that the average age of a farmer in Hawaii is approximately sixty years. Because younger generations in farming families are often reluctant to take over family farms, many farmlands in the State are at risk of falling fallow, which would further decrease the amount of agriculturally zoned lands in active agricultural production.
The legislature finds that succession planning is a process by which business owners plan to exit their business and transition ownership and control of the business to a successor owner. Although succession planning can be a difficult process, it can be vital to ensuring the success of exiting owners, successor owners, and the businesses themselves.
Finally, the legislature finds that a succession planning education program could also provide an opportunity for the agribusiness development corporation to connect individuals interested in entering farming or ranching with farmers and ranchers who have not yet identified a successor owner. These types of proactive efforts will help greatly in keeping valuable agricultural lands in agricultural production.
Accordingly, the purpose of this Act is to:
(1) Require the agribusiness development corporation to develop a succession planning education program; and
(2) Appropriate moneys to develop the program.
SECTION 2. Chapter 163D, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:
"§163D- Succession planning education program. (a) The corporation shall develop a succession
planning education program to educate and assist farmers and ranchers in the
process of transitioning agricultural businesses to new owners who intend to
maintain the transitioned assets, including agricultural lands, in agricultural
production. The program shall:
(1) Educate farmers and ranchers on the
importance of succession planning;
(2) Connect farmers and ranchers with
succession planning resources; and
(3) If a farmer or rancher does not have
a successor identified, help to connect the farmer or rancher with:
(A) Persons who are interested in
entering the farming or ranching business as bona fide farmers or ranchers; or
(B) Existing bona fide farmers or ranchers
who are interested in expanding their business,
and
connect the parties with resources to help facilitate the
transfer of the agricultural assets, including agricultural lands, to ensure
that the assets remain in agricultural production.
(b) For purposes of this program,
the corporation shall collaborate with:
(1) The department of agriculture and
private landowners that lease agricultural land in the State to assist exiting
farmers and ranchers in planning for lease transfers; and
(2) The department of taxation; county land use and permitting agencies; and other relevant state and county agencies to assist exiting farmers and ranchers meet any requirements necessary to transfer an agricultural business and keep the business's assets, including agricultural land, in agricultural production."
SECTION 3. In accordance with section 9 of article VII of the Hawaii State Constitution and sections 37-91 and 37-93, Hawaii Revised Statutes, the legislature has determined that the appropriations contained in Act 164, Regular Session of 2023, and this Act will cause the state general fund expenditure ceiling for fiscal year 2024-2025 to be exceeded by $ or per cent. This current declaration takes into account general fund appropriations authorized for fiscal year 2024-2025 in Act 164, Regular Session of 2023, and this Act only. The reasons for exceeding the general fund expenditure ceiling are that:
(1) The appropriation made in this Act is necessary to serve the public interest; and
(2) The appropriation made in this Act meets the needs addressed by this Act.
SECTION 4. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $100,000 or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2024-2025 for the agribusiness development corporation to develop a succession planning education program for farmers and ranchers.
The sum appropriated shall be expended by the agribusiness development corporation for the purposes of this Act.
SECTION 5. New statutory material is underscored.
SECTION 6. This Act shall take effect on January 1, 2060.
Report Title:
Agribusiness Development Corporation; Agriculture; Succession Planning; Education Program; Expenditure Ceiling; Appropriation
Description:
Requires the Agribusiness Development Corporation to develop a program to educate and assist farmers and ranchers in the process of transitioning agricultural businesses to new owners. Requires the program to connect individuals interested in entering farming or ranching, or existing farmers or ranchers interested in expanding their business, with farmers and ranchers who have not yet identified a successor owner. Declares that the general fund expenditure ceiling is exceeded. Makes an appropriation. Takes effect 1/1/2060. (SD1)
The summary description
of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is
not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.
