Committee hears extensive concerns on agricultural lands bill, defers HB1828 for more work

HB1828 — a measure addressing agricultural lands and farm‑dwelling eligibility — generated extended testimony reflecting a range of concerns about thresholds, measurement and enforcement.

The Attorney General’s office (Mary Yokota) submitted technical comments on provisions that would require income verification through tax returns. The Hawaii Farm Bureau and other farm groups supported the bill’s intent but questioned a proposed requirement that agricultural activity occupy 51% of the “entire lot,” arguing that non‑farmable areas (gullies, roads, streams) should be excluded and recommending measuring farmable land or production per acre instead. Witnesses also cautioned that a fixed income threshold (discussed in testimony as $30,000) may be impractical for farmers with highly variable incomes.

Advocates suggested enforcement and oversight could be handled by counties, the Land Use Commission or through conservation‑plan requirements administered by county soil and water conservation districts, rather than relying solely on property‑tax divisions that may lack agricultural expertise.

Decision: The chair deferred HB1828 to the Feb. 4 agenda to allow the committee and stakeholders time to refine statutory language and address enforcement and measurement concerns.