Bill Text: HI SB127 | 2025 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Relating To Agricultural Grants.
Spectrum: Moderate Partisan Bill (Democrat 7-1)
Status: (N/A) 2025-01-10 - Pending Introduction. [SB127 Detail]
Download: Hawaii-2025-SB127-Introduced.html
|
THE SENATE |
S.B. NO. |
127 |
|
THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2025 |
|
|
|
STATE OF HAWAII |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
|
|
||
A BILL FOR AN ACT
relating to agricultural grants.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:
SECTION 1. Chapter 141, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to part I to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:
"§141-
Conventional farming grant program. (a) There is established within
the department of agriculture the conventional farming grant program.
(b) Subject to available funds, the conventional
farming grant program shall provide grants to small and midsized farms that
predominately practice conventional farming.
(c) Each grant application shall be evaluated by
the board of agriculture and shall be approved if it satisfies the following
requirements:
(1) The applicant shall be an owner of a
small farm or midsized farm;
(2) If the applicant is an entity
other than an individual, the applicant shall:
(A) Be licensed to conduct business in
the State; and
(B) Has adopted bylaws or policies that
describe the manner in which business is conducted, prohibit nepotism, and
provide for the management of potential conflicts of interest;
(3) The applicant shall comply with all
applicable federal and state laws prohibiting discrimination against any person
on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, creed, sex, age, sexual
orientation, disability, or any other characteristic protected under applicable
federal or state law;
(4) Grant moneys shall not be used for
purposes of entertainment or perquisites;
(5) All activities and improvements
undertaken with grant funds shall comply with applicable federal, state, and
county laws, including statutes, ordinances, applicable building codes, and
rules;
(6) The applicant shall agree to make
available to the department of agriculture any records relating to the grant
and allow state agencies to verify the applicant's compliance with the purpose
of this section; and
(7) The applicant shall comply with
other requirements or conditions as the department of agriculture or board of
agriculture may prescribe.
(d) For the purposes of this section:
"Conventional
farming" means growing crops from seeds that have been genetically altered
using any traditional breeding method, excluding biotechnology, and that are
not certified as organic.
"Gross
cash farm income" means sum of the farm's crop and livestock sales,
government payments, and other farm-related income, including fee payments from
contractors.
"Midsize
farm" means a farm having an annual gross cash farm income of $350,000 to
$999,999; provided that, upon approval by the board of agriculture, the
department of agriculture may apply a higher annual gross cash farm income amount
consistent with the term "midsize farm" or "midsize family
farm" as defined by the United States Department of Agriculture, Economic
Research Service, in a farm typology publication or related update.
"Small
farm" means a farm having an annual gross cash farm income of less than
$350,000; provided that, upon approval by the board of agriculture, the
department of agriculture may apply a higher annual gross cash farm income amount
consistent with the term "small farm" or "small family
farm" as defined by the United States Department of Agriculture, Economic
Research Service, in a farm typology publication or related update."
SECTION 2. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $5,000,000 or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2025-2026 and the same sum or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2026-2027 for the conventional farming grant program.
The sums appropriated shall be expended by the department of agriculture for the purposes of this Act.
SECTION 3. New statutory material is underscored.
SECTION 4. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2025.
|
INTRODUCED BY: |
_____________________________ |
|
|
|
Report Title:
HDOA; Conventional Farming; Grants; Appropriation
Description:
Establishes
the conventional farming grant program to provide grants to small and midsized
farmers who practice conventional farming.
Appropriates moneys.
The summary description
of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is
not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.
