Bill Text: HI SB660 | 2024 | Regular Session | Amended
Bill Title: Relating To Agriculture.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2023-12-11 - Carried over to 2024 Regular Session. [SB660 Detail]
Download: Hawaii-2024-SB660-Amended.html
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THE SENATE |
S.B. NO. |
660 |
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THIRTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2023 |
S.D. 2 |
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STATE OF HAWAII |
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A BILL FOR AN ACT
RELATING TO AGRICULTURE.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:
"§141-
Healthy soils program;
established. (a) There is established within the department of
agriculture a healthy soils program. The
healthy soils program shall:
(1) Create a statewide soil health
assessment, with a list of practices specific to the State that are most
effective for improving soil health and building soil carbon stocks;
(2) Provide farmers with educational and
technical assistance to implement farm management practices that contribute to
healthy soils;
(3) Establish standards for the healthy soils program that are based on the findings of the greenhouse gas sequestration task force established pursuant to section 225P-4, including standards establishing the minimum levels of soil carbon and water content;
(4) Establish
standards for soil health that take a holistic approach to land management by
integrating cultural, biological, and mechanical practices; cycling nutrients;
promoting ecological balance; and conserving biodiversity;
(5) Establish
standards to phase out the use of petrochemical synthetic fertilizers over a
period of five to ten years; provided that during the petrochemical synthetic
fertilizer phase-out period, the department of agriculture shall provide
farmers with assistance in adopting a holistic approach to land management that
integrates cultural, biological, and mechanical practices; cycles nutrients;
promotes ecological balance; and conserves biodiversity; and
(6) Issue awards and other financial
incentives, subject to available funding, to implement farm management
practices that contribute to healthy soils.
(b) The long-term goals of the healthy soils
program shall be to establish:
(1) The date by which all awards issued
by the department of agriculture pursuant to subsection (a)(6) shall meet the
standards established pursuant to subsection (a)(3);
(2) The date by which a healthy soils plan
shall be required for all state lands leased for agricultural use; and
(3) Programs incentivizing small
farmers, ranchers, and landowners in the State to take carbon-negative actions
on their respective lands.
(c) The department of agriculture shall submit a report detailing the status and progress of the healthy soils program and its recommendations, including any proposed legislation, to the legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of each regular session."
SECTION 2. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $ or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2023-2024 and the same sum or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2024-2025 for establishing the healthy soils program and for issuing awards and other financial incentives pursuant to the 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, 2023.
Report Title:
HDOA; Healthy Soils Program; Carbon Sequestration; Appropriation
Description:
Establishes the Healthy Soils program within the Department of Agriculture. Appropriates funds. Requires an annual report to the Legislature. (SD2)
The summary description
of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is
not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.
