HI HB2181

Appropriates $100,000 from general revenues to the University of Hawaii College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources for fiscal year 2020-2021 to establish a foreign agriculture small equipment pilot program.

Program will identify and purchase foreign agricultural technology, including small equipment tractors and retrofit engines that comply with Environmental Protection Agency emission standards to benefit Hawaii's farmers and ranchers.

Requires the program to contact manufacturers in Japan and other countries, work with the EPA on compliance requirements, collaborate with foreign agriculture professionals, and conduct on-farm trials to evaluate equipment across multiple growing systems statewide.

Mandates the program conduct education and training workshops statewide to update agriculture producers on available technology.

Requires the dean of the College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources to submit a report with findings, recommendations, and any proposed legislation to the legislature no later than twenty days before the 2021 regular session convenes.