H.B. 2190 Summary

• Establishes a new Agricultural Enterprises chapter in Hawaii Revised Statutes authorizing the Department of Agriculture to plan, design, construct, operate, manage, and maintain infrastructure and improvements on department lands to support agriculture.

• Creates an agricultural enterprise program separate from existing agricultural park programs, allowing the department to accept transfer of qualifying agricultural lands from the Department of Land and Natural Resources with board approval.

• Establishes the Agricultural Enterprise Special Fund to receive legislative appropriations and all revenue collected from agricultural enterprise lands and leases, with funds used for planning, designing, constructing, and maintaining agricultural infrastructure.

• Authorizes the department to dispose of agricultural enterprise lands by lease, negotiation, drawing of lots, or public auction, with lease terms ranging from 15 to 65 years and requirements that lessees derive major income from agricultural activities on the premises.

• Makes appropriations from general revenues for fiscal year 2020-2021 to the Agricultural Enterprise Special Fund (amount unspecified in bill text); effective July 1, 2150.