HI HB531

Requires state purchasing agencies to include an option for produce contractors to lease state agricultural land when awarding produce purchase contracts.

Mandates purchasing agencies to provide the University of Hawaii's College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources with details on produce quantities and types before solicitation, so the college can identify suitable state agricultural land for leasing.

Requires the College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources to ensure identified land is sufficient in area and quality to grow the procured produce and, to the extent practicable, contiguous to enable economies of scale.

Directs the Department of Agriculture to determine lease terms for identified state agricultural land and include those terms in the bid solicitation; contractors awarded contracts can then elect whether to lease the state land under those terms.

Exempts county purchasing agencies from these requirements and does not apply to procurements where no suitable state agricultural land is available for the type of produce being purchased.