SB 335 Summary

• Requires the Department of Agriculture and Agribusiness Development Corporation to annually lease at least 50% of available agricultural land to operations whose primary business is local food production or supports local food production, beginning January 1, 2022.

• Mandates the Department of Agriculture submit annual reports to the legislature detailing leased lands by size, island, specialty farm protocols, vacant parcels, and descriptions of lease transfers including crop types produced.

• Adds definitions for "local food production" (crops and livestock grown in Hawaii for local consumption) and "primary business" (at least 50% of production distributed for local consumption).

• Requires the Agribusiness Development Corporation and its board to fully implement recommendations from the State Auditor's January 2021 audit report (Report No. 21-01) by January 1, 2023, with progress reports due to the legislature in 2022 and a final report by December 31, 2023.

• Becomes effective July 1, 2050.