HB 501 Summary

• Establishes an Agricultural Enforcement Program within the Department of Law Enforcement to address theft of agricultural products and commodities, with an assistant chief administrator and state law enforcement officers including volunteer positions.

• Creates the Agricultural Enforcement Special Fund to be administered by the Department of Law Enforcement, funded by grants, donations, fees, penalties, interest income, and legislative appropriations.

• Authorizes the agricultural enforcement program to investigate and enforce laws related to agricultural theft (sections 708-830.5, 708-831, 708-832, 708-833) and gather evidence through field observations and cooperation with federal, state, and county enforcement authorities.

• Appropriates unspecified amounts from general revenues for fiscal years 2025-2026 and 2026-2027 to establish positions including one assistant chief, multiple state law enforcement investigator positions across four counties, and uniformed state law enforcement officer positions for patrol functions distributed across the islands.

• Fund expenditures authorized for training, research, equipment, information technology, safety, communications, travel, repairs, operations, and consulting services related to agricultural crime enforcement.