HB 845 Summary

• Prohibits "prohibited foreign parties" from acquiring, owning, or holding interests in agricultural lands within Hawaii, with limited exceptions for resident aliens.

• Defines "prohibited foreign parties" as persons subject to International Traffic in Arms regulations, foreign governments and entities from ITAR-regulated countries, U.S.-organized entities with 33%+ foreign control, entities designated as concerns by the U.S. Department of State, and their agents or fiduciaries.

• Establishes an Office of Agricultural Intelligence within the Department of Agriculture to investigate unlawful foreign ownership of agricultural land and report violations to the Attorney General for enforcement.

• Allows the Attorney General to initiate civil forfeiture actions in circuit court; if violations are found, the court orders sale of the agricultural land with proceeds distributed to lienholders.

• Creates a class C felony penalty for violations and appropriates funds (amount unspecified) for fiscal years 2025-2026 and 2026-2027 to establish the Office of Agricultural Intelligence; effective July 1, 2025.