HI HB1604

Establishes an Agricultural Workforce Housing Working Group within the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity to address housing shortages for agricultural workers in Hawaii

Working group co-chaired by the Board of Agriculture and Biosecurity chairperson and the Agribusiness Development Corporation board chairperson, with members from Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation, Land Use Commission, and Office of Planning and Sustainable Development

Group must assess farm worker demand, county-specific housing needs, existing government resources for adaptive reuse, and current zoning laws affecting agricultural workforce housing construction

Tasks include exploring public-private partnerships, identifying financial incentives including tax credits for agricultural employers investing in worker housing, and studying feasibility of a state income tax credit for housing construction costs

Interim report due 20 days before the 2028 legislative session and final report due 20 days before the 2029 session; working group dissolves June 30, 2029