# Hawaii HB 2595: RELATING TO REGIONAL AGRICULTURE AND FOOD PRODUCTION.

Hawaii HB 2595, RELATING TO REGIONAL AGRICULTURE AND FOOD PRODUCTION., is a 2025–2026 Regular Session (Year 2) House bill sponsored by Matthias Kusch (Democratic); status failed, last action 2026-03-24 (Reported from AEN (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 3156) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to WAM.) (as of 2026-11-01).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-HB2595-2026
- As of: 2026-11-01
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: Hawaii HB 2595
- State: Hawaii
- Session: 2025–2026 Regular Session (Year 2)
- Title: RELATING TO REGIONAL AGRICULTURE AND FOOD PRODUCTION.
- Status: failed
- Chamber: House
- Introduced: 2026-01-28
- Last action: 2026-03-24, Reported from AEN (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 3156) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to WAM.
- Sponsor: Matthias Kusch (Democratic)
- Cosponsors: 19
- Subjects: DAB, Agriculture, Regional Agriculture Feasibility, Food Systems Planning, Study, Working Group, Reports, Appropriation, AEN, WAM
- Touches household money: no
- Roll calls: 5 (120 yes, 0 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 0

## Summary

Establishes the Regional Agricultural Feasibility and Food Systems Production Studies Working Group within the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity to provide coordinated, region‑specific agricultural production and crop feasibility analysis across the State. Requires reports to the Legislature. Appropriates funds. Repeals 6/30/2028. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

## Bill overview

No economic impacts identified for this bill.

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Matthias Kusch (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Terez Amato (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Della Au Belatti (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Cory M. Chun (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Daniel Holt (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Ikaika Hussey (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Kirstin Kahaloa (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Jeanne Kapela (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: KEOHOKAPU-LEE LOY
- Cosponsor: Darius K. Kila (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Nicole E. Lowen (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Lisa Marten (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Tyson K. Miyake (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Ikaika Olds (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Amy A. Perruso (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Mahina Poepoe (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: REYES ODA
- Cosponsor: Garner M. Shimizu (Republican), House
- Cosponsor: Jenna Takenouchi (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Shirley Ann Templo (Democratic), House

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2026-03-16 | Senate | The committee(s) on AEN recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENT... | pass | 4 | 0 |   |
| 2026-03-06 | House | House Floor Vote | pass | 48 | 0 |   |
| 2026-03-03 | House | The committee on FIN recommend that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes ... | pass | 16 | 0 |   |
| 2026-02-17 | House | Passed Second Reading as amended in HD 1 and referred to the committee(s) on FIN... | pass | 47 | 0 |   |
| 2026-02-11 | House | The committee on AGR recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The ... | pass | 5 | 0 |   |

## Actions (17)

- 2026-03-24: Reported from AEN (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 3156) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to WAM. (Senate)
- 2026-03-24: Report adopted; Passed Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referred to WAM. (Senate)
- 2026-03-16: The committee(s) on AEN recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in AEN were as follows: 4 Aye(s): Senator(s) Gabbard, Richards, DeCoite, Rhoads; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 1 Excused: Senator(s) Awa. (Senate)
- 2026-03-13: The committee(s) on AEN has scheduled a public hearing on 03-16-26 3:05PM; Conference Room 224 & Videoconference. (Senate)
- 2026-03-10: Received from House (Hse. Com. No. 225). (Senate)
- 2026-03-10: Passed First Reading. (Senate)
- 2026-03-10: Referred to AEN, WAM. (Senate)
- 2026-03-06: Reported from FIN (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 929-26), recommending passage on Third Reading. (House)
- 2026-03-06: Passed Third Reading with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Perruso, Sayama excused (2). Transmitted to Senate. (House)
- 2026-03-03: The committee on FIN recommend that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes were as follows: 16 Ayes: Representative(s) Todd, Takenouchi, Hartsfield, Hussey, Keohokapu-Lee Loy, Kitagawa, Kusch, Lee, M., Miyake, Morikawa, Perruso, Templo, Yamashita, Alcos, Gedeon, Reyes Oda; Ayes with reservations: none; 0 Noes: none; and 0 Excused: none. (House)
- 2026-02-27: Bill scheduled to be heard by FIN on Tuesday, 03-03-26 2:00PM in House conference room 308 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE. (House)
- 2026-02-17: Reported from AGR (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 327-26) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to FIN. (House)
- 2026-02-17: Passed Second Reading as amended in HD 1 and referred to the committee(s) on FIN with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Cochran, Lee, M., Poepoe excused (3). (House)
- 2026-02-11: The committee on AGR recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 5 Ayes: Representative(s) Chun, Kusch, Kahaloa, Perruso, Matsumoto; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and 2 Excused: Representative(s) Lowen, Quinlan. (House)
- 2026-02-06: Bill scheduled to be heard by AGR on Wednesday, 02-11-26 9:30AM in House conference room 325 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE. (House)
- 2026-02-02: Referred to AGR, FIN, referral sheet 6 (House)
- 2026-01-28: Introduced and Pass First Reading. (House)

## Bill text

- Bill Text: [PDF](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/HB2595_SD1_.pdf)
- HB2595_HD1: [HTML](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/HB2595_HD1_.HTM)
- HB2595_SD1: [HTML](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/HB2595_SD1_.HTM)
- Original: [HTML](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/HB2595_.HTM), [PDF](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/HB2595_.PDF)

## Related bills

- SB 847: RELATING TO PSYCHOLOGISTS. (became law)
- HB 2344: RELATING TO SCHOOL FACILITIES. (signed)
- HB 2023: RELATING TO TRANSPORTATION. (signed)
- HB 2021: RELATING TO TRANSPORTATION. (signed)
- SB 2338: RELATING TO HOUSING. (signed)
- HB 1973: RELATING TO HEALTH. (signed)

## Sources
- [Bill Text (PDF)](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/HB2595_SD1_.pdf)
- [HB2595_HD1 (HTML)](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/HB2595_HD1_.HTM)
- [HB2595_SD1 (HTML)](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/HB2595_SD1_.HTM)
- [Original (HTML)](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/HB2595_.HTM)
- [Original (PDF)](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/HB2595_.PDF)

## Related
- [SB 847: RELATING TO PSYCHOLOGISTS.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-SB847-2026)
- [HB 2344: RELATING TO SCHOOL FACILITIES.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-HB2344-2026)
- [HB 2023: RELATING TO TRANSPORTATION.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-HB2023-2026)
- [HB 2021: RELATING TO TRANSPORTATION.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-HB2021-2026)
- [SB 2338: RELATING TO HOUSING.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-SB2338-2026)
- [HB 1973: RELATING TO HEALTH.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-HB1973-2026)
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Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-HB2595-2026 (as of 2026-11-01).