# Hawaii HB 859: RELATING TO AGRICULTURE.

Hawaii HB 859, RELATING TO AGRICULTURE., is a 2025–2026 Regular Session (Year 1) House bill sponsored by Matthias Kusch (Democratic); status in committee, last action 2025-02-05 (Reported from AGR (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 156) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to JHA.) (as of 2026-10-17).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-HB859-2025
- As of: 2026-10-17
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: Hawaii HB 859
- State: Hawaii
- Session: 2025–2026 Regular Session (Year 1)
- Title: RELATING TO AGRICULTURE.
- Status: in committee
- Chamber: House
- Introduced: 2025-01-21
- Last action: 2025-02-05, Reported from AGR (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 156) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to JHA.
- Sponsor: Matthias Kusch (Democratic)
- Cosponsors: 14
- Subjects: DOA, Agricultural Crime, Branding, Inspectors, Agricultural Crime Prevention Program, Appropriations, AGR, JHA, FIN
- Touches household money: no
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 0

## Summary

Establishes an agricultural crime prevention program within the Department of Agriculture to provide grants, education, administrative enforcement, and other services for the benefit of the State's agricultural industry. Clarifies, creates, and strengthens laws regarding crimes and violations related to agriculture or agricultural lands and hunting on private agricultural lands. Establishes clear distinctions between administrative and criminal penalties. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

## Bill overview

No economic impacts identified for this bill.

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Matthias Kusch (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Terez Amato (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Tina Nakada Grandinetti (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Kim Coco Iwamoto (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Kirstin Kahaloa (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: KEOHOKAPU-LEE LOY
- Cosponsor: Darius K. Kila (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Lisa Marten (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Amy A. Perruso (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Mahina Poepoe (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Sean Quinlan (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Kanani Souza (Republican), House
- Cosponsor: Adrian K. Tam (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: David A. Tarnas (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: WARD

## Actions (7)

- 2025-02-05: Reported from AGR (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 156) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to JHA. (House)
- 2025-02-05: Passed Second Reading as amended in HD 1 and referred to the committee(s) on JHA with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Cochran, Ward excused (2). (House)
- 2025-01-31: The committee on AGR recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 5 Ayes: Representative(s) Kahaloa, Kusch, Lowen, Perruso, Quinlan; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and 1 Excused: Representative(s) Ward. (House)
- 2025-01-28: Bill scheduled to be heard by AGR on Friday, 01-31-25 10:00AM in House conference room 325 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE. (House)
- 2025-01-23: Introduced and Pass First Reading. (House)
- 2025-01-23: Referred to AGR, JHA, FIN, referral sheet 3 (House)
- 2025-01-21: Pending introduction. (House)

## Bill text

- Bill Text: [PDF](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2025/bills/HB859_HD1_.pdf)
- HB859_HD1: [HTML](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2025/bills/HB859_HD1_.HTM)
- Original: [HTML](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2025/bills/HB859_.HTM), [PDF](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2025/bills/HB859_.PDF)

## Related bills

- SB 572: RELATING TO HOUSING. (signed)
- HB 431: RELATING TO HOUSING. (signed)
- HB 420: RELATING TO REMEDIES. (signed)
- SB 1296: RELATING TO DISASTER RECOVERY. (signed)
- HB 830: RELATING TO HISTORIC PRESERVATION REVIEWS. (signed)
- HB 1064: RELATING TO FIRE PROTECTION. (signed)

## Sources
- [Bill Text (PDF)](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2025/bills/HB859_HD1_.pdf)
- [HB859_HD1 (HTML)](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2025/bills/HB859_HD1_.HTM)
- [Original (HTML)](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2025/bills/HB859_.HTM)
- [Original (PDF)](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2025/bills/HB859_.PDF)

## Related
- [SB 572: RELATING TO HOUSING.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-SB572-2025)
- [HB 431: RELATING TO HOUSING.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-HB431-2025)
- [HB 420: RELATING TO REMEDIES.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-HB420-2025)
- [SB 1296: RELATING TO DISASTER RECOVERY.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-SB1296-2025)
- [HB 830: RELATING TO HISTORIC PRESERVATION REVIEWS.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-HB830-2025)
- [HB 1064: RELATING TO FIRE PROTECTION.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-HB1064-2025)
- [Hawaii bills](https://policyrisk.com/states/hawaii/bills)
- [Hawaii state hub](https://policyrisk.com/states/hawaii)
- [All state legislation](https://policyrisk.com/state-bills)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-HB859-2025 (as of 2026-10-17).