# Hawaii SB 242: RELATING TO FOREIGN OWNERSHIP OF AGRICULTURAL LAND.

Hawaii SB 242, RELATING TO FOREIGN OWNERSHIP OF AGRICULTURAL LAND., is a 2025–2026 Regular Session (Year 1) Senate bill sponsored by Mike Gabbard (Democratic); status passed senate, last action 2025-03-06 (Pass First Reading) (as of 2026-10-28).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-SB242-2025
- As of: 2026-10-28
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: Hawaii SB 242
- State: Hawaii
- Session: 2025–2026 Regular Session (Year 1)
- Title: RELATING TO FOREIGN OWNERSHIP OF AGRICULTURAL LAND.
- Status: passed senate
- Chamber: Senate
- Introduced: 2025-01-13
- Last action: 2025-03-06, Pass First Reading
- Sponsor: Mike Gabbard (Democratic)
- Cosponsors: 2
- Subjects: DOA, Agricultural Land, Foreign Entities, Lease Limitations, Appropriations, AGR/WAL, JHA, FIN
- Touches household money: no
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 0

## Summary

Prohibits foreign entities from owning, leasing, or holding a controlling interest in more than an unspecified number of acres of agricultural land. Limits the lease term for agricultural land by foreign entities. Requires foreign entities that own or lease interest in agricultural lands to file an annual report with the Department of Agriculture. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD2)

## Bill overview

No economic impacts identified for this bill.

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Mike Gabbard (Democratic), Senate
- Cosponsor: Brenton Awa (Republican), Senate
- Cosponsor: Sharon Y. Moriwaki (Democratic), Senate

## Actions (21)

- 2025-03-06: Pass First Reading (House)
- 2025-03-06: Referred to AGR/WAL, JHA, FIN, referral sheet 19 (House)
- 2025-03-04: Report Adopted; Passed Third Reading, as amended (SD 2). Ayes, 25; Aye(s) with reservations: Senator(s) Aquino, Chang, DeCoite, Elefante, Fukunaga, Hashimoto, Inouye, Kanuha, Kim, Moriwaki, Richards, Wakai. Noes, 0 (none). Excused, 0 (none). Transmitted to House. (Senate)
- 2025-03-04: Received from Senate (Sen. Com. No. 113) in amended form (SD 2). (House)
- 2025-02-28: The committee(s) on JDC recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in JDC were as follows: 5 Aye(s): Senator(s) Rhoads, Gabbard, Awa; Aye(s) with reservations: Senator(s) Chang, San Buenaventura ; 0 No(es): none; and 0 Excused: none. (Senate)
- 2025-02-28: The committee(s) on WAM recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in WAM were as follows: 11 Aye(s): Senator(s) Dela Cruz, Moriwaki, Aquino, Inouye; Aye(s) with reservations: Senator(s) DeCoite, Elefante, Hashimoto, Kanuha, Kim, Wakai, Fevella ; 0 No(es): none; and 2 Excused: Senator(s) Kidani, Lee, C.. (Senate)
- 2025-02-28: Reported from JDC/WAM (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1054) with recommendation of passage on Third Reading, as amended (SD 2). (Senate)
- 2025-02-28: 48 Hrs. Notice 03-04-25. (Senate)
- 2025-02-27: Public notice requirement waived pursuant to Senate Rule 21. (Senate)
- 2025-02-26: The committee(s) on JDC/WAM will hold a public decision making on 02-28-25 10:14AM; Conference Room 211 & Videoconference. (Senate)
- 2025-02-14: Reported from AEN/TCA (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 527) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to JDC/WAM. (Senate)
- 2025-02-14: Report adopted; Passed Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referred to JDC/WAM. (Senate)
- 2025-02-11: The committee(s) on TCA recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in TCA were as follows: 5 Aye(s): Senator(s) Lee, C., DeCorte; Aye(s) with reservations: Senator(s) Inouye, Elefante, Kanuha ; 0 No(es): none; and 0 Excused: none. (Senate)
- 2025-02-10: The committee(s) on AEN recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in AEN were as follows: 5 Aye(s): Senator(s) Gabbard, Rhoads, Awa; Aye(s) with reservations: Senator(s) Richards, DeCoite ; 0 No(es): none; and 0 Excused: none. (Senate)
- 2025-02-07: The committee(s) on AEN deferred the measure until 02-10-25 1:01PM; CR 224 & Videoconference. (Senate)
- 2025-02-05: The committee(s) on AEN deferred the measure until 02-07-25 1:05PM; CR 224. (Senate)
- 2025-02-05: The committee(s) on TCA deferred the measure until 02-11-25 3:02PM; CR 224. (Senate)
- 2025-01-31: The committee(s) on AEN/TCA has scheduled a public hearing on 02-05-25 1:01PM; Conference Room 224 & Videoconference. (Senate)
- 2025-01-17: Referred to AEN/TCA, JDC/WAM. (Senate)
- 2025-01-15: Introduced and passed First Reading. (Senate)
- 2025-01-13: Pending Introduction. (Senate)

## Bill text

- Bill Text: [PDF](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2025/bills/SB242_SD2_.pdf)
- Original: [HTML](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2025/bills/SB242_.HTM), [PDF](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2025/bills/SB242_.PDF)
- SB242_SD1: [HTML](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2025/bills/SB242_SD1_.HTM)
- SB242_SD2: [HTML](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2025/bills/SB242_SD2_.HTM)

## 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/SB242_SD2_.pdf)
- [Original (HTML)](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2025/bills/SB242_.HTM)
- [Original (PDF)](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2025/bills/SB242_.PDF)
- [SB242_SD1 (HTML)](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2025/bills/SB242_SD1_.HTM)
- [SB242_SD2 (HTML)](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2025/bills/SB242_SD2_.HTM)

## 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)
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Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-SB242-2025 (as of 2026-10-28).