SB1111 would create a new statutory Agricultural Statistics Program within the Hawaii Department of Agriculture and fund it with general revenues for fiscal years 2025-2026 and 2026-2027. The bill directs the department to collect, analyze, and report data on the intra- and inter-island transportation of fresh fruit and vegetable products, and to build and maintain electronic systems for capturing and analyzing that information. It also requires a structured rotation of sector-specific surveys covering topics such as agricultural theft, agritourism, aquaculture, crop and livestock losses, farm technology, horticulture and nursery operations, livestock productivity, producer expansion, seed, tropical fruits, and vegetables and melons.
The measure also authorizes the department to collaborate with federal, state, university, and private-sector partners to improve data collection and reporting, including USDA agencies, the University of Hawaii, producers, transportation companies, aggregators, and distributors. It creates a confidentiality framework for data gathered under the program, making the information exempt from disclosure under Hawaii’s public records law except in statistical or aggregate form that does not identify individuals or entities. The bill further states that unauthorized use or disclosure is prohibited and limits state liability for dissemination of program data.
In terms of fiscal and administrative impact, SB1111 would expand the Department of Agriculture’s responsibilities and likely increase staffing and operational capacity. The bill specifically contemplates funding for two agricultural economist positions, four research statistician positions, secured office space and equipment, electronic data systems, program expenses across six islands, and contracted specialty surveys. If enacted, it would amend Chapter 148 of the Hawaii Revised Statutes by adding a new part establishing the program and its duties.
The general sentiment reflected in the available record appears supportive, at least at the committee level. The Senate Agriculture and Environment Committee passed the bill unanimously with amendments on February 3, 2025, by a 4-0 vote, suggesting broad agreement on the need for better agricultural data and program modernization. No committee transcript was provided, so there is no recorded floor debate or detailed public testimony in the materials here.
The main points of potential contention are likely to be the appropriation amount, the creation of new positions, and the confidentiality exemption from public disclosure. Stakeholders concerned about state spending may focus on the cost of staffing and technology, while transparency advocates may scrutinize the bill’s limits on access to collected data. Agricultural producers and industry partners, by contrast, are likely to favor the bill’s emphasis on better market intelligence, transportation tracking, and data-driven planning.
SB1111 would add a new statutory agricultural statistics program to Chapter 148 of the Hawaii Revised Statutes and direct the Department of Agriculture to expand data collection, analysis, and reporting on agricultural production and transportation. It would also create a confidentiality exemption for program data from disclosure under chapter 92F, while allowing aggregate statistical reporting, and would authorize partnerships with federal agencies, the University of Hawaii, producers, and transportation-related businesses. The bill further authorizes general-fund appropriations for staffing, equipment, electronic systems, office space, and specialty surveys, thereby increasing the department’s operational scope and likely its recurring administrative obligations.
The available legislative history suggests generally favorable sentiment toward the bill’s goals. The Senate Agriculture and Environment Committee advanced SB1111 with a 4-0 vote and amendments, indicating bipartisan or at least unanimous committee support for strengthening agricultural data infrastructure. The bill’s findings and purpose language frame it as a modernization and economic-development measure intended to help producers, policymakers, and public agencies make better decisions. No opposing testimony or recorded debate is included in the provided materials, so any criticism is not reflected in the record here.
The likely areas of contention are fiscal cost, privacy, and the scope of the department’s new duties. The bill creates new FTE positions and requires funding for technology, office space, and outside surveys, which may draw scrutiny from budget-conscious lawmakers. Its confidentiality provisions may also concern transparency advocates or public-records stakeholders, because the program’s collected data would be exempt from disclosure except in non-identifiable aggregate form. On the other hand, agricultural stakeholders, researchers, and supply-chain partners are likely to support the bill because it promises better market data, transportation insight, and planning tools for Hawaii agriculture.