Hawaii Senate Bill SCR127

Hawaii 2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 3/16/26
• Refer: 3/19/26

Caption

Requesting The Department Of Law Enforcement To Expand The Agricultural Enforcement Pilot Program To The Islands Of Kauai And Maui.

Summary

SCR127 is a Senate Concurrent Resolution requesting the Department of Law Enforcement to expand Hawaii’s Agricultural Enforcement Pilot Program to the islands of Kauai and Maui. The resolution states that agricultural crimes such as trespassing, theft, vandalism, and illegal hunting are harming farmers, food security, local economies, and public confidence in the protection of agricultural resources. It references Act 235, Session Laws of Hawaii 2025, which created the pilot program for Hawaii Island and Oahu, and asks that the program be broadened to address enforcement gaps on the neighbor islands. The measure does not itself amend statutes or create new penalties; instead, it is a legislative request urging executive action by the Department of Law Enforcement. Its practical effect would be to extend the reach of the existing agricultural enforcement initiative to Kauai and Maui, potentially increasing targeted enforcement presence and coordination in those areas. If implemented, it could affect farmers, ranchers, landowners, and others involved in agricultural operations by improving protection against recurring property and resource-related offenses.

Impact

SCR127 would not directly change state law on its own because it is a concurrent resolution, not a bill. Its impact is to request expansion of the Agricultural Enforcement Pilot Program established by Act 235 (2025) from Hawaii Island and Oahu to Kauai and Maui. The resolution signals legislative support for broader agricultural crime enforcement and could influence the Department of Law Enforcement to allocate resources, adjust enforcement priorities, and extend pilot-program coverage to additional islands.

Sentiment

The available text reflects a supportive and problem-focused sentiment toward the resolution. The findings emphasize the seriousness of agricultural crime and the need for stronger enforcement to protect farmers, food security, and local economies. No committee testimony or recorded votes are provided, so there is no evidence of formal opposition in the available materials. Overall, the measure appears framed as a practical response to a recognized public safety and agricultural protection issue.

Contention

The main policy issue underlying the resolution is whether the Agricultural Enforcement Pilot Program should be expanded beyond its current islands and whether the Department of Law Enforcement has sufficient resources to do so effectively. The resolution suggests that enforcement gaps and limited resources have left farmers vulnerable, implying that the key debate is not about whether agricultural crime is a problem, but about the best way to address it and whether expansion to Kauai and Maui is the appropriate next step. No specific opponents or alternative viewpoints are identified in the provided record.