Urging The State To Consider The Importance Of Rangelands And Pastoralists And Adopt Policies That Further Sustain Rangeland Health And Pastoralist Livelihoods.
SCR120 is a Senate Concurrent Resolution that urges Hawaii to recognize the importance of rangelands and pastoralists and to adopt policies that support rangeland health and the livelihoods of people who depend on them. The resolution frames rangelands as ecologically, economically, and culturally significant lands that provide food and fiber production, water resources, biodiversity, wildlife habitat, carbon sequestration, and recreational value. It also highlights Hawaii’s ranching tradition, including paniolo heritage, and notes that ranchers manage more than 750,000 acres of rangeland and contribute more than $50 million annually to the state economy.
The resolution asks the State to proclaim 2026 the “International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists” in solidarity with the United Nations and to encourage state agencies, the University of Hawaii, and other organizations to support education, research, and outreach on rangeland management. It further requests recognition of ranchers, farmers, land managers, and other caretakers of rangelands, and calls for policies that conserve rangelands and protect ranching livelihoods. As a concurrent resolution, it does not itself change statutory law, but it expresses legislative intent and encourages executive agencies and counties to take supportive action.
SCR120 would not directly amend the Hawaii Revised Statutes or create enforceable regulatory requirements. Instead, it serves as a formal legislative statement urging the State to prioritize rangeland conservation, support ranching and pastoralist livelihoods, and coordinate educational and outreach efforts with agencies, the University of Hawaii, and county governments. Its practical effect is to elevate rangeland policy as a state priority and to encourage future administrative or legislative action affecting agriculture, land management, and conservation.
The available vote history suggests broad support: the Senate Agriculture and Environment Committee passed the measure unanimously and without amendment, with 3 yeas and 0 nays. The bill’s tone is affirmative and celebratory, emphasizing stewardship, sustainability, and the cultural importance of ranching. No opposing testimony or recorded committee debate was provided, so the overall sentiment appears favorable and noncontroversial in committee.
No specific points of contention are shown in the provided materials, and the committee vote indicates no recorded opposition at that stage. If any concerns were to arise, they would likely center on how strongly the State should commit to rangeland-focused policies, whether the proclamation has symbolic value versus practical effect, and how conservation goals might interact with land use, agricultural regulation, or ranching operations. However, the text and vote history provided do not show active disagreement among legislators or stakeholders.