Transcript Highlights:

• Our farm workers remind us.
• of a farm worker, the great-granddaughter of a farm worker, and somehow their story didn't end in the
• And as we make this change to Farm Worker Day, we are making a broader statement to honor farm workers
• You cannot support farm workers while undermining the farms that employ them.
• You cannot support farm workers while undermining the farms that employ them.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> farming programs, it's all farming? farming programs, it's all farming?
• Uh the Hawaii Farm Hawaii Farm Bureau.
• farming.
• So any uh like Farm about real farming.
• Brian Miamoto, Hawaii Farm<01:19:47.600><c> Bureau.</c> Farm Bureau. Farm Bureau.

Bills: SB874 , SB2097 , SB2098 , SB2126 , SB2154 , SB2153 , SB2160 , SB2123 , SB2110

Committee: Senate Agriculture and Environment

Summary: The committee heard several agriculture-related bills. SB 874 on veterinary medicine would require veterinarians, upon a client’s request, to provide a written prescription for an animal patient in an existing veterinary client-patient relationship, allow Hawaii-licensed pharmacies to dispense those prescriptions, and authorize the Veterinary Medicine Board to set penalties. Testimony was overwhelmingly supportive, with supporters citing lower costs and consumer choice; the Hawaii Veterinary Medical Association said veterinarians already should be doing this and supported the bill if amended. One testifier in opposition argued the bill needed a conspicuous notice requirement so pet owners know they can request prescriptions. Committee members and the Department of Agriculture said they were not aware of widespread problems, and discussion focused on whether the measure was already consistent with current practice and whether amendments would address remaining concerns. The committee also heard SB 2097, which would create a climate-resilient food systems grant program in the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity and appropriate funds. The department, Hawaii Farm Bureau, Hawaii Farmers Union, Hawaii Cattlemen’s Council, and others supported the bill, saying it could help farmers and ranchers invest in resilience, infrastructure, and technology. Several testifiers asked for clearer definitions, especially for terms like “food hubs” and “resilience hubs,” and suggested adding technical assistance and clearer eligibility criteria. The department explained the program was intended for shovel-ready projects in the middle of the supply chain, with a focus on farmers in a certain revenue range, and said it was modeled on a USDA program. SB 2098 would establish a clean plant program to produce and distribute disease-free plant material to growers, nurseries, and other producers. Testimony was supportive, emphasizing biosecurity, nursery industry needs, and preventing invasive species and crop disease. The department described the program as using tested clean stock, tissue culture facilities, and data collection to support future planting decisions, and estimated a two-year ramp-up. Members questioned whether the program duplicated existing work at CTR/other partners and whether data collection should be centralized, but the department said the effort would build on existing varieties and partnerships rather than overlap them. Finally, SB 2126 would create a conventional farming grant program for small and midsize conventional farmers. Supporters from the department, Hawaii Farm Bureau, and Hawaii Cattlemen’s Council said conventional agriculture deserves support and that the bill would help increase food production. Opposition and comments focused on the bill’s exclusion of organic farmers; one farmer said the measure was unfair unless amended to include organic producers, while a Farmers Union witness said the bill was too vague about the grant’s purpose and should be clearer about its goals. In response to questions, the department said the exclusion of organic farming was not intentional and that the bill was meant to support all agriculture, though no vote or final action was taken in the excerpt provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> compliance with the agiculture farm compliance with the agiculture farm standards<00:07:41.639><
• Next is Brian Mamoto from Hawaii Farm Bureau in support, Larry Jeffs from Larry Jeffs Farms LLC also
• each county to determine the type of farms protected by the Right to Farm law.
• each county to determine the type of farms protected by the Right to Farm law.
• each county to determine the type of farms protected by the Right to Farm law.

Summary: The Senate Agriculture and Environment Committee heard five bills on January 24, 2025. SB 1 would phase out disposable air filters and require reusable air filters by 2030; testimony was limited, with one supporter urging clearer definitions of fiberglass and paper and several opponents listed, and the committee later deferred the bill indefinitely for lack of support testimony. SB 13 would create an aquaculture investment tax credit beginning in 2026; state agencies and several industry groups supported it, while the Tax Foundation raised concerns about loose definitions, internal inconsistencies, and blanks that made the bill hard to estimate or vet. The committee passed SB 13 with amendments and technical changes, and deferred its effective date to July 1, 2015 as stated on the record. SB 177 would shift aquatic livestock import and movement permitting to the Department of Agriculture’s Animal Industry Division, require a risk-based assessment and biocontainment standards, and seek a $1 million appropriation for research and staffing. The Department of Agriculture said the bill would help expand aquaculture while managing risks to native species; aquaculture and farm groups supported it, while Animal Rights Hawaii was listed in opposition. The committee passed SB 177 with amendments, blanking the appropriation for committee report consideration, and deferred its effective date to July 1, 2050. SB 184 would raise the beverage container deposit and refund from 5 cents to 10 cents. Supporters said the higher deposit could improve recycling and environmental outcomes, while opponents, including the Tax Foundation, cited fraud concerns, the program’s existing fund balance, and practical challenges in redemption; the Department of Human Services also noted potential impacts on blind vendors. The committee took the bill up but deferred decision-making until Monday, January 27, 2025, at 10:01 p.m. in Room 224. The committee also heard SB 250, which would increase the income tax credit for interisland transportation costs for agricultural products. Agricultural and industry witnesses supported the bill as a way to offset rising shipping costs and preserve access to markets, while the Tax Foundation preferred direct appropriations over tax credits and objected to missing bill details. The committee passed SB 250 with amendments from the Department of Agriculture and deferred its effective date to July 1, 2050. Separately, a joint hearing on SB 240, the Right to Farm bill, drew mixed testimony: the Department of Agriculture supported further study and raised concerns about the bill’s fragmented approach, while farm, cattle, and other industry witnesses split between support for protecting customary Native Hawaiian subsistence farming and opposition to excluding CAFOs and certain business structures. No vote was taken on SB 240 in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• So many of our farms involve the second career or, you know, someone having a career and then farming
• I'm a fourth-generation farm kid, grew up on a 2,000-acre diversified potato farm in Skagit County, and
• Resource Line, 1-800 Farm Aid.
• The center dot is obviously the positive farm that has dead birds in there, but there are other farms
• Because those farms have to keep testing in order for, say, eggs to move off of them, and those farms

Committee: Senate Agriculture & Natural Resources

Transcript Highlights:

• So many of our farms involve the second career or, you know, someone having a career and then farming
• and the medium-sized farms get through... ...to help those small farms and the medium-sized farms get
• In the past 20 years, the number of farms has decreased by 10.7%, and the size of farms has increased
• Resource Line, 1-800-Farm-Aid.
• The stresses of marriage while farming and running the family farm business alongside your spouse, with

Summary: The Senate Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee met for a work session focused on Washington agriculture’s condition, food security, behavioral health, and animal disease surveillance. WSDA Director Derek Sandison and economist Maddie Roy presented an update on agricultural viability, describing Washington agriculture as highly diverse and valuable but increasingly strained by rising production and labor costs, aging producers, consolidation, trade barriers, land pressures, stagnant research funding, infrastructure concerns, and climate impacts. They cited declining farm numbers, falling net farm income, and negative take-home pay for farmers, while also noting strengths such as climate, soils, ports, irrigation, universities, and other infrastructure. Committee members asked about commodity-specific impacts, comparisons with other states, and the role of regulation in worsening costs. Kelly McLean followed with a discussion of opportunities to support agriculture, including trade, domestic food systems development, climate mitigation, clean energy, ag tech, workforce and education, and mental health. She highlighted investments in port and transportation infrastructure, local food processing and distribution, land access and incubator opportunities, climate resilience projects, and programs supporting farmworker and farmer mental health. Katie Raines then updated the committee on food systems and food security, explaining WSDA’s reorganization into a Farm and Food Systems Development Division and describing trends in household food insecurity, the state’s hunger safety net, and the importance of food system infrastructure. She noted that food insecurity is rising again and that even higher-income households are reporting need, while legislators asked about eligibility thresholds and the impact on lower-income residents. The committee also heard from WSU Skagit County Extension’s Don McMoran and Maddie Van der Koi on agricultural stress and suicide prevention. They described the Western Region Agricultural Stress Assistance Partnership, crisis and referral resources, peer-to-peer outreach, trainings, and free counseling vouchers for farmers and farmworkers. They emphasized that farmers face chronic stress from financial volatility, weather, labor shortages, isolation, and stigma, and cited elevated suicide rates in agricultural populations. Members asked about reluctance to seek help and whether flooding had increased demand for services. Finally, Dr. Kevin Snekovic of the Washington Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory described WADDL’s role in disease testing, food safety, wildlife surveillance, and rapid response to outbreaks such as avian influenza and chronic wasting disease. He said the lab supports trade and quarantine decisions, and members asked about elk hoof rot research, workforce needs, and how to connect constituents to the lab. No votes were taken; the session ended with a preview of upcoming Thursday work sessions on marine resources, Columbia River Basin supply, Ecology’s report back, and agricultural natural resources issues.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> farms.
• Uh we've long supported farm farms.
• So 100% of my farm income is from farming. I agree with the point Hunter made.
• to</c><00:37:06.720><c> food</c> production, farm to school, farm to food production, farm to school,
• </c> part of the Farm Bureau family. part of the Farm Bureau family.

Bills: HB1601 , HB1828 , HB1616 , HB1603 , HB1606 , HB1604 , HB1605

Committee: House Agriculture & Food Systems

Transcript Highlights:

• Um farm Not farm All right. Thank you.
• </c> interest in his farms. interest in his farms.
• </c> right off of the farm. right off of the farm.
• </c> that now is not from my farm. that now is not from my farm.
• We now have six farms on site. Each farm is about 15 acres.

Committee: Senate Agriculture and Environment

Summary: The joint committees met on March 19, 2025, to hear HB 966 HD2, which would create statewide standards for agricultural tourism in counties that adopt ag-tourism ordinances. The bill would require registration with county planning departments, require ag-tourism to remain tied to an active farming operation, and end the activity when the agricultural use stops except in limited circumstances. Testimony from the Office of Planning and Sustainable Development, the Agribusiness Development Corporation, the Department of Agriculture, the Hawaii Tourism Authority, Kualoa Ranch, and the Hawaii Cattlemen’s Council was generally supportive of the bill’s intent, with several witnesses emphasizing that agritourism can help farm viability, food security, and public education about agriculture. The Hawaii Farm Bureau and several other testifiers supported agritourism but urged strong guardrails, minimal statewide standards, and deference to county home rule. They said agriculture should remain the primary activity, warned against adding burdens to farmers and ranchers, and suggested better enforcement and agricultural expertise within county planning departments. Phil Weber and others argued for objective standards, such as minimum revenue or work-performed thresholds, annual reporting, and clearer compliance tools, and cautioned that the bill’s termination exemption could be too broad if not tightened. A substantial portion of the discussion focused on whether the bill should apply to Department of Agriculture lands, especially ag park lands, and to DLNR lands. Department of Agriculture staff explained that ag park lands currently do not allow agritourism, while non-ag park lands under Act 90 allow limited related activity tied to farm production, with revenue limits and other conditions. Members and witnesses debated how to define and measure agritourism, how to enforce county rules, and whether to exempt ag park parcels or otherwise clarify that existing DOA rules would control. No vote or final action was taken during the hearing, and the chair requested follow-up language from DOA to address possible exemptions and clarify the bill’s application.

Transcript Highlights:

• She was working with her farm business management instructor and the end of the... farms that he's worked
• Again, she's farming today. It doesn't look at the same way, but she's farming... today.
• We have a program on farm transitions.
• This could be a whole new industry, not just on the farm, but rooted in the farm and then radiating out
• This could be a whole new industry, not just on the farm, but rooted in the farm and then ratifying out

Bills: HF3692

Committee: House Agriculture Finance and Policy

Keywords: Farmer-Lender Mediation Act, mediation, agriculture finance, debt relief, civil law

Transcript Highlights:

• Washington farm workers or farmers? Yeah, farm workers. Washington farm workers or farmers?
• Farms falling from more than 37,000 farms in 2012 to 32,000 and 2022.
• And if the farms don't exist, how can we provide jobs for these farm workers as well?
• And if the farms don't exist, how can we provide jobs for these farm workers as well?
• farm, just essentially pricing... ...my husband's farm and my mother's farm, just essentially pricing

Bills: HB2355 , HB2151 , HB2372 , HB2472 , HB2409

Committee: House Labor & Workplace Standards

Keywords: labor protections, domestic workers, wage standards, employment rights, worker safety, factory built housing, commercial structures, national standards, construction regulation, building safety, workers' compensation, benefits, employment, injury claims, insurance, liability, fire protection, sprinkler systems, licensed contractors, certified fitters

Transcript Highlights:

• It's part of the farm bill, and what the bill does is amend it because there are some dairy farms that
• </c> 2022 year and if there's any new farms 2022 year and if there's any new farms that<00:01:06.720>
• </c> a first generation small dairy farm. a first generation small dairy farm.
• Meyers worked as a farm hand on a dairy farm in St. Peter for four decades.
• </c> dairy farm uh takes a toll on a body. dairy farm uh takes a toll on a body.

Transcript Highlights:

• What they are doing is matchmaking farms to schools and schools back to farms, helping to build that
• But farm to local.
• So there are 199 farm-to-school?
• And they have a farm program.
• We farm all organically.

Summary: The meeting began with a lengthy opening discussion with Secretary Karen Ross of the Department of Food and Agriculture, who reviewed the department’s proposed budget, emphasized California agriculture’s record output, and highlighted major priorities including climate-smart agriculture, groundwater management, local food systems, farm-to-school, food hubs, invasive pest prevention, bird flu response, and food safety. She also warned about federal budget cuts, especially at USDA and FDA, and discussed market access challenges abroad, rising input costs, labor shortages, and the need for automation and workforce training. Members raised questions about the future of Farm to School, the California Nutrition Incentive Program/Market Match, local food procurement, and how to better connect farmers to schools, food banks, and food hubs; Ross said the department had strong evidence the program benefits small farms and Title I schools and noted continued interest in building out local food infrastructure. The committee then took up item one on eliminating vacant positions at the Departments of Fish and Wildlife, Parks and Recreation, and Food and Agriculture. The Legislative Analyst’s Office explained that the Governor proposed eliminating 6,000 vacant positions statewide, with the Joint Legislative Budget Committee previously rejecting 650 of them, including 174 in these three departments. LAO and Finance said the vacancies represented a source of budget flexibility, but warned that eliminating them could create program impacts; LAO recommended retaining the special-funded positions at Fish and Wildlife and Food and Agriculture, while weighing the General Fund positions against other priorities. Finance argued the reductions were part of a broader budget-resiliency exercise and that departments could reclassify or shift vacancies to higher priorities. Members focused heavily on the practical impacts of the cuts. Assemblymember Petrie-Norris argued that Fish and Wildlife staffing shortages were already slowing permits needed for housing, clean energy, water, and transportation projects, and questioned the value of saving relatively small amounts of money. Fish and Wildlife officials said the department had prioritized mission-critical work and could still meet permitting obligations, but acknowledged limited-term staffing constraints. State Parks said the proposed ranger and maintenance cuts would not have immediate effects but could slow maintenance and eventually worsen deferred maintenance. Food and Agriculture said some of the eliminated positions supported early pest detection and eradication, but that the department believed it could still meet its mandate and reclassify positions if needed. The chair and several members signaled concern about the Fish and Wildlife and Parks cuts, while also noting the broader need for budget reductions. The committee then moved to item six, hearing an overview from the Governor’s Office of Land Use and Climate Innovation. Staff described the office’s role in CEQA implementation and said the budget requests were baseline funding to maintain existing functions, including IT services and administrative/legislative support, rather than new programs. The chair asked the presenters to move quickly through background material so the committee could get to questions, and the item began with no votes taken during the meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> 3,000 farms retired. 3,000 farms retired.
• </c> of non-farm wages. of non-farm wages.
• farms.
• That's not how farming<03:04:11.160><c> works.</c> farming works. farming works.
• That's just 2.9% of all farms farms farms in<04:29:52.520><c> 2022.

Transcript Highlights:

• What they are doing is matchmaking farms to schools and schools back to farms, helping to build that
• You know, but farm to local.
• So there are 199 farm-to-school?
• And they have a farm program.
• We farm all organically.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> Farm Bureau. Farm Bureau.
• , farming, farming, bonafide<00:19:01.560><c> farm</c><00:19:01.920><c> farming,</c><00:19:02.360><c>
• production,</c> bonafide farm farming, production, bonafide farm farming, production, whatever<00:19
• of what farming is.
• of what farming is.

Bills: SB2319 , SB2407 , SB2489 , SB2153 , SB2321 , SB2805 , SB3010 , SB2892 , SB2595 , SB2781

Committee: House Agriculture & Food Systems

Transcript Highlights:

• Ensure fair and effective farm policies that keep family farms thriving.
• Ensure fair and effective farm policies that keep family farms thriving.
• You know, most—well, 97% of farms in the U.S. are family farms.
• We transitioned our farm from a dairy farm in 2019 to a direct market farm.
• </c> transitioned our farm from a dairy farm transitioned our farm from a dairy farm in<01:40:08.960>

Committee: Senate Agriculture, Veterans, Broadband, and Rural Development

Transcript Highlights:

• This was created by the Farm Bill. Remember when we had a Farm Bill? And it created...
• She's on a farm that is personal friends with us, a very substantial dairy farm.
• Farm to school: we've got farms, we've got kids who need food. And yet it was so hard.
• working on a farm for 20 years.
• I think I would add actively farmed land to this because there's a lot of land that is actively farmed

Committee: Senate Agriculture

Summary: The Senate Standing Committee on Agriculture first moved through a series of animal welfare bills, reporting all of them to the floor. The measures included bills on sentencing for aggravated cruelty to animals, additional aggravated cruelty provisions, penalties for animal abandonment, requiring owners or lessors of vacated properties to inspect for abandoned animals, and restricting surgical depopulation procedures on dogs and pets. Members generally expressed support, and each bill advanced by motion and voice vote with no noted opposition or recusals; one additional bill was held by the sponsor. The committee then heard from Agriculture and Markets Commissioner Richard Ball, who gave an update on state and federal agriculture issues. He discussed the Northeast Dairy Business Innovation Center, federal farm bill negotiations, specialty crops, labor and H-2A reform, dairy margin coverage concerns, possible cuts to EQIP, organic certification funding, trade and USMCA review, tariffs and input costs, and disaster concerns affecting Long Island seafood producers. He also highlighted state programs such as Nourish New York, Dairy Modernization, farm-to-school efforts, and workforce development initiatives. Members asked questions about raw milk sales, H-2A labor, solar siting on farmland, farm-to-school expansion, tariff impacts, and support for farmers facing federal cuts and rising costs. Ball said raw milk sales remain limited to licensed on-farm sales with inspections and warnings, supported reform of H-2A and broader labor policy, urged protecting prime and actively farmed land from solar development, and emphasized the need to preserve food access programs like Nourish New York and farmers market nutrition benefits. The meeting ended after the commissioner’s testimony and member discussion, with no further formal action beyond the earlier bill reports.

Transcript Highlights:

• into question and do everything we can to meet our climate goals and our farming goals and our farming
• into question and do everything we can to meet our climate goals and our farming goals and our farming
• Tarr, farm stand percentage waiver.
• that they can offer that isn't grown on that particular farm where the farm stand is located.
• stay farming.

Transcript Highlights:

• Clam farming helps bring in over 550 jobs in the area, whether it's direct at a farm... ...helps bring
• They want to come see the farms.
• to make it happen on individual farms.
• There's similarities from farm to farm, but we have to be astute enough to be able to figure out from
• So we have a hundred farms that we provide that service to—the individual watermelon farms throughout

Committee: Senate Agriculture

Summary: The Senate Committee on Agriculture met with a quorum present and heard three presentations focused on Florida aquaculture, agricultural nutrient reduction, and land preservation. First, clam farmer Tim Solano of Cedar Key described the economic and environmental importance of the state’s clam industry, noting Florida’s strong national production, the industry’s recovery role after the net ban, and the severe damage caused by recent hurricanes and red tide. He said the Dislocated Workers program helped farmers return to work and asked that existing state programs be written more broadly to include aquaculture. Oyster producer Canaan Greg of Pelican Oyster Company then discussed the growth of off-bottom oyster farming, the losses his industry suffered from Hurricane Michael and the pandemic, and the need for better access to recovery loans, student internships, local seed production, and waterfront protection. Members asked questions about leases, production, predators, and storm resilience, and the presenters emphasized that aquaculture is a sustainable, year-round industry that filters water and supports local economies. The committee next heard from UF/IFAS regional extension agent Dr. Bob Hockmouth on education, research, and extension efforts to reduce nitrogen in the Suwannee Valley Basin Management Action Plan area. He explained that the region’s agricultural load reduction target has increased from about 4.2 million to 5.8 million pounds of nitrogen, and that extension programs are helping farmers adopt practices such as precision fertilizer placement, soil moisture sensors, controlled-release fertilizer, petiole sap testing, and irrigation automation. He highlighted corn and watermelon as major examples, saying on-farm demonstrations and cost-share programs are essential because the equipment and technology are expensive. He reported substantial reductions from participating farms and said growers are generally cooperative when funding is available. Finally, the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services presented an update on the Rural and Family Lands Protection Program. The program acquires development rights through voluntary conservation easements to keep working agricultural lands in production, protect water resources and wildlife habitat, and preserve taxable land without transferring ownership. The presenter said the program has expanded rapidly in the last two years, with more acreage acquired, faster application review, and more properties in the Florida wildlife corridor. He noted new online application and monitoring tools, a shortened review timeline, and stronger partnerships with federal and defense-related programs. Committee members asked about long-term maintenance responsibilities and the Board of Trustees approval process, and the presentation closed with support for continued funding and efficiency improvements before the committee adjourned without objection.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:15:02.720><c> So</c> farming through doing farming. So farming through doing farming.
• Some farms allow for them to be picked up on their farm, and other farms might have home delivery options
• Some farms allow for them to be picked up on their farm, and other farms might have home delivery options
• farm and farm capacity working on the farm and farm capacity building<00:31:23.520><c> side</c><00:31
• </c> go to the farm or they go to a farm go to the farm or they go to a farm stand<00:35:31.520><c> or

Committee: Joint State Government

Transcript Highlights:

• That is in farm work and who runs and owns the farms.
• ,</c> farm and you travel to another hog farm, farm and you travel to another hog farm, you<02:18:53.040
• They will say it is my farm I work farm.
• </c> the farming community. the farming community.
• </c> farm workers. farm workers.

Summary: The House convened with 58 members present and seven excused, establishing a quorum, and approved the April 15, 2026 journal as corrected. The chamber then moved through announcements recognizing visiting railroad workers, LIUNA Local 720, Colorado West Christian Schools, Religious Freedom Day, and several school and community groups, along with birthday acknowledgments and committee schedule notices. The House also adopted a motion to remove House Bill 1245 from special orders and returned it to the general orders second reading calendar, and set House Bills 1290, 1312, and 1321 as special orders. The House adopted Senate Joint Resolution 18, recognizing Nowruz and expressing support for the human rights and fundamental freedoms of the Iranian people, including the Women, Life, Freedom movement. Supporters described Nowruz as a holiday of renewal and resilience and tied the resolution to solidarity with Iranian communities. Representative Zokaie also spoke at length about the personal impact of war on Iranian families and urged a vote. The resolution passed 59-2 with four excused. The chamber then considered several bills in committee report. House Bill 1290, concerning assault and clarifying sentencing, was amended in Judiciary to remove the medical professional provision and passed after testimony emphasizing strangulation as a serious warning sign in domestic violence cases; it then passed the House. House Bill 1312, dealing with peace officer participation, POST Board composition, academy training, and related grants, was amended for clarity and passed the Judiciary report and then the bill. House Bill 1321, modifying the School Security Disbursement Program, had the Education Committee report defeated, but amendments were adopted to broaden eligible service providers and adjust funding language; the bill then passed as amended.