Advocacy
Our Priorities
The Hawai‘i Farm Bureau, serving as Hawai‘i’s voice of agriculture protects, advocates, and advances the social, economic and educational interest of our diverse agricultural community.
Our guiding policies originate at the County Farm Bureau level with the ideas, opinions and contributions of our concerned membership. We encourage the participation of every member, and try to have open communication with them through our annual convention, and county meetings. Policies are adopted after discussion at our County and State meetings.
2022 LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES
-
Urging the Department of Land and Natural Resources to transfer agricultural lands to the Department of Agriculture for appropriate management. (SB 2781/HB 1720/SB 2993)
-
Establish the agricultural enterprise program in the Hawaii Department of Agriculture. (HB 1713/SB 2947)
-
Prohibit waste disposal sites or landfills on lands classified as Important Agricultural Lands (IAL) or productive agricultural lands. (HB 1712/SB 2944)
-
Establish a pilot program to import small, foreign equipment for agricultural purposes. (HB 1717/SB 2948)
-
Funding for capital improvement projects for repairs for the Menehune Ditch in Waimea, Kauai. (HB 1710/SB 2946)
-
Funding for the College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources (CTAHR) to study the prevalence and causes of the red ginger disease on Oahu. (HB 2305/SB 3260)
-
Funding for the College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources (CTAHR) to add one position to the Kauai Research and Extension Station. (HB 1711/SB 2945)
Advocacy
Our Priorities
The Hawai‘i Farm Bureau, serving as Hawai‘i’s voice of agriculture protects, advocates, and advances the social, economic and educational interest of our diverse agricultural community.
-
Urging the Department of Land and Natural Resources to transfer agricultural lands to the Department of Agriculture for appropriate management. (SB 2781/HB 1720/SB 2993)
-
Establish the agricultural enterprise program in the Hawaii Department of Agriculture. (HB 1713/SB 2947)
-
Prohibit waste disposal sites or landfills on lands classified as Important Agricultural Lands (IAL) or productive agricultural lands. (HB 1712/SB 2944)
-
Establish a pilot program to import small, foreign equipment for agricultural purposes. (HB 1717/SB 2948)
-
Funding for capital improvement projects for repairs for the Menehune Ditch in Waimea, Kauai. (HB 1710/SB 2946)
-
Funding for the College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources (CTAHR) to study the prevalence and causes of the red ginger disease on Oahu. (HB 2305/SB 3260)
-
Funding for the College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources (CTAHR) to add one position to the Kauai Research and Extension Station. (HB 1711/SB 2945)
Key Dates During Session
2022 Session Dates: January 19, 2022 – May 5, 2022
Last Day to Introduce Bills: January 26, 2022
Mandatory 5-Day Recess Dates: February 24, 2022 – March 2, 2022
**For detailed information on all of the different deadlines for the House and Senate, feel free to review the PDF document “Which Deadlines Apply to My Bill? (2022)” provided by the staff at the Public Access Room. A link is provided here and below in the Important Resources section.**
HELPFUL TIPS
In addition to the information provided here, the Public Access Room (PAR) has general information, tips/guides, and workshops to help the public engage in the State’s legislative process.
To submit written testimony, you will need to set up an account on the legislature’s website. All that is required to set up an account on the legislator’s website is an email and password. You will only need to go through this process once. Click here to create an account with the Hawaii Legislature.
Please keep in mind that you may only testify when the measure has been scheduled for a hearing. Notice for a hearing is posted either 48 or 72 hours before it begins, so be on the lookout.
Read tips on testimony, how to submit testimony online, or view a sample testimony.
To submit oral testimony, you will need to set up an account on the legislature’s website. If you have already done so, you will have to submit a written testimony along with a request to testify via video conference.*
Click here to view instructions on how to submit oral testimony via Zoom. (Updated 3/7/2022)
*Testimony must be submitted at least 24 hours before the hearing. If testimony is received after the 24-hour mark, it may not be considered for decision-making.
Hawaii State Senate
The state has 25 Senate districts. Each district has one senator that will serve for four-year terms. For a description of each district and its current senator, check out the “Senate: District Description By District” document. Or you click the button below for the list of current representatives.
Hawaii State Representatives
The state has 51 House districts. Each district has one representative that will serve for two-year terms. For a description of each district and its current representative, check out the “House of Representatives: District Description By District” document. Or you click the button below for the list of current representatives.
US Senate
Each state has two senators, regardless of population, serving for six-year terms at the federal level.
Senator Mazie Hirono
Assumed Office: January 3, 2013
End of term: January 3, 2025
Website: www.hirono.senate.gov
Senator Brian Schatz
Assumed Office: December 27, 2012
End of term: January 3, 2023
Website: www.schatz.senate.gov
US House of Representatives
Hawaii has two representatives at the House of Representatives serving for two-year terms.
Congressman Ed Case
District 1
Assumed Office: January 3, 2019
End of term: January 3, 2023
Website: www.case.house.gov
Congressman Kaialii “Kai” Kahele
District 2
Assumed Office: January 3, 2021
End of term: January 3, 2023
Website: www.kahele.house.gov
Get Involved
Support Hawai`i Farm Bureau’s initiatives by getting involved in the legislative process. Subscribe below to our Call-to-Action mailing list for more information.