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Committee approves expansion of Agribusiness Development Corporation authority to support agricultural tourism
Summary
The joint committee voted to pass HB1006 HD1, authorizing the Agribusiness Development Corporation to financially support farming businesses engaged in agricultural tourism; supporters said it diversifies farm income and provides technical and financial assistance.
The joint hearing of the House Committee on Tourism and the House Committee on Economic Development and Technology on Feb. 11, 2025, passed House Bill 1006 HD1, which would add agricultural tourism and agritourism activities to the definition of "enterprise" and authorize the Agribusiness Development Corporation (ADC) to provide financial support to farming businesses that engage in agricultural tourism.
Wendy Gady, Agribusiness Development Corporation, told the committee she stood on written testimony in support and summarized three reasons for the change: "First of all, the farmers came to us and asked for us to add this into our statute. Secondly, it diversifies their income. And third, it provides both technical and financial support for their operations." The Department of Agriculture, DBEDT and the Hawaii Farm Bureau were also listed in support on the record.
The committee record shows eight written testimonies in support of the measures on the agenda and one in opposition. The chair recommended passing HB1006 HD1 "as is." The committee then recorded the vote: the chair and vice chair both voted aye (unnamed in transcript), and Representatives Holt, Hussey, Illegan and Todd each voted aye; Representative Matsumoto was excused. The chair announced that the recommendation to pass was adopted.
The bill's sponsors and supporters argue the change would help diversify farm revenue streams and provide both technical and financial assistance to farms offering visitor-facing activities. The committee took no amendments during the hearing and forwarded the measure with the committee's recommendation to pass as introduced in the HD1 form.
