The House Committee on Agriculture & Food Systems recommended HB 1006 for passage with amendments on Jan. 31, 2025. The bill would include agricultural tourism within the definition of an ADC enterprise, enabling the Agribusiness Development Corporation to financially support farming businesses that engage in agritourism.

ADC testified in strong support and said the request came from its licensees; ADC representatives said adding agritourism to statute would allow the board to set policies, plans and operating parameters for safe operations. Producer groups including the Hawaii Farm Bureau and Hawaii Farmers Union supported agritourism as a revenue source for farmers but urged safeguards so agritourism remains accessory to agricultural production. Hawaii Farmers Union requested stronger county governance and county ordinance requirements to prevent tourism from becoming the primary land use.

Committee discussion focused on how ADC would enforce new rules and whether ADC’s current staffing and rule framework are sufficient. ADC said it has been adding staff and developing policies and sees this bill as a way to put clearer parameters and enforcement “teeth” into license requirements. Witnesses also stressed counties retain zoning authority and that agritourism authorization at the state level would not supplant county land-use rules.

At decision making the committee adopted non‑substantive technical amendments, noted that ADC would need to amend rules and add enforcement mechanisms as needed, and defected the effective date to July 1, 3000. Representative Peruso recorded a reservation on the vote; the committee otherwise advanced the bill.