Hawaii SB 2178: RELATING TO INDUSTRIAL HEMP.

Bill Text

THE SENATE
THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026
STATE OF HAWAII S.B. NO. 2178
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
JAN 2 1 2026
A BILL FORAN ACT
RELATING TO INDUSTRIAL HEMP.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:
PART I
SECTION 1. The legislature finds that hemp cultivated for
industrial purposes, such as fiber, hurd, and grain, serves a
fundamentally different role than hemp that is cultivated for
cannabinoid extraction. Industrial or commercial hemp
production has the potential to bring significant revenues to
the State; however, the industry currently lacks a distinct
regulatory and development pathway.
Accordingly, the purpose of this Act is to establish a
clear and separate regulatory framework for industrial hemp that
is distinct from hemp grown for cannabinoids by:
(1) Establishing an industrial hemp program that includes
comprehensive licensing, education, and support for
non-cannabinoid industrial hemp cultivation and use;
(2) Establishing the industrial hemp program advisory
board to develop a strategic plan to establish and
2026-0276 SB SMA.docx
«■■■■■■■
1

Page 2
S.B. NO. 2(78
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
expand the processing infrastructure and
commercialization of non-cannabinoid industrial hemp;
(3) Supporting research and development focused on local
adaptation, sustainability, and economic development
goals;
(4) Promoting partnerships with Native Hawaiian
practitioners, cooperatives, and aina-based programs;
and
(5) Adopting state building codes for hemp-based
materials, including hempcrete.
SECTION 2. This Act shall be cited as the "Hawaii
Industrial Hemp Infrastructure and Innovation Act".
PART II
SECTION 3. Chapter 141, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is
amended by adding a new part to be appropriately designated and
to read as follows:
"PART INDUSTRIAL HEMP PROGRAM
§141-A Definitions. As used in this part:
"Advisory board" means the industrial hemp program advisory
board.
2026-0276 SB SMA.docx
MHH
2

Page 3
S.B. NO. 2(78
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
"Chairperson" means the chairperson of the board of
agriculture and biosecurity.
"Department" means the department of agriculture and
biosecurity.
"Industrial hemp" means the plant Cannabis sativa L. and
any part of that plant, except cannabidiol, with a delta-9
tetrahydrocannabinol concentration of not more than 0.3 per cent
on a dry weight basis grown for its fiber, seed, or oil.
"Industrial hemp" includes non-cannabidiol parts including seeds
and all derivatives, extracts, isomers, acids, salts, and salts
of isomers, whether growing or not. "Industrial hemp" excludes
hemp grown for the extraction of cannabidiol.
"Program" means the industrial hemp program.
§141-B Industrial hemp program; established. There is
established an industrial hemp program within the department for
administrative purposes to promote the non-cannabinoid hemp
industry. The program shall:
(1) Provide technical assistance to industrial hemp
farmers;
(2) Develop Hawaii-adapted industrial hemp seed varieties;
(3) Facilitate market access for industrial hemp products;
2026-0276 SB SMA.docx
IHIIIIIIIIIBIIBIIHH

Page 4
S.B. NO. 2(78
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
(4) Conduct educational outreach and workforce training in
industrial hemp applications, with a focus .on
construction and regenerative agriculture; and
(5) Collaborate with the university of Hawaii, department
of land and natural resources, and department of
education on research, education, and integration of
the program into land restoration efforts and school
agriculture programs.
§141-C Licensing. (a) Beginning July 1, 2027, a person
who intends to grow non-cannabinoid industrial hemp in the State
for fiber, grain, or building materials shall apply to the
department for a license on a form prescribed by the department
and pay an application fee.
(b) Each applicant for a license shall be either an
individual applicant or an applying entity. If the applicant
is:
(1) An individual, the application shall include
supporting documentation to establish that the
individual:
(A) Is not less than twenty-one years of age; and
2026-0276 SB SMA.docx
HIMMMMrMMnn
4

Page 5
S.B. NO. 2(78
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
(B) Has no drug felony convictions in the ten years
immediately preceding the date of submission of
the application; or
(2) An entity, the application shall include supporting
documentation to establish that the entity:
(A) Has been organized under the laws of the State of
Hawaii;
(B) Has a Hawaii tax identification number;
(C) Has a department of commerce and consumer affairs
business registration division number and suffix;
(D) Has a federal employer identification number; and
(E) Is composed of principals or members, each of
whom have had no drug felony convictions in the
ten years immediately preceding the date of
submission of the application.
(c) Licensees shall comply with all county zoning
ordinances, rules, or