STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1386-22

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2022

RE: S.B. No. 2996

S.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2022

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Agriculture, to which was referred S.B. No. 2996, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO ANTS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to appropriate funds for research, extension, and control of the little fire ant and other harmful ant species.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources, Coordinating Group on Alien Pest Species, Hawaii Pest Control Association, Daifukuji Soto Mission, Kualoa Ranch, Hawai‘i Association of REALTORS, Hawai‘i Farm Bureau, MacFarms of Hawaii LLC, and twelve individuals. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Budget and Finance.

Your Committee finds that little fire ants, first discovered on the island of Hawaii in 1999 and now also found on the islands of Kauai, Lanai, Oahu, and Maui, pose a threat to human health, wildlife, agriculture, and tourism. If left unmanaged, populations of little fire ants at hotels, golf courses, and parks will pose threats to the State's residents and visitors and threaten farmers, who may harvest ant—infested crops and facilitate the spread of sapsucking plant pests that can decrease crop yields. Your Committee recognizes the world-renowned invasive species mitigation research of the Hawaii Ant Lab and the Lab's critical role in combatting the spread of little fire ants throughout the State. This measure will provide much-needed funds for the Hawaii Ant Lab to continue its research, extension, and control efforts for little fire ants and other harmful ant species.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Agriculture that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2996, S.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to your Committee on Finance.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Agriculture,

____________________________

MARK J. HASHEM, Chair