STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1148

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2025

RE: H.B. No. 299

H.D. 1

Honorable Nadine K. Nakamura

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2025

State of Hawaii

Madame:

Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred H.B. No. 299, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE HAWAII INVASIVE SPECIES COUNCIL,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to appropriate funds for the Native Resources and Fire Protection Program and Hawaii Invasive Species Council to continue to control and eradicate invasive species in the State.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Agriculture; Department of Health; Hawaii Invasive Species Council; Coordinating Group on Alien Pest Species; O‘ahu Invasive Species Committee; Sierra Club of Hawai‘i; Hawai‘i Farm Bureau; Climate Change and Health Working Group; Life of the Land; Green Party of Hawai‘i; Kua‘āina Ulu ‘Auamo; Hawai‘i Reef and Ocean Coalition; Hawai‘i Farmers Union; Hawai‘i Forest Industry Association; Mālama Learning Center; and numerous individuals. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Finance that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 299, H.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

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

____________________________

KYLE T. YAMASHITA, Chair