STAND. COM. REP. NO. 739

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2025

RE: H.B. No. 427

H.D. 2

Honorable Nadine K. Nakamura

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2025

State of Hawaii

Madame:

Your Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs, to which was referred H.B. No. 427, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO BIOSECURITY,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to:

(1) Rename the Department of Agriculture to the "Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity";

(2) Rename the Board of Agriculture to the "Board of Agriculture and Biosecurity";

(3) Establish and appropriate funds for a Deputy Director of Biosecurity;

(4) Change references to the plant and animal declaration form to the "biosecurity form";

(5) Authorize and specify conditions under which the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity may declare a biosecurity emergency, during which the Department and Governor may take certain actions to prevent the establishment or spread of pests and prohibited or restricted organisms;

(6) Broaden the objectives and general actions of the Biosecurity Program; and

(7) Appropriate funds for positions for the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Agriculture; Hawaiʻi Invasive Species Council; one member of the Kauaʻi County Council; Hawaii Food+ Policy; Hawaiʻi Farm Bureau; and Larry Jefts Farms, LLC. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from Carol Kwan Consulting LLC. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources; Coordinating Group on Alien Pest Species; Oʻahu Invasive Species Committee; and Matson Navigation Company, Inc.

Your Committee finds that Acts 197 and 231, Session Laws of Hawaii 2024, bolstered agriculture biosecurity in the State under the jurisdiction of the Department of Agriculture. Your Committee further finds that given the Department of Agriculture's growing presence is protecting the State from invasive species, that it is appropriate for the name of the Department change to reflect its growing priorities. This measure, among other things, renames the Department and Board of Agriculture to the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity and Board of Agriculture and Biosecurity, respectively.

Your Committee has amended this measure by making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 427, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it be referred to your Committee on Finance in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 427, H.D. 2.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs,

____________________________

DAVID A. TARNAS, Chair