STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1258

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2025

RE: S.B. No. 1100

S.D. 2

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 Agriculture & Food Systems, to which was referred S.B. No. 1100, S.D. 2, 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 as the "Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity";

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

(3) Establish a Deputy Chairperson for Biosecurity;

(4) Require the Chairperson of the Board of Agriculture and Biosecurity to establish an emergency response team to respond to biosecurity events;

(5) Authorize the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity to establish transitional facilities where imported articles first received may be stored while being inspected;

(6) Require the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs to license and train biosecurity inspectors;

(7) Require inspection, labeling, and any necessary disinfection or quarantine of various items transported interisland;

(8) Increase penalties for illegally importing or transporting plants, animals, and microorganisms;

(9) Require the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity to establish government-industry agreements with businesses to prevent, detect, and respond to unwanted organisms in Hawaii and an invasive species dashboard to provide public, real-time data on treatment areas;

(10) Authorize pest management plans to address, contain, or eradicate pests;

(11) Transfer the Hawaii Invasive Species Council from the Department of Land and Natural Resources to the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity;

(12) Authorize the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity to adopt rules to establish and enforce the Plant Care Component Program; and

(13) Appropriate funds for biosecurity efforts and programs, including certain positions.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Agriculture; University of Hawaiʻi System; Hawai‘i Farm Bureau; Hawaii Cattlemen's Council; Maui Chamber of Commerce; Hawai‘i Reef and Ocean Coalition; Hawai‘i Forest Industry Association; Green Party of Hawaiʻi; and four individuals. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from the Free Access Coalition; Hawaiʻi Harbors Users Group; Mālama Maunalua; Conservation Council for Hawai‘i; Native Ecosystem Services; and numerous individuals.

Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs; Department of Land and Natural Resources; Pest Control Board; Hawai‘i Invasive Species Council; Coordinating Group on Alien Pest Species; Big Island Invasive Species Committee; Sierra Club of Hawai‘i; Retail Merchants of Hawaii; Slow Food in Hawaii; Sugarland Farms, Inc.; The Nature Conservancy, Hawaiʻi and Palmyra; Kaua‘i Invasive Species Committee; Maui Invasive Species Committee; O‘ahu Invasive Species Committee; Hawaii Ant Lab; and numerous individuals.

Your Committee finds that invasive species continue to pose a major threat to Hawaii's agriculture, environment, and economy. Strengthening biosecurity efforts with enhanced emergency response measures and proactive management is essential to minimizing these impacts. This measure equips the State with stronger biosecurity tools, ensuring a more effective response to invasive species and protecting Hawaii's natural resources and long-term food security.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Deleting language that would have transferred the Hawaii Invasive Species Council from the Department of Land and Natural Resources to the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity;

(2) Changing the number of authorized positions related to biosecurity that were established in Act 231, Session Laws of Hawaii 2024, to an unspecified number;

(3) Changing the effective date to July 1, 3000, to encourage further discussion; and

(4) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

Your Committee respectfully requests your Committee on Finance, should it deliberate on this measure, to consider including forty-four full-time equivalent (44.0 FTE) positions related to biosecurity that were established in Act 231, Session Laws of Hawaii 2024.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Agriculture & Food Systems that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 1100, S.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 1100, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Agriculture & Food Systems,

____________________________

KIRSTIN KAHALOA, Chair