STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1365

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2025

RE: S.B. No. 140

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. 140, S.D. 2, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO INVASIVE SPECIES,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to prohibit the importation of firewood into the State from another state and the intrastate transportation or sale of firewood not harvested within the State unless the firewood is heat-treated or the importation, transportation, or sale is authorized by the Department of Agriculture.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources; Hawai‘i Invasive Species Council; Office of the Mayor of the County of Maui; Coordinating Group on Alien Pest Species; Hawai‘i Forest Industry Association; and two individuals. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Agriculture.

Your Committee finds that invasive pests and pathogens carried by imported firewood pose a serious threat to Hawaii's forests, agricultural industries, and natural resources. Many destructive pests and diseases have been spread through firewood movement in other states, yet Hawaii currently lacks regulations requiring treatment of imported or transported firewood. This measure helps prevent the introduction and spread of harmful pests by prohibiting the importation, transportation, or sale of firewood unless it has been heat-treated or specifically authorized by the Department of Agriculture.

Your Committee notes that the provisions in this measure should be placed in statute, rather than administrative rules, to timely establish treatment requirements for firewood and prevent undue burden on the Department of Agriculture in its administrative rule making process to address biosecurity issues in the State.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

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

(2) 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 Agriculture & Food Systems that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 140, S.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 140, 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