STAND. COM. REP. NO. 633

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 1591

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2025

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Health and Human Services and Agriculture and Environment, to which was referred S.B. No. 1591 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO AVIAN INFLUENZA,"

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to appropriate funds to the Department of Health and Department of Agriculture to prevent, monitor, and respond to avian influenza in Hawaii.

Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Health, Department of Land and Natural Resources, Department of Agriculture, State Health Planning and Development Agency, Villa Rose and Waialua Eggs, Hawaiʻi Farm Bureau, Hawaii Food Industry Association, Hawaii Veterinary Medical Association, Hawaiʻi Farmers Union United, and five individuals.

Your Committees received testimony in opposition to this measure from Hawaii for Informed Consent and one individual.

Your Committees find that H5 avian influenza viruses, also referred to as bird flu, have recently been detected in several mammal species. Your Committees further find that bird flu can cause severe illness with a high mortality rate among certain bird populations, such as poultry, and can cross between species and infect dairy cows. Your Committees additionally find that close monitoring is necessary to identify any change in the virus that may increase transmissibility or infection severity. This measure provides funding for the Department of Health and Department of Agriculture to help better understand the spread of bird flu in the State and its potential impacts on human health and also bolster biosecurity, thereby protecting local farms and food production in the State.

Your Committees have amended this measure by amending its legislative findings to clarify that enhanced biosecurity will help protect local farms and food production, and increased testing of birds, humans, and wastewater will help better understand the spread of bird flu in Hawaii and its potential impacts on human health.

Your Committees note that this measure contains unspecified appropriation amounts. Should your Committee on Ways and Means choose to deliberate on this measure, your Committees respectfully request that it consider inserting an appropriation amount of $293,000 for fiscal year 2025-2026 for the Department of Agriculture to carry out the purposes of this measure, including to prevent, monitor, and respond to avian influenza in the State. Your Committees further note the Department of Health's testimony that the Department's proposed budget request for fiscal year 2025-2026 includes the funding needed for the monitoring of and response to avian influenza.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Health and Human Services and Agriculture and Environment that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 1591, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 1591, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Health and Human Services and Agriculture and Environment,

________________________________ MIKE GABBARD, Chair

________________________________ JOY A. SAN BUENAVENTURA, Chair