STAND. COM. REP. NO. 892

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 562

S.D. 2

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2025

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Commerce and Consumer Protection and Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 562, S.D. 1, entitled:

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

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to:

(1) Establish a Plant Nursery Registry Program to regulate the sale of nursery stock; and

(2) Require certain plant nurseries to register with the Department of Agriculture.

Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Agriculture, Coordinating Group on Alien Pest Species, Hawaiʻi Forest Industry Association, and one individual.

Your Committees received comments on this measure from the Maui Chamber of Commerce.

Your Committees find that plant nurseries are a high-risk pathway for the movement of pests, as evidenced by the spread of little fire ants and coqui frogs across the State. These and other pest can significantly alter the State's environment and economy and the social well-being of its residents. In the event of an outbreak or infection, best practices, including remedial measures for nursery stock and thorough record-keeping, are critical to stopping further spread. This measure protects the integrity and long-term sustainability of the State's flora and plant nursery industry and protects consumers from inadvertently purchasing plants infested with pests.

Your Committees have amended this measure by:

(1) Adding cut flowers to the definition of "nursery stock";

(2) Removing language that would have required the Department of Agriculture to publish a list of the locations registered through the Plant Nursery Registration Program on its website and other appropriate platforms;

(3) Inserting an effective date of July 1, 2050, to encourage further discussion; and

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

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Commerce and Consumer Protection and Ways and Means that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 562, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 562, S.D. 2.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Commerce and Consumer Protection and Ways and Means,

________________________________ DONOVAN M. DELA CRUZ, Chair

________________________________ JARRETT KEOHOKALOLE, Chair