STAND. COM. REP. NO. 266

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 849

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2025

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Agriculture and Environment, to which was referred S.B. No. 849 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO WILDLIFE CONSERVATION,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to:

(1) Increase penalties and fees for taking and killing indigenous species of aquatic life, wildlife, and land plants that are native to the State; and

(2) Designate penalties for the taking, harming, or killing of an Io (Hawaiian hawk).

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources, Animal Rights Hawaiʻi, and one individual.

Your Committee finds that, pursuant to existing law regarding the conservation of wildlife and plants, not only are all indigenous species integral parts of Hawaii's native ecosystems and comprise the living heritage of the State, but that it is also necessary that the State take positive actions to enhance the prospects of these indigenous species for survival. Your Committee recognizes that the ʻio (Hawaiian hawk) is an indigenous bird that plays a vital historical and cultural role in Hawaii as a native raptor, maintaining ecological balance by controlling the population of rodents and other invasive species. According to testimony received by your Committee, this measure provides added protection in the case that the ʻio is removed from the Department of Land and Natural Resources' endangered bird list. Your Committee also finds that strengthening penalties for violations involving native species, including the ʻio, will deter harmful activity and provide stronger enforcement tools for the State to protect the species of aquatic life, wildlife, and land plants that are native to the State.

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

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Agriculture and Environment that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 849, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 849, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Judiciary.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Agriculture and Environment,

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MIKE GABBARD, Chair