STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2090

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2025

RE: S.C.R. No. 41

S.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.C.R. No. 41, S.D. 1, entitled:

"SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION ENCOURAGING EACH COUNTY TO ESTABLISH ITS OWN BIOSECURITY PLAN THAT PRIORITIZES THE NEEDS OF THE COUNTY,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to encourage each county to establish its own biosecurity plan that prioritizes the needs of the county and identifies proposals for legislative changes, to encourage collaboration between counties in developing its biosecurity plan, and to encourage each county to share its findings and biosecurity plan in collaboration with the State, including the Department of Agriculture and Hawaii Invasive Species Council.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources, Hawaii Invasive Species Council, Coordinating Group on Alien Pest Species, and the Climate Change & Health Working Group. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Agriculture.

Your Committee finds that biosecurity is a critical strategy in preventing the introduction and spread of invasive species, which lead to habitat degradation, extinction of native species, and rising costs in agriculture and livestock production. Your Committee further finds that each county faces unique biosecurity challenges, necessitating localized approaches to biosecurity planning and response to enable proactive identification of risks, enhance early detection and rapid response efforts, and improve coordination with state and federal agencies. Additionally, establishing county-level biosecurity plans will allow each county to prioritize its biosecurity needs and develop community-based strategies for invasive species mitigation. This measure encourages each county to establish a localized approach for strengthening its biosecurity plan and to collaborate and share its biosecurity plan and findings with other counties and the State, including the Department of Agriculture and Hawaii Invasive Species Council.

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 concurs with the intent and purpose of S.C.R. No. 41, S.D. 1, and recommends its adoption.

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

____________________________

KIRSTIN KAHALOA, Chair