STAND. COM. REP. NO. 146

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2025

RE: H.B. No. 299

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 Water & Land, to which was referred H.B. No. 299 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE HAWAII INVASIVE SPECIES COUNCIL,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to appropriate funds for the Native Resources and Fire Protection Program and Hawaii Invasive Species Council to continue to control and eradicate invasive species in the State.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources; Department of Agriculture; Hawaii Invasive Species Council; Coordinating Group on Alien Pest Species; Sierra Club of Hawai‘i; Kupuna for the Moopuna; Green Party of Hawai‘i; Environmental Caucus of the Democratic Party of Hawai‘i; Kua‘āina Ulu ‘Auamo; Hawai‘i Farm Bureau; Hawai‘i Farmers Union; Kauai Invasive Species Committee; and numerous individuals.

Your Committee finds that the Hawaii Invasive Species Council was created in 2003 to provide statewide coordination and direction in addressing invasive species. Your Committee further finds that appropriations to the Council are primarily used to provide funding through a competitive grant process to partner organizations dedicated to controlling targeted pests in Hawaii. Your Committee believes that providing additional funds to the Council will enable the State to enhance its existing biosecurity measures and allow partner organizations to move from containment to eradication of invasive species where possible.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Changing the appropriation to an unspecified amount; and

(2) Changing the effective date to July 1, 3000, to encourage further discussion.

Your Committee respectfully requests your Committee on Finance, should it deliberate on this measure, to consider an appropriation amount of $4,250,000.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Water & Land that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 299, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 299, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Agriculture & Food Systems.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Water & Land,

____________________________

MARK J. HASHEM, Chair