STAND. COM. REP. NO. 867

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2025

RE: H.B. No. 427

H.D. 2

Honorable Nadine K. Nakamura

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2025

State of Hawaii

Madame:

Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred H.B. No. 427, H.D. 2, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO BIOSECURITY,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to:

(1) Rename the Department of Agriculture to the "Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity";

(2) Rename the Board of Agriculture to the "Board of Agriculture and Biosecurity";

(3) Establish and appropriate funds for a Deputy Director of Biosecurity;

(4) Change references to the plant and animal declaration form to the "biosecurity form";

(5) Authorize and specify conditions under which the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity may declare a biosecurity emergency, during which the Department and Governor may take certain actions to prevent the establishment or spread of pests and prohibited or restricted organisms;

(6) Broaden the objectives and general actions of the Biosecurity Program; and

(7) Appropriate funds for positions for the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources; Hawai‘i Invasive Species Council; Larry Jefts Farms, LLC; Hawai‘i Farm Bureau; and two individuals. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Agriculture; one member of the Kaua‘i County Council; and Coordinating Group on Alien Pest Species.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Finance that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 427, H.D. 2, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Finance,

____________________________

KYLE T. YAMASHITA, Chair