STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1564

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2025

RE: H.R. No. 126

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 Agriculture & Food Systems, to which was referred H.R. No. 126 entitled:

"HOUSE RESOLUTION URGING THE STATE, COUNTIES, AND OTHER RELEVANT AGENCIES TO PROVIDE INCREASED AND SUSTAINED FUNDING TO THE INVASIVE SPECIES COMMITTEES WITHIN THE PACIFIC COOPERATIVE STUDIES UNIT OF THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAIʻI AT MĀNOA,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to urge the counties, State, and other relevant agencies to:

(1) Provide increased and sustained funding to the Invasive Species Committees within the Pacific Cooperative Studies Unit of the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa; and

(2) Provide sustained funding to the ISCs to strengthen their ability to combat the growing threat of invasive species and protect Hawaii's ecosystems and economy; and

(3) Direct funding toward expanding invasive species control programs to target priority species, increasing research and monitoring efforts to detect new invasions early, enhancing public outreach and education to raise awareness about preventing the spread of invasive species, supporting interagency and community collaboration to improve response coordination and resource-sharing, and providing treatment options for residents and farmers impacted by these species, including grants for control efforts and the purchase of treatment supplies.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the University of Hawaiʻi System; Hawaiʻi Invasive Species Council; Department of Land and Natural Resources; Board of Water Supply; Oʻahu Invasive Species Committee; Hawaiʻi Ant Lab; Kauaʻi Invasive Species Committee; Coordinating Group on Alien Pest Control Species; and one individual.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Expanding the list of Invasive Species Committees (ISCs)to include Hawaiʻi Ant Lab; and

(2) Amending the title in accordance with its amended purpose; and

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

Your Committee finds that invasive species pose one of the greatest threats to Hawaii's native flora and fauna, as well as severely affect Hawaii's agricultural sector and Hawaii's tourism industry, resulting in millions of dollars lost in revenue and increased costs for property owners, businesses, and agencies tasked with managing and mitigating these threats.

Your Committee further finds that the Invasive Species Committees (ISCs) have played a critical role in managing and preventing the spread of invasive species throughout the State and serve as an important gap filler by tailoring their target pest lists to be area-specific, thereby maximizing the effectiveness of limited resources. Despite this, the ISCs rely on limited funding to prevent the spread of invasive species, which could result in millions of dollars in damages and lost revenue for the State and residents, as well as long-term ecological and economic damage, if left unchecked.

Your Committee further finds that investing in invasive species management will protect Hawaii's environment and economy and enhance the State's resilience to climate change. This measure urges the counties, State, and other relevant agencies to provide sustained funding to the Invasive Species Committees within the Pacific Cooperative Studies Unit of the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa and the ISCs to strengthen their ability to combat the growing threat of invasive species and protect Hawaii's ecosystems and economy, and to direct funding toward expanding invasive species control programs to target priority species.

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 H.R. No. 126, as amended herein, and recommends that it be referred to your Committee on Finance in the form attached hereto as H.R. No. 126, H.D. 1.

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

____________________________

KIRSTIN KAHALOA, Chair