STAND. COM. REP. NO. 547

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2023

RE: H.B. No. 1150

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2023

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Agriculture & Food Systems, to which was referred H.B. No. 1150 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO INVASIVE SPECIES,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to appropriate funds to support the Hawaii Ant Lab in mitigating the effects of little fire ants in the State.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Agriculture, Coordinating Group on Alien Pest Species, Big Island Invasive Species Committee, Hawai‘i Farm Bureau, Hawaii Pest Control Association, University of Hawaii Professional Assembly, Ka Ohana O Na Pua, Mulkern Landscaping & Nursery, and nine individuals. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources.

Your Committee finds that the little fire ant is one of the most devasting invasive species for Hawaii's environment and agricultural economy. Continued funding of the Hawaii Ant Lab will support efforts to manage little fire ants and develop eradication tools in the future.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Changing the expending agency from the University of Hawaii to the Department of Land and Natural Resources; and

(2) Changing its effective date to June 30, 3000, to encourage further discussion.

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 is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1150, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1150, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Finance.

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

____________________________

CEDRIC ASUEGA GATES, Chair