STAND. COM. REP. NO. 532-24

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2024

RE: H.B. No. 2139

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2024

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Agriculture & Food Systems, to which was referred H.B. No. 2139 entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to require the Department of Agriculture to:

(1) Establish and implement an Invasive Species Inspection Placard Program to enhance the control, removal, and eradication of invasive species on the premises of an agricultural producer; and

(2) Inform the public of the most recent invasive species inspection results for agricultural producers on the Department's website.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources; North Shore Neighborhood Board No. 27; Hawaiʻi Food+ Policy; Sierra Club of Hawaiʻi; Coordinating Group on Alien Species; and two individuals. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from the Department of Agriculture. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Hawaiʻi Farm Bureau.

Your Committee finds that the State has spent millions of dollars to control certain invasive species, but that control efforts are often too late to stop their spread across the Hawaiian islands. As a result, invasive species, such as the coconut rhinoceros beetle and little fire ant, now infest hundreds of thousands of acres and affect Hawaii's export industry, tourism revenues, property values, residents' quality of life, and the environment. This measure supports the State's efforts to control, remove, and eradicate invasive species in the State, further protecting Hawaii's native species and cultural resources.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Inserting an appropriation of an unspecified amount to mitigate the spread of the little fire ant and coconut rhinoceros beetle in the State;

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

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

Your Committee respectfully requests your Committee on Finance, should it deliberate on this measure, to consider an appropriation amount of $10,000,000.

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. 2139, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2139, 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