STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3064

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.B. No. 2139

H.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2024

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Agriculture and Environment, to which was referred H.B. No. 2139, H.D. 1, entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to:

(1) Require the Department of Agriculture to establish and implement an invasive species inspection placard program to:

(A) Enhance the control, removal, and eradication of invasive species on the premises of an agricultural producer; and

(B) Inform the public of the most recent invasive species inspection results for agricultural producers; and

(2) Appropriate an unspecified amount of funds to mitigate the spread of the little fire ant and coconut rhinoceros beetle in the State.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Sierra Club of Hawaiʻi and three individuals.

Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from the Department of Agriculture.

Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources, Hawaiʻi Farm Bureau, Coordinating Group on Alien Pest Species; and Hawaiʻi Farmers Union United.

Your Committee finds that horticultural trade is a high-risk pathway through which invasive pests, such as little fire ants and coconut rhinoceros beetles, are spread around the State. This measure not only will help restrict the movement of plants from a nursery, farm, or agriculture-related business that are infested with little fire ants or coconut rhinoceros beetles, but also help control the spread of these invasive pests within each island and across the State.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Agriculture and Environment that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2139, H.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Agriculture and Environment,

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MIKE GABBARD, Chair