STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2414

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 2411

S.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 S.B. No. 2411 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE TWO-LINED SPITTLEBUG,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to:

(1) Require the Department of Agriculture to submit a report to the Legislature no later than twenty days before the Regular Session of 2025; and

(2) Appropriate $800,000 for the mitigation and control of the two-lined spittlebug and the recovery of areas affected by the infestation of two-lined spittlebugs.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Agriculture; Department of Land and Natural Resources; University of Hawaiʻi System; Ka ʻOhana O Na Pua; Ulupono Initiative LLC; Hawaii Cattlemen's Council, Inc.; Ponoholo Ranch, Limited; Larry Jefts Farms, LLC; Hawaiʻi Farm Bureau; Coordinating Group on Alien Pest Species; Sierra Club of Hawaiʻi; Hawaii Leeward Planning Conference; and seven individuals.

Your Committee finds that the invasive two-lined spittlebug not only threatens the State's pasture lands and emerging cattle industry, but also the flora in watersheds and other natural areas critical to the environment and cultural resources of the State. According to testimony received by your Committee, the two-lined spittlebug not only damages forage grasses, but also leaves pasture land vulnerable to soil loss and other invasive weeds, such as fireweed and wild blackberry. This measure will protect both the ranching industry and natural areas of the State against the effects of the two-lined spittlebug by funding the implementation of chemical and mechanical controls, biocontrol and best practices for managing pasture lands, and the reseeding of areas affected by infestation.

Your Committee has amended this measure by making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity and consistency.

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 S.B. No. 2411, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2411, S.D. 1, 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