STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2986

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 2560

S.D. 2

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2024

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Judiciary, to which was referred S.B. No. 2560, S.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 require each lease that the Department of Agriculture (Department) enters into, renews, or extends after a certain date to contain provisions that allow the Department to:

(1) Enter the premises at any time to identify, investigate, control, or eradicate invasive pests; and

(2) Terminate the lease if the lessee:

(A) Refuses the Department entry; or

(B) Is found in violation of any applicable law, rule, or order relating to the control or eradication of invasive pests.

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

Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from two individuals.

Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Agriculture and Hawaii Cattlemen's Council, Inc.

Your Committee finds that invasive pests in the State have inflicted widespread and potentially irreversible damage. Invasive plants and wildlife have been found to overtake entire watersheds, impacting native habitats, increasing the State's vulnerability to natural disasters, and destroying nearshore reefs. Invasive parasites have impacted local food production, jeopardizing public health and aquatic ecosystems. Your Committee recognizes that stronger policies and investments are critical to mitigating damage caused by invasive pests. This measure will strengthen biosecurity protections by regulating lessees of agricultural lands to mitigate the spread of harmful invasive pests.

Your Committee has amended this measure by inserting an effective date of April 14, 2112, to encourage further discussion.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Judiciary that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2560, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2560, S.D. 2.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Judiciary,

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KARL RHOADS, Chair