CONFERENCE COMMITTEE REP. NO. 37

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2025

RE: S.B. No. 330

S.D. 1

H.D. 2

C.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2025

State of Hawaii

Honorable Nadine K. Nakamura

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2025

State of Hawaii

Sir and Madam:

Your Committee on Conference on the disagreeing vote of the Senate to the amendments proposed by the House of Representatives in S.B. No. 330, S.D. 1, H.D. 2, entitled:

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

having met, and after full and free discussion, has agreed to recommend and does recommend to the respective Houses the final passage of this bill in an amended form.

The purpose of this measure is to authorize the Department of Agriculture to enforce federal quarantines.

Your Committee on Conference finds that the State's growing citrus industry is progressively threatened by invasive pests and pathogens. Your Committee on Conference recognizes that preventing the introduction of invasive species is more cost-effective than attempting to control them after they have been established. Your Committee on Conference further finds that the Department of Agriculture does not have the legal authority to enforce federal quarantines on shipments that originated from infested areas and that existing state regulations restricting the importation of certain citrus species are not sufficient to address current threats to local citrus crops. Thus, by authorizing the Department of Agriculture to enforce federal pest and disease quarantines, this measure helps to close a critical gap in the biosecurity of the State and protect local food production and supply.

Your Committee on Conference has amended this measure by making it effective upon its approval.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the managers of your Committee on Conference that is attached to this report, your Committee on Conference is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 330, S.D. 1, H.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Final Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 330, S.D. 1, H.D. 2, C.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the managers:

ON THE PART OF THE HOUSE

ON THE PART OF THE SENATE

____________________________ KIRSTIN KAHALOA Co-Chair	____________________________ MIKE GABBARD Chair
____________________________ GREGGOR ILAGAN Co-Chair	____________________________ KARL RHOADS Co-Chair
____________________________ MAHINA POEPOE Co-Chair