HB1929

SECTION 1. The legislature finds that Molokai remains free from many invasive species that are present elsewhere in the State, including but not limited to the coconut rhinoceros beetle, little fire ant, coqui frog, fungi causing rapid ʻōhiʻa death, and miconia. Preventing the establishment of these invasive species on Molokai is critical to protecting the island's natural environment, agricultural economy, cultural resources, and community well-being.

The legislature further finds that in 2025, members of the Molokai community petitioned the department of agriculture and biosecurity to adopt a temporary rule prohibiting the movement of coconut rhinoceros beetle host materials and other high-risk imported goods to Molokai in order to maximize prevention.

The legislature also finds that in 2025, the coconut rhinoceros beetle was introduced to Lānaʻi in plants that were previously inspected by the department of agriculture and biosecurity. Fortunately, because Lānaʻi has a private quarantine facility, facility staff were able to detect and prevent the beetle from being released into the environment, demonstrating that secondary inspection of an interisland transport of plants or plant material upon arrival is a critical component of an effective biosecurity system.

The legislature finds that Molokai does not have a plant and plant material quarantine or inspection facility and does not have any dedicated inspection staff located on island, leaving Molokai extremely vulnerable to the introduction of invasive species, despite the fact that Molokai is one of the most subsistence-committed islands in the Hawaiian archipelago.

The legislature further finds that, as an island state, Hawaii has the opportunity to protect non-invaded islands from invasive species present in other areas of the State and allow them to serve as living repositories for native species and ecosystems being decimated elsewhere.

Accordingly, the purpose of this Act is to strengthen biosecurity protections for Molokai by:

(1) Requiring and appropriating funds for the department of agriculture and biosecurity to develop a Molokai biosecurity plan to prevent the spread of invasive species found elsewhere in the State to the island of Molokai;

(2) Authorizing the issuance of general obligation bonds and appropriating funds for a new plant and plant materials quarantine facility on the island of Molokai; and

(3) Appropriating funds for staffing of the Molokai plant and plant materials quarantine facility.

SECTION 2. (a) The department of agriculture and biosecurity shall develop a Molokai biosecurity plan to prevent the spread of invasive species not currently present on Molokai but present elsewhere in the State to the island of Molokai, including but not limited to the coconut rhinoceros beetle, little fire ant, coqui frog, fungi causing rapid ʻōhiʻa death, and miconia. The plan shall, at a minimum:

(1) Address the movement of goods to the island of Molokai, including high-risk commodities and pathways;

(2) Establish inspection, quarantine, and secondary screening processes upon the arrival of plants and plant materials to the island of Molokai;

(3) Establish reporting, detection, and response protocols for suspected invasive species;

(4) Provide policy recommendations to strengthen biosecurity protections for the island of Molokai; and

(5) Prioritize community and interagency engagement.

(b) The department of agriculture and biosecurity shall present the plan to the board of agriculture and biosecurity for review and adoption no later than July 1, 2027.

SECTION 3. The director of finance is authorized to issue general obligation bonds in the sum of $5,000,000 or so much thereof as may be necessary and the same sum or so much thereof as may be necessary is appropriated for fiscal year 2026-2027 for plans, design, construction, and equipment and appurtenances for a plant and plant materials quarantine and inspection facility on the island of Molokai.

The sum appropriated shall be expended by the department of agriculture and biosecurity for the purposes of this Act.

SECTION 4. The appropriation made for the capital improvement project authorized by this Act shall not lapse at the end of the fiscal biennium for which the appropriation is made; provided that all moneys from the appropriation unencumbered as of June 30, 2028, shall lapse as of that date.

SECTION 5. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $500,000 or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2026-2027 for the establishment of full-time equivalent ( FTE) positions to staff the plant and plant materials quarantine and inspection facility and provide other biosecurity support services on the island of Molokai.

The sum appropriated shall be expended by the department of agriculture and biosecurity for the purposes of this Act.

SECTION 6. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $150,000 or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2026-2027 for the development of a Molokai biosecurity plan pursuant to section 2 of this Act.

The sum appropriated shall be expended by the department of agriculture and biosecurity for the purposes of this Act.

SECTION 7. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2026.

INTRODUCED BY:

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HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.B. NO.	1929
THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026
STATE OF HAWAII