CONFERENCE COMMITTEE REP. NO. 181-26

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2026

RE: S.B. No. 177

S.D. 1

H.D. 1

C.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2026

State of Hawaii

Honorable Nadine K. Nakamura

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2026

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. 177, S.D. 1, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO AQUACULTURE,"

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:

(1) Authorize the Division of Animal Industry of the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity to adopt, amend, and repeal rules to develop an assessment and approval process to import and move aquatic livestock in the State;

(2) Require the Aquaculture Program to develop a biological aquatic risk-based framework and biocontainment standards for the aquatic livestock assessment and approval process; and

(3) Appropriate funds.

Your Committee on Conference finds that as a vital component of the State's agricultural economy, the aquaculture industry needs additional investment, including proper oversight in the development of a biosecurity framework to evaluate potential risks associated with the movement of aquatic species into and throughout the State. Because providing authority and the necessary framework for the development of a comprehensive evaluation and authorization process is critical to protecting aquaculture in the State, this measure will balance industry growth while minimizing negative impact to native species and ecosystems.

Your Committee on Conference has amended this measure by:

(1) Clarifying that the Division of Animal Industry may develop a science-based evaluation and authorization process to import and transport aquatic livestock within the State, with certain conditions;

(2) Amending the definitions of "aquatic livestock", "biocontainment", and "biological aquatic risk" for the purposes of clarity;

(3) Clarifying which activities the aquaculture program within the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity shall undertake, including:

(A) Developing a biological aquatic risk-based framework for the evaluation and authorization process; and

(B) Developing biocontainment standards for aquatic livestock facilities;

(4) Clarifying the areas the Division of Animal Industry shall consider in its development of the biological aquatic risk-based framework;

(5) Deleting language that would have appropriated funds to the Division of Animal Industry of the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity;

(6) Making it effective on July 1, 2026; and

(7) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity and consistency.

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. 177, S.D. 1, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Final Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 177, S.D. 1, H.D. 1, C.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the managers:

ON THE PART OF THE HOUSE

ON THE PART OF THE SENATE

____________________________ CORY CHUN Co-Chair	____________________________ MIKE GABBARD Chair
____________________________ SCOT Z. MATAYOSHI Co-Chair	____________________________ HERBERT M. RICHARDS, III Co-Chair
____________________________ MATTHIAS KUSCH Co-Chair