STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2106

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 2160

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2026

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Agriculture and Environment, to which was referred S.B. No. 2160 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO BEEKEEPING,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to:

(1) Clarify the registration process for beekeepers with the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity;

(2) Require the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity to provide guidance and support to registered beekeepers to help beekeepers adhere to certain industry standards and best management practices;

(3) Establish a limitation on liability for any registered beekeeper who follows industry standards and best practices; and

(4) Appropriate funds.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity, Hawaiʻi Farm Bureau, Hawaiʻi Food+ Policy, Hānai Hives, and seven individuals.

Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from the Libertarian Party of Hawaii and Nalo Meli Honey.

Your Committee finds that while honeybees may not be native to the State, they have become critical to local agricultural production. Your Committee further finds that the beekeeping industry is facing ongoing challenges that include disease and pest outbreaks that can impact hives and commercial honey output. In recent years, biosecurity responses utilizing pesticides have contributed to the decline of honeybee resilience. Further, there has been a reduction of apiary support within the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity, that is critical to continue biosecurity efforts to protect the beekeeping industry. Therefore, this measure will introduce necessary mechanisms for the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity to support beekeeping and agricultural production within the State.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Clarifying that managing, rather than preventing, colony swarms shall be an industry standard and best management practice for registered beekeepers;

(2) Inserting language that requires additional considerations be taken prior to requiring a registered beekeeper to engage in the process of requeening hives and colonies;

(3) Inserting an effective date of July 1, 2050, to encourage further discussion; and

(4) 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. 2160, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2160, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committees on Ways and Means and Commerce and Consumer Protection.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Agriculture and Environment,

________________________________

MIKE GABBARD, Chair