STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1395-26

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2026

RE: S.B. No. 2489

S.D. 1

H.D. 1

Honorable Nadine K. Nakamura

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2026

State of Hawaii

Madame:

Your Committee on Agriculture & Food Systems, to which was referred S.B. No. 2489, S.D. 1, entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to require each lease that the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity enters into, renews, or extends to include provisions stating that the Department may:

(1) Enter the leased premises;

(2) Order or otherwise require the lessee to maintain control of any invasive species on the leased premises; and

(3) Terminate the lease for refusing the Department entrance into the leased premises or for a violation relating to the control or eradication of invasive species.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources; Coordinating Group on Alien Pest Species; and Oʻahu Invasive Species Committee. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from the Hawaii Cattlemen's Council, Inc. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity; Hawaiʻi Food+ Policy; and Hawaiʻi Farm Bureau.

Your Committee finds that invasive species, including agricultural pests, pose a significant threat in Hawaii. State-leased agricultural lands managed by the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity may harbor invasive species, which can spread to nearby areas. This measure ensures that the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity has the authority to more immediately access property that the Department leases to timely survey for and control invasive species and require its lessees to control specific invasive species on their lease parcels.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Changing the effective date to July 1, 3000, to encourage further discussion; and

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

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Agriculture & Food Systems that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2489, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2489, S.D. 1, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Agriculture & Food Systems,

____________________________

CORY CHUN, Chair