STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3152

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.B. No. 1832

H.D. 2

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 H.B. No. 1832, H.D. 2, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO AQUACULTURE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to:

(1) Require the establishment of a biological aquatic risk-based framework for assessment and approval of aquatic livestock importation and movement;

(2) Authorize the Division of Animal Industry of the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity to adopt rules implementing species risk categorization, tiered biocontainment standards, per-arrival disease testing, and interagency coordination procedures;

(3) Establish an interagency working group;

(4) Require development of species-specific risk matrices, interagency working group coordination with automatic permit approval timelines, and performance accountability;

(5) Establish an implementation timeline; and

(6) Appropriate funds.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources, Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity, Hawaiʻi Farm Bureau, and Hawaiʻi Food+ Policy.

Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from one individual.

Your Committee finds that import permits for aquatic livestock are one of the most persistent constraints facing the State's aquaculture sector, with documented processing timelines of eighteen to thirty‑six months for many species. These extended timelines can create uncertainty for producers, delay access to broodstock and seed needed for diversification, and have contributed to missed opportunities to scale production to enhance the State's food independence. This measure will strengthen the State's aquaculture industry development by modernizing regulation around science‑based risk categories, tiered biocontainment standards, and interagency coordination needed to responsibly expand production.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Adding language to include the Manager of the Aquaculture Development Program of the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity to be a member of the working group;

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

(3) 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 H.B. No. 1832, H.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1832, H.D. 2, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

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

________________________________

MIKE GABBARD, Chair