STAND. COM. REP. NO. 754-26

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2026

RE: H.B. No. 1931

H.D. 2

Honorable Nadine K. Nakamura

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2026

State of Hawaii

Madame:

Your Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs, to which was referred H.B. No. 1931, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO AGRICULTURE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to:

(1) Establish a State Noxious Weed Coordinator and update the process for designating and managing noxious weeds;

(2) Allow public proposals to add, change, or remove noxious weed designations;

(3) Require notice and public reporting for updates to the noxious weed list;

(4) Clarify the authority of the Department and Board of Agriculture and Biosecurity in regard to the noxious weed list and noxious weed control and eradication;

(5) Authorize updates to the noxious weed list to be adopted by order and classify noxious weeds into categories; and

(6) Strengthen the enforcement and penalties related to noxious weeds.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity; Department of Land and Natural Resources; Oʻahu Invasive Species Committee; Coordinating Group on Alien Pest Species; Hawaiʻi Farm Bureau; Hawaiʻi Farmers Union United; Big Island Invasive Species Committee; Hawaiʻi Food+ Policy; Sierra Club of Hawaiʻi; and two individuals. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of the Attorney General.

Your Committee finds that invasive plants continue to threaten Hawaii's agriculture, ecosystems, and communities and that the State's outdated noxious weed list limits effective prevention and response. Modernizing the noxious weed designation process, improving coordination, and strengthening enforcement will enhance Hawaii's biosecurity efforts and protect its natural and agricultural resources.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Clarifying the definition of "person";

(2) Specifying that any rules initially adopted within three years to implement the provisions of this measure shall be exempt from public notice and public hearing requirements; and

(3) 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 Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1931, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it be referred to your Committee on Finance in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1931, H.D. 2.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs,

____________________________

DAVID A. TARNAS, Chair