STAND. COM. REP. NO. 932-26

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 Finance, to which was referred H.B. No. 1931, H.D. 2, 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 Land and Natural Resources; Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity; Oʻahu Invasive Species Committee; Big Island Invasive Species Committee; Sierra Club of Hawaiʻi; Hanalei Watershed Hui; Free Access Coalition; Kupuna for the Moopuna; Hawaiʻi Farm Bureau; Coordinating Group on Alien Pest Species; Hawaiʻi Farmers Union United; Shimanchu Mamuyaa; Hawaiʻi Food+ Policy; and numerous individuals.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Finance that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1931, H.D. 2, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Finance,

____________________________

CHRIS TODD, Chair