STAND. COM. REP. NO. 642-26

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2026

RE: H.B. No. 2119

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 Labor, to which was referred H.B. No. 2119, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO COFFEE PEST CONTROL,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to:

(1) Temporarily reestablish the Coffee Berry Borer and Coffee Leaf Rust Pesticide Subsidy Program;

(2) Temporarily reestablish the program manager position and exempting it from civil service and collective bargaining;

(3) Require the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity to report to the Legislature; and

(4) Appropriate funds.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity; Hawaiʻi Food+ Policy; Hawaiʻi Farm Bureau; Hawaiʻi Farmers Union United; Hawaii Coffee Association; Kau Coffee Growers Cooperative; Kona Coffee Farmers Association; Rusty's Hawaiian Coffee; and one individual.

Your Committee finds that the coffee berry borer beetle and coffee leaf rust continue to be a problem for the coffee industry in Hawaii. This measure will reestablish the Coffee Berry Borer and Coffee Leaf Rust Pesticide Subsidy Program and provide the Program with the necessary flexibility by exempting its program manager from civil service and collective bargaining requirements.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Labor that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2119, H.D. 1, and recommends that it be referred to your Committee on Finance.

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

____________________________

JACKSON D. SAYAMA, Chair