STAND. COM. REP. NO. 170-26

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2026

RE: H.B. No. 2139

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 H.B. No. 2139 entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to appropriate funds to the University of Hawaii to conduct a study on effective treatment methods to reduce populations of the Queensland longhorn beetle.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources; Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity; University of Hawaiʻi College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resilience; Hawaii Floriculture and Nursery Association; Coordinating Group on Alien Pest Species; Hawaiʻi Farm Bureau; Hawaiʻi Farmers Union United; Hawaiʻi Food+ Policy; Big Island Invasive Species Committee; Ka Ohana O Na Pua; and numerous individuals.

Your Committee finds that the Acalolepta aesthetica, or Queensland longhorn beetle, is native to Australia, was initially found in Hawaii in 2009, and was first associated with a local plant in 2014 when it was found on an ʻulu in Puna. The Queensland longhorn beetle's known host range has since expanded to nearly twenty known host species in Hawaii and has spread across east Hawaii Island, now found as far north as Honokaʻa.

Your Committee further finds that the Queensland longhorn beetle targets many agriculturally important plants and culturally significant trees like kukui, causing significant damage to the plant life. If left unchecked, the Queensland longhorn beetle will spread statewide and cause significant losses in crops, the extinction of native species, and the destruction of native forests. This measure appropriates funds to the University of Hawaii to research effective treatment methods that will reduce the Queensland longhorn beetle population and protect Hawaii's ecosystems.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Changing the appropriation to an unspecified amount; and

(2) Changing the effective date to July 1, 3000, to encourage further discussion.

Your Committee respectfully requests your Committee on Finance, should it deliberate on this measure, to consider an appropriation amount of $138,443 to conduct the study on effective treatment methods to reduce populations of the Queensland longhorn beetle.

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 H.B. No. 2139, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2139, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Higher Education.

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

____________________________

CORY CHUN, Chair