STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3134

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.B. No. 2139

H.D. 1

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 Education, to which was referred H.B. No. 2139, H.D. 1, entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent 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 at Hilo, Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Hawaiʻi Farm Bureau, Coordinating Group on Alien Pest Species, Hawaiʻi Farmers Union United, Hawaii Floriculture and Nursery Association, and six individuals.

Your Committee finds that the Queensland Longhorn Beetle, which has rapidly expanded to twenty known host species since its discovery on Hawaii Island over a decade ago, poses significant potential harm to the State's biodiversity and environmental stability due to the breadth of species impacted. Early intervention to identify effective treatment and control methods is integral to strengthening the State's biosecurity before the beetle can spread statewide. This measure therefore aims to help safeguard the State's agricultural economy, food security, and cultural heritage.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Inserting an effective date of July 31, 2055, to encourage further discussion; and

(2) 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 Education that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2139, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2139, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

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

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DONNA MERCADO KIM, Chair