STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3671

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.B. No. 2207

H.D. 2

S.D. 2

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2026

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred H.B. No. 2207, H.D. 2, S.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 advance biosecurity within the State.

More specifically, the measure:

(1) Establishes a Biosecurity Government-Industry Working Group;

(2) Protects the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity and the counties, and their officers, employees, and authorized agents, from liability when the Department or county enters private property to control or eradicate pests;

(3) Authorizes, and requires the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity to adopt rules regarding, the use of monofilament netting for purposes of protecting plants against invasive species under certain conditions; and

(4) Renames "government-industry agreements" to "biosecurity government-industry agreements."

Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity, Department of Land and Natural Resources, Hawaii Farm Bureau, and one individual.

Your Committee received written comments on this measure from the Department of the Attorney General and University of Hawaii.

Your Committee recognizes that the coconut rhinoceros beetle and other invasive species and pests can have devastating impacts on native plants and the State's economy. Your Committee finds that the use of fine mesh nets, as contemplated by this measure, can mitigate these impacts and help protect vulnerable plants. Your Committee also finds that as efforts to remove pests are essential to protect the environment, it is important for the State and counties to have some protection from legal liability when circumstances necessitate that pest removal efforts be conducted on private property. Your Committee believes that the new working group established by this measure, specifically in making policy recommendations regarding plant inspection and quarantine, pest management and other areas of biosecurity, will also help advance the State's efforts to erradicate invasive species.

Your Committee has amended this measure by making it effective upon its approval.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2207, H.D. 2, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2207, H.D. 2, S.D. 2.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,

________________________________

DONOVAN M. DELA CRUZ, Chair