STAND. COM. REP. NO. 597-26

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2026

RE: H.B. No. 2551

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. 2551 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO AGRICULTURE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to appropriate funds for an area-wide fruit fly suppression program.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity; Hawaii Floriculture and Nursery Association; Maui County Farm Bureau; Hawaiʻi Farm Bureau; Hawaiʻi Food+ Policy; and three individuals. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the University of Hawaii at Manoa College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resilience and one individual.

Your Committee finds that fruit flies are one of Hawaii's most destructive agricultural pests, leading to millions of dollars in lost agricultural production and revenue to the State. Your Committee further finds that area-wide suppression programs have shown success in reducing infestation levels and improving crop quality by using coordinated, biologically based pest management strategies that integrate multiple tools and approaches, including a reduced use of harsher insecticides. Your Committee believes that investing in an area-wide strategy to control fruit flies will strengthen Hawaii's agricultural productivity and enhance long-term food security.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Changing the appropriation to an unspecified amount;

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

(3) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

Your Committee respectfully requests your Committee on Finance, should it deliberate on this measure, to consider appropriating $1,000,000 for the area-wide fruit fly suppression program.

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. 2551, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2551, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Finance.

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

____________________________

CORY CHUN, Chair