STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1720-26

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2026

RE: H.C.R. No. 60

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.C.R. No. 60 entitled:

"HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND BIOSECURITY TO CONVENE A WORKING GROUP TO IMPROVE CONSUMER AWARENESS OF INVASIVE PLANT SPECIES, REDUCE THE SPREAD OF INVASIVE SPECIES THROUGH PLANT SALES, AND CREATE A COMPREHENSIVE LABELING FRAMEWORK THAT PROVIDES AN INDICATION OF A PLANT SPECIES' INVASIVENESS RISK WHEN SOLD IN THE STATE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to request the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity to convene a working group to improve consumer awareness of invasive plant species, reduce the spread of invasive species through plant sales, and create a comprehensive labeling framework that provides an indication of a plant species' invasiveness risk when sold in the State.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity; Coordinating Group on Alien Pest Species; Hawaiʻi Farm Bureau; Landscape Industry Council of Hawaiʻi; and two individuals.

Your Committee finds that the introduction of invasive plant species into Hawaii's ecosystem has serious environmental implications, including degrading watershed integrity, accelerating erosion, and decreasing biodiversity. Your Committee further finds that invasive plant species continue to be sold within the State and are often unknowingly purchased by consumers. Your Committee recognizes that the State's noxious weed list has not been comprehensively updated since 1992, includes species that are now widespread, and omits several high-risk invasive plants.

Your Committee further finds that the Plant Pono Program assists Hawaii residents, nursery operators, and related industries in making planting decisions that reduce the sale, propagation, and spread of invasive species. Despite this initiative, issues related to invasive species persist. Your Committee believes that further collaborative efforts to raise consumer awareness about the potential invasiveness of plants at a time and place when consumers are making plant purchasing decisions are needed.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Amending the composition of the working group to:

(A) Add the Hawaii Invasive Species Council and Landscape Industry Council of Hawaiʻi as organizations to be invited to participate in the working group; and

(B) Remove the Coordinating Group on Alien Pest Species and invasive species committees;

(2) Amending the list of recipients for certified copies of this measure; and

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

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 concurs with the intent and purpose of H.C.R. No. 60, as amended herein, and recommends that it be referred to your Committee on Finance in the form attached hereto as H.C.R. No. 60, H.D. 1.

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

____________________________

CORY CHUN, Chair