STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2646

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 2048

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2026

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Agriculture and Environment and Commerce and Consumer Protection, to which was referred S.B. No. 2048 entitled:

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

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to:

(1) Prohibit the sale, barter, or donation of any pest-infested item or material;

(2) Authorize the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity to quarantine, treat, or destroy pest-infested items or materials; and

(3) Impose penalties on individuals who sell, barter, or donate a pest-infested item or materials.

Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources, Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity, Coordinating Group on Alien Pest Species, Sierra Club of Hawaiʻi, Hawaiʻi Forest Association, Hawaiʻi Food+ Policy, Free Access Coalition, and sixteen individuals.

Your Committees received testimony in opposition to this measure from the Libertarian Party of Hawaii.

Your Committees received comments on this measure from the Hawaiʻi Farm Bureau and one individual.

Your Committees find that the transportation of plants and other plant associated items is a known pathway that can spread invasive species to new locations and communities throughout the State. The introduction of high-impact pests, such as the little fire ant and coqui frog, likely propagated from the imported sale of infested agricultural materials into the State. Your Committees further find that additional measures to implement a comprehensive biosecurity program in the State are necessary to protect food production, public safety, and the ecosystem. Therefore, this measure will expand the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity's ability to mitigate the spread of invasive species and further protect Hawaii's biodiversity.

Your Committees have amended this measure by:

(1) Clarifying that, in addition to selling, making any pest-infested material available to the public is also prohibited;

(2) Specifying that the sale, barter, or donation of any pest-infested item or material may be permitted for research or testing if a permit is issued by the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity;

(3) Inserting an effective date of July 1, 2050, to encourage further discussion; and

(4) Making a technical, nonsubstantive amendment for the purposes of clarity and consistency.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Agriculture and Environment and Commerce and Consumer Protection that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2048, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2048, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committees on Judiciary and Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Agriculture and Environment and Commerce and Consumer Protection,

________________________________ JARRETT KEOHOKALOLE, Chair

________________________________ MIKE GABBARD, Chair