STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2560

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 2489

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 Water, Land, Culture and the Arts, to which was referred S.B. No. 2489 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 require each lease that the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity enters into, renews, or extends to include provisions stating that the Department may:

(1) Enter the leased premises;

(2) Order or otherwise require the lessee to maintain control of any invasive species on the leased premises; and

(3) Order or otherwise require the lessee to maintain control of any invasive species on the leased premises.

Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources, Coordinating Group on Alien Pest Species, Oʻahu Invasive Species Committee, Ka Ohana O Na Pua, and two individuals.

Your Committees received comments on this measure from the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity; Hawaiʻi Farm Bureau; Hawaii Cattlemen's Council, Inc.; and Hawaiʻi Food+ Policy.

Your Committees find that that state-leased agricultural lands managed by the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity can be infested with invasive species that can spread to surrounding areas. While the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity currently obtains the power to enter most properties within the State to combat invasive species, it is difficult to determine which specific access provision applies to each agricultural lease, which can create impediments to access and invasive species response. By recognizing these general access obstacles, this measure will improve the Department's ability to enforce biosecurity rules and ensure lessee compliance.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Agriculture and Environment and Water, Land, Culture and the Arts that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2489 and recommend that it pass Second Reading and be referred to your Committee on Judiciary.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Agriculture and Environment and Water, Land, Culture and the Arts,

________________________________ CHRIS LEE, Chair

________________________________ MIKE GABBARD, Chair