STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2561

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 2925

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 Water, Land, Culture and the Arts, to which was referred S.B. No. 2925 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO COCONUT TREES,"

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to:

(1) Establish recognition of coconut trees as a source of food and water, and as a cultural treasure;

(2) Require the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity to establish rules to allow the use of coconut tree seed banks in the State;

(3) Require owners or operators of property where any coconut tree is located to post and maintain a sign that clearly indicates that the coconut tree is a landscape palm, when applicable;

(4) Require the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity to establish labeling standards for non-consumable landscape palms; and

(5) Establish an income tax credit for consumable coconut trees maintained through natural management practices.

Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources; Office of Hawaiian Affairs; Office of the Mayor of the County of Maui; Coordinating Group on Alien Pest Species; Hawaiʻi Farmers Union United; Hawaiʻi Food+ Policy; Native Hawaiian Gathering Rights Association; Malama ʻAina Landscape & Masonry Design, LLC; Trees for Honolulu's Future; E Ola Kakou Hawaiʻi a Waiwaiole; Hānai Kaiāulu; and thirty-seven individuals.

Your Committees received testimony in opposition to this measure from the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity and Hawaii Pest Control Association.

Your Committees received comments on this measure from the Department of Taxation and Hawaiʻi Farm Bureau.

Your Committees find that the coconut tree plays a vital role in coastal stabilization, erosion control, and carbon

sequestration. However, the Coconut Rhinoceros Beetle poses serious threat to coconut tree populations statewide. Your Committees further find that certain pest management practices may inadvertently reduce the availability of coconuts that are safe for human consumption and limit the long-term regeneration of coconut trees. Therefore, this measure will provide an environmental and consumer regulation framework to further recognize the importance of coconut palm trees in the State.

Your Committees have amended this measure by:

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

(2) 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 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. 2925, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2925, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committees on Ways and Means and Commerce and Consumer Protection.

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