Bills

HB 1497: DOA; Restricted Use Pesticides; Online Reporting; Position Conversion; Appropriations

Session Year: 2025-2026
House: House
Latest Version Date: 2025-03-12

Current Status:

Failed

(2025-12-08: Carried over to 2026 Regular Session.)

Introduced

In Committee

First Chamber

In Committee

Second Chamber

Final Decking

Enacted

Version:

Requires and appropriates funds for the Department of Agriculture to develop an online reporting tool on restricted use pesticide usage. Appropriates funds to convert an unspecified number of temporary Environmental Health Specialist III positions into permanent positions. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Version:

HB1497 SD1

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.B. NO.	1497
THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2025		H.D. 1
STATE OF HAWAII		S.D. 1

A BILL FOR AN ACT

RELATING TO AGRICULTURE.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

PART I

SECTION 1. The legislature finds that Act 45, Session Laws of Hawaii 2018, codified as section 149A-26, Hawaii Revised Statutes, requires all users of restricted use pesticides to report annually on their use of restricted use pesticides to the department of agriculture.

The legislature further finds that to implement this program, the department should provide users the most efficient and consistent way to report their information. Thus, all users should be able to report their information and data online to the department.

The purpose of this part is to establish and appropriate funds for an online restricted use pesticide reporting system to allow users to report their restricted use pesticide use directly to the department of agriculture.

SECTION 2. The department of agriculture shall develop an online reporting tool for restricted use pesticide reporting pursuant to section 149A-26, Hawaii Revised Statutes.

SECTION 3. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $ or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2025-2026 and the same sum or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2026-2027 for the department of agriculture to develop an online reporting tool for restricted use pesticide reporting.

The sums appropriated shall be expended by the department of agriculture for the purposes of this part.

PART II

SECTION 4. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $ or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2025-2026 and the same sum or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2026-2027 to convert full-time equivalent ( FTE) temporary environmental health specialist III positions (position numbers 123035 and 123036) into full-time equivalent ( FTE) permanent environmental health specialist III positions.

The sums appropriated shall be expended by the department of agriculture for the purposes of this part.

PART III

SECTION 5. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2050.

Report Title:

DOA; Restricted Use Pesticides; Online Reporting; Position Conversion; Appropriations

Description:

The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.

HB1497 HD1

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.B. NO.	1497
THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2025		H.D. 1
STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

RELATING TO AGRICULTURE.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

PART I

SECTION 2. The department of agriculture shall develop an online reporting tool for restricted use pesticide reporting pursuant to section 149A-26, Hawaii Revised Statutes.

The sums appropriated shall be expended by the department of agriculture for the purposes of this part.

PART II

The sums appropriated shall be expended by the department of agriculture for the purposes of this part.

PART III

SECTION 5. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 3000.

Report Title:

Restricted Use Pesticide Reporting; Online; Department of Agriculture; Position Conversion; Appropriation

Description:

Requires and appropriates funds for the Department of Agriculture to develop an online reporting tool for restricted use pesticide reporting. Appropriates funds to convert temporary environmental health specialist III positions into permanent positions. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.

HB1497

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.B. NO.	1497
THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2025
STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

relating to agriculture.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

PART I

SECTION 1. The legislature finds that Act 45, Session Laws of Hawaii 2018, codified as section 149A-26, Hawaii Revised Statutes, requires all users of restricted use pesticides to annually report on their use of restricted use pesticides to the department of agriculture.

SECTION 2. The department of agriculture shall develop an online reporting tool for restricted use pesticide reporting pursuant to section 149A-26, Hawaii Revised Statutes.

The sums appropriated shall be expended by the department of agriculture for the purposes of this part.

PART II

SECTION 4. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $ or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2025-2026 and the same sum or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2026-2027 to convert two full-time equivalent (2.0 FTE) temporary environmental health specialist III positions (position numbers 123035 and 123036) into two full-time equivalent (2.0 FTE) permanent environmental health specialist III positions.

The sums appropriated shall be expended by the department of agriculture for the purposes of this part.

PART III

SECTION 5. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2025.

INTRODUCED BY:	_____________________________

Report Title:

Restricted Use Pesticide Reporting; Online; Department of Agriculture; Position Conversion; Appropriation

Description:

The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.

Date	Status
Dec 8, 2025	Carried over to 2026 Regular Session.
Mar 13, 2025	Report adopted; Passed Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referred to WAM.
Mar 13, 2025	Reported from AEN (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1077) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to WAM.
Mar 10, 2025	The committee(s) on AEN recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in AEN were as follows: 4 Aye(s): Senator(s) Gabbard, Richards, DeCoite, Awa; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 1 Excused: Senator(s) Rhoads.
Mar 6, 2025	The committee(s) on AEN has scheduled a public hearing on 03-10-25 1:01PM; Conference Room 224 & Videoconference.
Mar 4, 2025	Referred to AEN, WAM.
Feb 28, 2025	Passed First Reading.
Feb 28, 2025	Received from House (Hse. Com. No. 79).
Feb 27, 2025	Passed Third Reading with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Cochran, Pierick, Templo, Ward excused (4). Transmitted to Senate.
Feb 27, 2025	Reported from FIN (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 878), recommending passage on Third Reading.
Feb 20, 2025	The committee on FIN recommend that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes were as follows: 14 Ayes: Representative(s) Yamashita, Takenouchi, Grandinetti, Holt, Hussey, Keohokapu-Lee Loy, Kitagawa, Kusch, Lamosao, Lee, M., Miyake, Morikawa, Templo, Reyes Oda; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and 2 Excused: Representative(s) Alcos, Ward.
Feb 18, 2025	Bill scheduled to be heard by FIN on Thursday, 02-20-25 2:00PM in House conference room 308 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
Feb 14, 2025	Passed Second Reading as amended in HD 1 and referred to the committee(s) on FIN with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Cochran, Matayoshi, Poepoe, Ward excused (4).
Feb 14, 2025	Reported from AGR (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 642) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to FIN.
Feb 12, 2025	The committee on AGR recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 5 Ayes: Representative(s) Kahaloa, Kusch, Lowen, Perruso, Quinlan; Ayes with reservations: none; 0 Noes: none; and 1 Excused: Representative(s) Ward.
Feb 7, 2025	Bill scheduled to be heard by AGR on Wednesday, 02-12-25 9:30AM in House conference room 325 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
Jan 27, 2025	Referred to AGR, FIN, referral sheet 4
Jan 23, 2025	Introduced and Pass First Reading.

Date	Description	Location	Votes
Mar 10, 2025	The committee(s) on AEN recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS	Senate Standing Committee on Agriculture and Environment	4 0 1 Passed
Feb 27, 2025	Third Reading	House Floor	47 0 4 Passed
Feb 20, 2025	The committee on FIN recommend that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED	House Standing Committee on Finance	14 0 2 Passed
Feb 12, 2025	The committee on AGR recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS	House Standing Committee on Agriculture & Food Systems	5 0 1 Passed

Key

Pro

Against

Did Not Vote

This list shows positions taken on this bill by organizations on the date displayed, which is linked to the original source.

Positions by individuals are not included.

* Testimony in a hearing

** Position recorded in bill analysis

*** Position recorded in written testimony

Organization	Position	Date
Board of Agriculture	*** Support	Mar 10, 2025
Department of Agriculture	** Support
Green Party of Hawaiʻi	** Support
Hawaii Crop Improvement Association	** Support
Hawaiʻi Alliance for Progressive Action	** Support
Hawaiʻi Farm Bureau	** Support
Hawaiʻi Farmers Union United	** Support
Hawaiʻi Reef and Ocean Coalition	** Support
Hawai‘i Farm Bureau	*** Support	Feb 20, 2025
Kauai Climate Action Coalition	** Support

* Testimony in a hearing

** Position recorded in bill analysis

*** Position recorded in written testimony

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STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1077

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.B. No. 1497

H.D. 1

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2025

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Agriculture and Environment, to which was referred H.B. No. 1497, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO AGRICULTURE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to:

(1) Require and appropriate funds for the Department of Agriculture (Department) to develop an online reporting tool to document applications of restricted use pesticides; and

(2) Appropriate funds to convert an unspecified number of temporary Environmental Health Specialist III positions into permanent positions.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Agriculture, Hawaiʻi Farm Bureau, Hawaii Crop Improvement Association, Hawaiʻi Reef and Ocean Coalition, Green Party of Hawaiʻi, Kauai Climate Action Coalition, Hawaiʻi Farmers Union United, Hawaiʻi Alliance for Progressive Action, and twenty-five individuals.

Your Committee finds that pesticide exposure can cause significant harm to public health and the environment and that pesticides deemed by the State as RUP have an especially high potential to cause harm. Your Committee further finds that a streamlined and user-friendly online RUP reporting tool would reduce administrative burden and facilitate compliance with the Hawaii Pesticides Law, thereby allowing policymakers and public health experts to better monitor and make evidence-based decisions regarding the use of restricted use pesticides in the State.

According to testimony received by your Committee, although the Department has already developed an online restricted use pesticides reporting tool, it has lacked the consistent staffing to conduct the outreach and education necessary to fully implement the tool. Your Committee additionally finds that converting temporary Environmental Health Specialist III positions into permanent positions could increase the capacity of the Department to not only complete the outreach necessary to fully implement the online restricted use pesticides reporting tool, but also to perform its mandates under the Hawaii Pesticides Law, including pesticide use and safety education that ensures safeguards to protect farmers, the public, and the State's fragile ecosystems.

Your Committee has amended this measure by inserting an effective date of July 1, 2050, to encourage further discussion.

Your Committee notes that this measure contains an unspecified number of full-time equivalent (FTE) temporary Environmental Health Specialist III positions to be converted into permanent positions. Should your Committee on Ways and Means choose to deliberate on this measure, your Committee respectfully requests that it consider inserting two full-time equivalent (2.0 FTE) positions to be converted.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Agriculture and Environment that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1497, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1497, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Agriculture and Environment,

________________________________

MIKE GABBARD, Chair

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STAND. COM. REP. NO. 878

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2025

RE: H.B. No. 1497

H.D. 1

Honorable Nadine K. Nakamura

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2025

State of Hawaii

Madame:

Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred H.B. No. 1497, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO AGRICULTURE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to:

(1) Require and appropriate funds for the Department of Agriculture to develop an online reporting tool to document applications of restricted use pesticides; and

(2) Appropriate funds to convert temporary Environmental Health Specialist III positions into permanent positions.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Agriculture; Hawaiʻi Farm Bureau; and Hawaiʻi Reef and Ocean Coalition. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Hawaii Crop Improvement Association.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Finance that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1497, H.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Finance,

____________________________

KYLE T. YAMASHITA, Chair

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STAND. COM. REP. NO. 642

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2025

RE: H.B. No. 1497

H.D. 1

Honorable Nadine K. Nakamura

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2025

State of Hawaii

Madame:

Your Committee on Agriculture & Food Systems, to which was referred H.B. No. 1497 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO AGRICULTURE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to:

(1) Require and appropriate funds for the Department of Agriculture to develop an online reporting tool to document applications of restricted use pesticides; and

(2) Appropriate funds to convert temporary Environmental Health Specialist III positions into permanent positions.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Agriculture; Hawaiʻi Reef and Ocean Coalition; Hawaiʻi Alliance for Progressive Action; and one individual. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Hawaii Crop Improvement Association.

Your Committee finds that accurate and efficient reporting of restricted use pesticide applications is essential for ensuring regulatory compliance and protecting public health and the environment. While existing laws require users to submit annual reports on restricted use pesticide usage, the Department of Agriculture has faced challenges in fully implementing an online reporting system due to staffing instability. This measure addresses these issues by establishing and appropriating funds for a permanent online reporting system, ensuring users have a streamlined and consistent method for submitting data. Additionally, converting temporary positions to permanent status will provide stability within the Department's Pesticides Branch, allowing for proper outreach and education to facilitate full implementation of the reporting tool.

Your Committee notes the suggestion to require restricted use pesticide usage to be reported in consistent units of measurement.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Changing the number of authorized positions to unspecified numbers;

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

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

Your Committee respectfully requests your Committee on Finance, should it deliberate on this measure, to consider converting two full-time equivalent (2.0 FTE) temporary Environmental Health Specialist III positions into two full-time equivalent (2.0 FTE) permanent Environmental Health Specialist III positions.

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. 1497, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1497, 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,

____________________________

KIRSTIN KAHALOA, Chair

Date	Testimony PDF
Mar 10, 2025	HB1497_HD1_TESTIMONY_AEN_03-10-25_.PDF
Feb 20, 2025	HB1497_HD1_TESTIMONY_FIN_02-20-25_.PDF
Feb 11, 2025	HB1497_TESTIMONY_AGR_02-12-25_.PDF

Discussed in Hearing

2MIN

Authors shown for version:
HB1497_SD1 (3/12/2025)

HB 1497: DOA; Restricted Use Pesticides; Online Reporting; Position Conversion; Appropriations

Current Status:

Senate Standing Committee on Agriculture and Environment

Senate Standing Committee on Housing

House Standing Committee on Finance

House Standing Committee on Agriculture & Food Systems