HB 1601: DAB; DLNR; Hawaii Invasive Species Council Appropriation; Biosecurity; Expending Agency
- Session Year: 2025-2026
- House: House
- Latest Version Date: 2026-03-25
Current Status:
Failed
(2026-03-30: Report adopted; Passed Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referred to WAM.)
Introduced
In Committee
First Chamber
In Committee
Second Chamber
Final Decking
Enacted
Amends the amount and expending agency for a fiscal year 2026-2027 appropriation for the Hawaii Invasive Species Council from the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity to the Department of Land and Natural Resources. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)
Amends the amount and expending agency for a fiscal year 2026-2027 appropriation for the Hawaii Invasive Species Council from the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity to the Department of Land and Natural Resources. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)
Amends the expending agency for a fiscal year 2026-2027 appropriation for the Hawaii Invasive Species Council from the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity to the Department of Land and Natural Resources. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)
Amends the expending agency for a fiscal year 2026-2027 appropriation for the Hawaii Invasive Species Council from the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity to the Department of Land and Natural Resources.
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HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES |
H.B. NO. |
1601 |
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THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026 |
H.D. 2 |
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STATE OF HAWAII |
S.D. 1 |
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A BILL FOR AN ACT
RELATING TO BIOSECURITY.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:
SECTION 1. Act 236, Session Laws of Hawaii 2025, is amended by amending section 42 to read as follows:
"SECTION
42. There is appropriated out of the
general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of [$4,250,000] $
or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2026-2027 for the
operations of the Hawaii invasive species council.
The sum
appropriated shall be expended by the department of [agriculture and
biosecurity] land and natural resources for the purposes of this
Act."
SECTION 2. Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken. New statutory material is underscored.
SECTION 3. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2050.
Report Title:
DAB; DLNR; Hawaii Invasive Species Council Appropriation; Biosecurity; Expending Agency
Description:
Amends the amount and expending agency for a fiscal year 2026-2027 appropriation for the Hawaii Invasive Species Council from the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity to the Department of Land and Natural Resources. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)
The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.
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HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES |
H.B. NO. |
1601 |
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THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026 |
H.D. 2 |
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STATE OF HAWAII |
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A BILL FOR AN ACT
RELATING TO BIOSECURITY.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:
SECTION 1. Act 236, Session Laws of Hawaii 2025, is amended by amending section 42 to read as follows:
"SECTION
42. There is appropriated out of the
general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of [$4,250,000] $
or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2026-2027 for the
operations of the Hawaii invasive species council.
The sum
appropriated shall be expended by the department of [agriculture and
biosecurity] land and natural resources for the purposes of this
Act."
SECTION 2. Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken. New statutory material is underscored.
SECTION 3. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 3000.
Report Title:
DLNR; Hawaii Invasive Species Council Appropriation; Biosecurity; Expending Agency
Description:
Amends the amount and expending agency for a fiscal year 2026-2027 appropriation for the Hawaii Invasive Species Council from the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity to the Department of Land and Natural Resources. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)
The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.
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HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES |
H.B. NO. |
1601 |
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THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026 |
H.D. 1 |
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STATE OF HAWAII |
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A BILL FOR AN ACT
RELATING TO BIOSECURITY.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:
SECTION 1. Act 236, Session Laws of Hawaii 2025, is amended by amending section 42 to read as follows:
"SECTION 42. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $4,250,000 or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2026-2027 for the operations of the Hawaii invasive species council.
The sum
appropriated shall be expended by the department of [agriculture and
biosecurity] land and natural resources for the purposes of this
Act."
SECTION 2. Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken. New statutory material is underscored.
SECTION 3. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 3000.
Report Title:
DLNR; Hawaii Invasive Species Council Appropriation; Biosecurity; Expending Agency
Description:
Amends the expending agency for a fiscal year 2026-2027 appropriation for the Hawaii Invasive Species Council from the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity to the Department of Land and Natural Resources. 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.
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HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES |
H.B. NO. |
1601 |
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THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026 |
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STATE OF HAWAII |
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A BILL FOR AN ACT
relating to biosecurity.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:
SECTION 1. Act 236, Session Laws of Hawaii 2025, is amended by amending section 42 to read as follows:
"SECTION 42. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $4,250,000 or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2026-2027 for the operations of the Hawaii invasive species council.
The sum
appropriated shall be expended by the department of [agriculture and
biosecurity] land and natural resources for the purposes of this
Act."
SECTION 2. Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken. New statutory material is underscored.
SECTION 3. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2026.
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INTRODUCED BY: |
_____________________________ |
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Report Title:
DLNR; Hawaii Invasive Species Council Appropriation; Biosecurity; Expending Agency
Description:
Amends the expending agency for a fiscal year 2026-2027 appropriation for the Hawaii Invasive Species Council from the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity to the Department of Land and Natural Resources.
The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.
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Date
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Status
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| Mar 30, 2026 | Report adopted; Passed Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referred to WAM. |
| Mar 30, 2026 | Reported from AEN/WLA (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 3242) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to WAM. |
| Mar 20, 2026 | The committee(s) on AEN recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in AEN were as follows: 3 Aye(s): Senator(s) Gabbard, DeCoite, Rhoads; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 2 Excused: Senator(s) Richards, Awa. |
| Mar 20, 2026 | The committee(s) on WLA recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in WLA were as follows: 3 Aye(s): Senator(s) Lee, C., Chang, Lamosao; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 2 Excused: Senator(s) Inouye, DeCorte. |
| Mar 17, 2026 | The committee(s) on AEN/WLA has scheduled a public hearing on 03-20-26 1:03PM; Conference Room 224 & Videoconference. |
| Mar 12, 2026 | Referred to AEN/WLA, WAM. |
| Mar 12, 2026 | Passed First Reading. |
| Mar 12, 2026 | Received from House (Hse. Com. No. 249). |
| Mar 10, 2026 | Passed Third Reading as amended in HD 2 with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Kong, Pierick excused (2). Transmitted to Senate. |
| Mar 6, 2026 | Forty-eight (48) hours notice Tuesday, 03-10-26. |
| Mar 6, 2026 | Reported from FIN (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1030-26) as amended in HD 2, recommending passage on Third Reading. |
| Mar 3, 2026 | The committee on FIN recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 16 Ayes: Representative(s) Todd, Takenouchi, Hartsfield, Hussey, Keohokapu-Lee Loy, Kitagawa, Kusch, Lee, M., Miyake, Morikawa, Perruso, Templo, Yamashita, Alcos, Gedeon, Reyes Oda; Ayes with reservations: none; 0 Noes: none; and 0 Excused: none. |
| Feb 27, 2026 | Bill scheduled to be heard by FIN on Tuesday, 03-03-26 2:00PM in House conference room 308 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE. |
| Feb 20, 2026 | Report adopted; referred to the committee(s) on FIN with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Quinlan excused (1). |
| Feb 20, 2026 | Reported from WAL (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 716-26), recommending referral to FIN. |
| Feb 19, 2026 | The committee on WAL recommend that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes were as follows: 9 Ayes: Representative(s) Hashem, Morikawa, Belatti, Ichiyama, Iwamoto, Poepoe, Woodson, Shimizu, Souza; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and Excused: none. |
| Feb 17, 2026 | Bill scheduled to be heard by WAL on Thursday, 02-19-26 9:00AM in House conference room 411 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE. |
| Feb 4, 2026 | Passed Second Reading as amended in HD 1 and referred to the committee(s) on WAL with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Kitagawa excused (1). |
| Feb 4, 2026 | Reported from AGR (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 4-26) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to WAL. |
| Jan 30, 2026 | The committee on AGR recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 7 Ayes: Representative(s) Chun, Kusch, Kahaloa, Lowen, Perruso, Quinlan, Matsumoto; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and Excused: none. |
| Jan 27, 2026 | Bill scheduled to be heard by AGR on Friday, 01-30-26 9:30AM in House conference room 325 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE. |
| Jan 26, 2026 | Referred to AGR, WAL, FIN, referral sheet 1 |
| Jan 21, 2026 | Introduced and Pass First Reading. |
| Jan 16, 2026 | Prefiled. |
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Date
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Description
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Location
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Votes
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| Mar 20, 2026 | The committee(s) on AEN recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS | Senate Standing Committee on Agriculture and Environment |
Passed |
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| Mar 20, 2026 | The committee(s) on WLA recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS | Senate Standing Committee on Water, Land, Culture and the Arts |
Passed |
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| Mar 10, 2026 | Third Reading | House Floor |
Passed |
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| Mar 3, 2026 | The committee on FIN recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS | House Standing Committee on Finance |
Passed |
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| Feb 19, 2026 | The committee on WAL recommend that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED | House Standing Committee on Water & Land |
Passed |
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| Jan 30, 2026 | The committee on AGR recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS | House Standing Committee on Agriculture & Food Systems |
Passed |
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.
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Organization
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Position
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Date
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| American Bird Conservancy | *** Support | Feb 19, 2026 |
| American Bird Conservancy | ** Support | |
| Big Island Invasive Species Committee | ** Support | |
| Coordinating Group on Alien Pest Species (CGAPS) | *** Support | Mar 20, 2026 |
| Department of Agriculture & Biosecurity | *** Support | Mar 20, 2026 |
| Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity | ** Support | |
| Department of Land and Natural Resources | *** Support | Mar 20, 2026 |
| Free Access Coalition | *** Support | Mar 20, 2026 |
| Hawaiʻi Farm Bureau | *** Support | Mar 20, 2026 |
| Hawaiʻi Farm Bureau (HFB) | *** Support | Mar 3, 2026 |
| Hawaiʻi Food+ Policy | *** Support | Mar 20, 2026 |
| Kupuna for the Moopuna | *** Support | Mar 20, 2026 |
| Oʻahu Invasive Species Committee (OISC) | *** Support | Mar 20, 2026 |
| Sierra Club of Hawai‘i | *** Support | Mar 20, 2026 |
| The Nature Conservancy | *** Support | Mar 20, 2026 |
STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1030-26
Honolulu, Hawaii
, 2026
RE: H.B. No. 1601
H.D. 2
Honorable Nadine K. Nakamura
Speaker, House of Representatives
Thirty-Third State Legislature
Regular Session of 2026
State of Hawaii
Madame:
Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred H.B. No. 1601, H.D. 1, entitled:
"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO BIOSECURITY,"
begs leave to report as follows:
Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity; Department of Land and Natural Resources; Big Island Invasive Species Committee; Coordinating Group on Alien Pest Species; Hawaiʻi Farm Bureau; Hawaiʻi Food+ Policy; Oʻahu Invasive Species Committee; The Nature Conservancy, Hawaiʻi and Palmyra; and two individuals.
Your Committee has amended this measure by changing the fiscal year 2026-2027 appropriation amount to an unspecified amount.
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. 1601, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1601, H.D. 2.
Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Finance,
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____________________________ CHRIS TODD, Chair |
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STAND. COM. REP. NO. 716-26
Honolulu, Hawaii
, 2026
RE: H.B. No. 1601
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 Water & Land, to which was referred H.B. No. 1601, H.D. 1, entitled:
"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO BIOSECURITY,"
begs leave to report as follows:
Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity; Hawaiʻi Farm Bureau; The Nature Conservancy, Hawaiʻi and Palmyra; American Bird Conservancy; Sierra Club of Hawaiʻi; Coordinating Group on Alien Pest Species; Oʻahu Invasive Species Committee; Big Island Invasive Species Committee; Hawaiʻi Food+ Policy; and one individual. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources.
Your Committee finds that it is practical and fiscally responsible to have the fiscal year 20262027 appropriation for the Hawaii Invasive Species Council be expended by the Department of Land and Natural Resources, which is currently responsible for implementing the program. Aligning the expending authority with the Department during this period will help ensure continuity, reduce administrative inefficiencies, and allow the Hawaii Invasive Species Council to deploy resources quickly and effectively to address invasive species threats.
As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Water & Land that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1601, H.D. 1, and recommends that it be referred to your Committee on Finance.
Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Water & Land,
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____________________________ MARK J. HASHEM, Chair |
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STAND. COM. REP. NO. 4-26
Honolulu, Hawaii
, 2026
RE: H.B. No. 1601
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.B. No. 1601 entitled:
"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO BIOSECURITY,"
begs leave to report as follows:
Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity; Department of Land and Natural Resources; Sierra Club of Hawaiʻi; Coordinating Group on Alien Pest Species; Oʻahu Invasive Species Committee; Hawaiʻi Farm Bureau; The Nature Conservancy Hawaiʻi and Palmyra; Hawaiʻi Food+ Policy; Free Access Coalition; Big Island Invasive Species Committee; American Bird Conservancy; and numerous individuals.
Your Committee finds that Act 236, Session Laws of Hawaii 2025 (Act 236), provides for the transfer of the Hawaii Invasive Species Council from the Department of Land and Natural Resources to the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity, to take effect on January 1, 2030. Act 236 also appropriated funds for fiscal year 2026-2027 to be expended by the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity for the operations of the Hawaii Invasive Species Council.
Your Committee further finds that, as the Hawaii Invasive Species Council is currently housed within the Department of Land and Natural Resources until January 1, 2030, the Department of Land and Natural Resources is the more appropriate expending agency for funds appropriated for fiscal year 2026-2027 for the operations of the Hawaii Invasive Species Council.
Your Committee has amended this measure by changing the effective date to July 1, 3000, to encourage further discussion.
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. 1601, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1601, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Water & Land.
Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Agriculture & Food Systems,
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____________________________ CORY CHUN, Chair |
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Date
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Testimony PDF
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| Mar 20, 2026 | HB1601_HD2_TESTIMONY_WLA-AEN_03-20-26_.PDF |
| Mar 3, 2026 | HB1601_HD1_TESTIMONY_FIN_03-03-26_.PDF |
| Feb 19, 2026 | HB1601_HD1_TESTIMONY_WAL_02-19-26_.PDF |
| Jan 30, 2026 | HB1601_TESTIMONY_AGR_01-30-26_.PDF |
Discussed in Hearing
2MIN
Senate Standing Committee on Agriculture and Environment
2MIN
Senate Standing Committee on Economic Development and Tourism
2MIN
Senate Standing Committee on Energy and Intergovernmental Affairs
2MIN
Senate Standing Committee on Public Safety and Military Affairs
2MIN
Senate Standing Committee on Water, Land, Culture and the Arts
45SEC
Senate Standing Committee on Agriculture and Environment
45SEC
Senate Standing Committee on Economic Development and Tourism
45SEC
Senate Standing Committee on Energy and Intergovernmental Affairs
Bill Author
Bill Co-Author(s):
