HB 2551: Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity; Area-Wide Fruit Fly Suppression Program; Appropriation

A BILL FOR AN ACT

RELATING TO AGRICULTURE.

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

     SECTION 1.  The legislature finds that fruit flies are one of the State's most destructive agricultural pests.  The economic impacts of fruit fly infestations in Hawaii are severe, leading to millions of dollars in lost agricultural production and revenue to the State.  There are several different fruit flies in Hawaii, the first of which arrived in 1895.  Since fruit flies have no natural predators in Hawaii, their existence has persisted over the years.  The fruit fly federal quarantine, which was enacted when Hawaii was a United States territory, still exists in full effect today due to the presence of fruit flies in the State and their threat to the continental United States' agricultural sector.  This quarantine, however, is a major hindrance to the State's expansion of diversified agriculture.

     The legislature further finds that in 1999, the United States Department of Agriculture's Agricultural Research Service (ARS) funded a five-year area-wide fruit fly pest management system with the goal to develop and implement environmentally acceptable, biologically based, sustainable pest management strategies that reduce the use of harsher insecticides while suppressing fruit flies to economically manageable levels for the benefit of Hawaii.   This program was a cooperative partnership with the United States Department of Agriculture, ARS, college of tropical agriculture and human resilience at the university of Hawaii at Manoa, and department of agriculture and biosecurity.  The area-wide fruit fly program used a combined approach of field sanitation, protein bait sprays, and male-lure traps to combat fruit fly infestations.  The program successfully lowered infestation rates to below five per cent for many crops, increasing yields and marketable products.  The program also significantly reduced insecticide use in some areas.

     The legislature also finds that the department of agriculture and biosecurity has contracted with the college of tropical agriculture and human resilience at the university of Hawaii at Manoa to reinitiate the area-wide fruit fly suppression program with funding from Act 231, Session Laws of Hawaii 2024.  This initial contract is critical to evaluating the ARS's 1999 protocols, methods, and chemicals, and to update them to meet current needs.

     Accordingly, the purpose of this Act is to appropriate funds to continue fruit fly suppression efforts in Hawaii.

     SECTION 2.  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 2026-2027 for an area-wide fruit fly suppression program.

     The sum appropriated shall be expended by the department of agriculture and biosecurity for the purposes of this Act.

     SECTION 3.  This Act shall take effect on July 1, 3000.

Report Title:

Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity; Area-Wide Fruit Fly Suppression Program; Appropriation

Description:

Appropriates funds for the Area-Wide Fruit Fly Suppression Program.  Effective 7/1/3000.  (SD1)

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

A BILL FOR AN ACT

RELATING TO AGRICULTURE.

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

     SECTION 1.  The legislature finds that fruit flies are one of the State's most destructive agricultural pests.  The economic impacts of fruit fly infestations in Hawaii are severe, leading to millions of dollars in lost agricultural production and revenue to the State.  There are several different fruit flies in Hawaii, the first of which arrived in 1895.  Since fruit flies have no natural predators in Hawaii, their existence has persisted over the years.  The fruit fly federal quarantine, which was enacted when Hawaii was a United States territory, still exists in full effect today due to the presence of fruit flies in the State and their threat to the continental United States' agricultural sector.  This quarantine, however, is a major hindrance to the State's expansion of diversified agriculture.

     The legislature further finds that in 1999, the United States Department of Agriculture's Agriculture Research Service (ARS) funded a five-year area-wide fruit fly pest management system with the goal to develop and implement environmentally acceptable, biologically based, sustainable pest management strategies that reduce the use of harsher insecticides while suppressing fruit flies to economically manageable levels for the benefit of Hawaii.   This program was a cooperative partnership with the United States Department of Agriculture, ARS, college of tropical agriculture and human resilience at the university of Hawaii at Manoa, and department of agriculture and biosecurity.  The area-wide fruit fly program used a combined approach of field sanitation, protein bait sprays, and male-lure traps to combat fruit fly infestations.  The program successfully lowered infestation rates to below five per cent for many crops, increasing yields and marketable products.  The program also significantly reduced insecticide use in some areas.

     The legislature also finds that the department of agriculture and biosecurity has contracted with the college of tropical agriculture and human resilience at the university of Hawaii at Manoa to reinitiate the area-wide fruit fly suppression program with funding from Act 231, Session Laws of Hawaii 2024.  This initial contract is critical to evaluating the ARS's 1999 protocols, methods, and chemicals, and to update them to meet current needs.

     Accordingly, the purpose of this Act is to appropriate funds to continue fruit fly suppression efforts in Hawaii.

     SECTION 2.  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 2026-2027 for an area-wide fruit fly suppression program.

     The sum appropriated shall be expended by the department of agriculture and biosecurity for the purposes of this Act.

     SECTION 3.  This Act shall take effect on July 1, 3000.

Report Title:

Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity; Area-Wide Fruit Fly Suppression Program; Appropriation

Description:

Appropriates funds for the Area-Wide Fruit Fly Suppression Program.  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.

A BILL FOR AN ACT

relating to agriculture.

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

     SECTION 1.  The legislature finds that fruit flies are one of the State's most destructive agricultural pests.  The economic impacts of fruit fly infestations in Hawaii are severe, leading to millions of dollars in lost agricultural production and revenue to the State.  There are several different fruit flies in Hawaii, the first of which arrived in 1895.  Since fruit flies have no natural predators in Hawaii, their existence has persisted over the years.  The fruit fly federal quarantine, which was enacted when Hawaii was a United States territory, still exists in full effect today due to the presence of fruit flies in the State and their threat to the continental United States' agricultural sector.  This quarantine, however, is a major hinderance to the State's expansion of diversified agriculture.

     The legislature further finds that in 1999, the United States Department of Agriculture's Agriculture Research Service (ARS) funded a five-year area-wide fruit fly pest management system with the goal to develop and implement environmentally acceptable, biologically based, sustainable pest management strategies that reduce the use of harsher insecticides while suppressing fruit flies to economically manageable levels for the benefit of Hawaii.   This program was a cooperative partnership with the United States Department of Agriculture, ARS, college of tropical agriculture and human resilience at the university of Hawaii at Manoa, and department of agriculture and biosecurity.  The area-wide fruit fly program used a combined approach of field sanitation, protein bait sprays, and male-lure traps to combat fruit fly infestations.  The program successfully lowered infestation rates to below five per cent for many crops, increasing yields and marketable products.  The program also significantly reduced insecticide use in some areas.

     The legislature also finds that the department of agriculture and biosecurity has contracted with the college of tropical agriculture and human resilience at the university of Hawaii at Manoa to reinitiate the area-wide fruit fly suppression program with funding from Act 231, Session Laws of Hawaii 2024.  This initial contract is critical to evaluating the ARS's 1999 protocols, methods, and chemicals, and to update them to meet current needs.

     Accordingly, the purpose of this Act is to appropriate funds to suppress fruit flies in Hawaii.

     SECTION 2.  There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $1,000,000 or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2026-2027 for an area-wide fruit fly suppression program.

     The sum appropriated shall be expended by the department of agriculture and biosecurity for the purposes of this Act.

     SECTION 3.  This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2026.

Report Title:

Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity; Area-Wide Fruit Fly Suppression Program, Appropriation

Description:

Appropriates funds for the Area-Wide Fruit Fly Suppression Program.

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

STAND. COM. REP. NO.  928-26

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2026

RE:   H.B. No. 2551

      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 Finance, to which was referred H.B. No. 2551, 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 appropriate funds for an area-wide fruit fly suppression program.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity; Hawaiʻi Farm Bureau; Hawaii Floriculture and Nursery Association; Maui County Farm Bureau; Coordinating Group on Alien Pest Species; Hashimoto Persimmon Products; Hawaiʻi Food+ Policy; and three individuals. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the University of Hawaiʻi System.

     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. 2551, H.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

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

STAND. COM. REP. NO.  597-26

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2026

RE:   H.B. No. 2551

      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. 2551 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO AGRICULTURE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to appropriate funds for an area-wide fruit fly suppression program.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity; Hawaii Floriculture and Nursery Association; Maui County Farm Bureau; Hawaiʻi Farm Bureau; Hawaiʻi Food+ Policy; and three individuals.  Your Committee received comments on this measure from the University of Hawaii at Manoa College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resilience and one individual.

     Your Committee finds that fruit flies are one of Hawaii's most destructive agricultural pests, leading to millions of dollars in lost agricultural production and revenue to the State.  Your Committee further finds that area-wide suppression programs have shown success in reducing infestation levels and improving  crop quality by using coordinated, biologically based pest management strategies that integrate multiple tools and approaches, including a reduced use of harsher insecticides.  Your Committee believes that investing in an area-wide strategy to control fruit flies will strengthen Hawaii's agricultural productivity and enhance long-term food security.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Changing the appropriation to an unspecified amount;

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

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

     Your Committee respectfully requests your Committee on Finance, should it deliberate on this measure, to consider appropriating $1,000,000 for the area-wide fruit fly suppression program.

     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. 2551, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2551, 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,