Bills

HB 427: DOA; BIOSECURITY EMERGENCY DECLARATION; QUARANTINE; TRANSITIONAL FACILITIES; CERTIFIED BIOSECURITY COMPLIANCE AUDITORS; PENALTIES; READINESS AND RESPONSE AGREEMENTS; PEST DASHBOARD; BIOSECURITY AND PEST MANAGEMENT PLANS; PLANT CARE COMPONENT PROGRAM; HAWAII INVASIVE SPECIES COUNCIL; RULES; APPROPRIATIONS

  • Session Year: 2025-2026
  • House: House
  • Latest Version Date: 2025-04-26

Current Status:

Passed

(2025-06-27: Act 236, on 06/27/2025 (Gov. Msg. No. 1338).)

Introduced

First Committee Review

First Chamber

Second Committee Review

Second Chamber

Final Decking

Enacted

Version:

Part I:  Renames the Department of Agriculture as the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity (Department) and the Board of Agriculture as the Board of Agriculture and Biosecurity.  Part II:  Establishes a Deputy Chairperson for Biosecurity.  Part III:  Authorizes and specifies conditions under which the Department may declare a biosecurity emergency, during which the Department and Governor may take certain actions to prevent the establishment or spread of pests and prohibited or restricted organisms.  Broadens the objectives and general actions of the Biosecurity Program.  Part IV:  Authorizes the Department to establish transitional facilities.  Requires the Department to certify and train biosecurity compliance auditors to inspect imported plants and animals.  Requires inspection of various items transported interisland.  Increases penalties for illegally transporting plants, animals, and microorganisms.  Part V:  Authorizes the Department to enter into government‑industry agreements for readiness and response to unwanted organisms in the State.  Authorizes biosecurity and pest management plans to address, contain, or eradicate pests.  Requires the Department to establish a pest dashboard by 12/1/2025.  Part VI:  Authorizes the Department to adopt rules to establish and enforce the Plant Care Component Program.  Authorizes the Department to assess administrative penalties for the enforcement of the Plant Care Component Program.  Part VII:  Transfers the Hawaii Invasive Species Council from the Department of Land and Natural Resources to the Department.  Part VIII:  Appropriates funds.  (CD1)

Discussed in Hearing

House Floor6MIN
Apr 30, 2025

House Floor

Conference Committee13MIN
Apr 25, 2025

Conference Committee

Conference Committee1MIN
Apr 24, 2025

Conference Committee

Conference Committee1MIN
Apr 22, 2025

Conference Committee

House Standing Committee on Finance3MIN
Feb 20, 2025

House Standing Committee on Finance

House Standing Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs14MIN
Feb 11, 2025

House Standing Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs

House Standing Committee on Agriculture & Food Systems8MIN
Jan 29, 2025

House Standing Committee on Agriculture & Food Systems

View Older Hearings

News Coverage:

HB 427: DOA; Biosecurity Emergency Declaration; Quarantine; Transitional Facilities; Certified Biosecurity Compliance Auditors; Penalties; Readiness and Response Agreements; Pest Dashboard; Biosecurity and Pest Management Plans; Plant Care Component Program; Hawaii Invasive Species Council; Rules; Appropriations | Digital Democracy