SB 658: RELATING TO THE HAWAII ANT LAB.

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:

Appropriates funds to the Department of Agriculture to support the Hawaii Ant Lab in mitigating the effects of little fire ants in the State. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Date	Status
Dec 8, 2025	Carried over to 2026 Regular Session.
Feb 13, 2025	Report adopted; Passed Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referred to WAM.
Feb 13, 2025	Reported from AEN (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 466) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to WAM.
Feb 10, 2025	The committee(s) on AEN recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in AEN were as follows: 5 Aye(s): Senator(s) Gabbard, Richards, DeCoite, Rhoads, Awa; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 0 Excused: none.
Feb 7, 2025	The committee(s) on AEN has scheduled a public hearing on 02-10-25 1:01PM; Conference Room 224 & Videoconference.
Jan 23, 2025	Referred to AEN, WAM.
Jan 17, 2025	Passed First Reading.
Jan 17, 2025	Introduced.

Date	Description	Location	Votes
Feb 10, 2025	The committee(s) on AEN recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS	Senate Standing Committee on Agriculture and Environment	5 0 0 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
Department of Agriculture	** Support
Department of Land and Natural Resources	** Support
Hawaii Invasive Species Council	** Support
Hawaii Ant Lab	** Support
Hawaiʻi Ant Lab	*** Support	Feb 10, 2025
Hawaiʻi Farm Bureau	** Support
Hawaiʻi Farmers Union United	** Support
Ka Ohana O Na Pua	** Support
Ka Ohana O Na Pua	*** Support	Feb 10, 2025
Oʻahu Invasive Species Committee	** Support
The Windward Coalition	*** Support	Feb 10, 2025

* Testimony in a hearing

** Position recorded in bill analysis

*** Position recorded in written testimony

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STAND. COM. REP. NO. 466

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 658

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 S.B. No. 658 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE HAWAII ANT LAB,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to appropriate $1,000,000 to the Department of Agriculture to support the Hawaii Ant Lab in mitigating the effects of little fire ants in the State.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Agriculture, Department of Land and Natural Resources, Hawaii Ant Lab, Hawaii Invasive Species Council, Oʻahu Invasive Species Committee, Hawaiʻi Farm Bureau, Ka Ohana O Na Pua, Hawaiʻi Farmers Union United, and six individuals.

Your Committee finds that little fire ants have caused significant disruption and economic damage on Hawaii Island and that little fire ant infestations on Oahu are currently on the rise. Your Committee further finds that the Hawaii Ant Lab was established in 2009 to address the overwhelming need for research, advice, and technical assistance to address and eradicate rapidly spreading little fire ant infestations. However, reductions in funding for the Hawaii Ant Lab over the years have significantly impacted the Hawaii Ant Lab's research and effectiveness. This measure provides additional support for the Hawaii Ant Lab to fully fund current staff and add new staff; address the short- and long-term needs to control little fire ants; develop new tools to manage more widespread infestations; and increase extension services to support local farms and industries severely impacted by little fire ants.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Changing the appropriation to an unspecified amount; and

(2) Inserting an effective date of July 1, 2050, to encourage further discussion.

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 S.B. No. 658, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 658, 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

Date	Testimony PDF
Feb 10, 2025	SB658_TESTIMONY_AEN_02-10-25_.PDF

Authors shown for version:
SB658_SD1 (2/12/2025)

THE SENATE	S.B. NO.	658
THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2025		S.D. 1
STATE OF HAWAII

THE SENATE	S.B. NO.	658
THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2025
STATE OF HAWAII

INTRODUCED BY:	_____________________________