House Standing Committee on Agriculture & Food Systems

Good morning. I'd like to call the joint committees on Agriculture and Food Systems and Energy and Environmental Protection to order. This is our Friday, February 6, 9am agenda and we are in State Capitol in conference room 325. Just want to go over some ground rules before we get started.

So because morning hearings must adjourn prior to floor session, all testifiers may have the opportunity to testify in that event. Please know that your written testimony may be considered by the Committee in order to allow as many people to testify as possible. There will be a 2 limit 2 minute time limit per testifier.

For those on Zoom, please keep yourself muted and your video off while waiting to testify. After your testimony is complete, Zoom chat function will allow you to chat with the technical staff only. Please use the chat only for technical issues. If you are disconnected unexpectedly, you may attempt to rejoin the meeting.

If disconnected while presenting testimony, you may be allowed to continue if time permits. Please note the House is not responsible for any bad Internet connections on the testifier's hand. In the event of a network failure, it may be necessary to reschedule the hearing or schedule a meeting for decision making.

In that case, an appropriate notice will be posted. Please avoid using any trademarked or copyrighted images if you're using a Zoom background and please refrain from profanity or uncivil behavior. Such behavior may be grounds for removal from the hearing without the ability to rejoin.

Finally, just a note, we have a new microphone system for those new to this conference room. So just know that the microphones are in the ceiling and they are hot at all times, so side conversations may be picked up. Now let's get on to our agenda. So we have three measures on our agenda.

First up, we have House Bill 1621, relating to agriculture. This Bill establishes a conservation, agriculture and soil health incentive program within the Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation Commission, requires an annual report to the Legislature and appropriates funds. First up we have to testify is Leah Laramie, Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation Commission.

Aloha Chairs, Vice Chairs Mahalo for the opportunity to stand on our testimony in support. Available for questions.

Thank you. We have Parwinder Grewal, University of Hawaii.

Chairs, Vice Chairs and the Members of the Committee. We stand on our written testimony for this Bill in support. This is a very important Bill and we have a lot of work in terms of soil health and soil analysis. We are also restarting our soil analysis lab. That service will be available from April 1. Thank you.

Next we have Ann Frederick, Hawaii Alliance for Progressive Action.

Aloha Chairs, Vice Chairs, Anne Frederick, on behalf of HAPA. We stand on our testimony in support.

Thank you. Next we have Hunter Heaivilin, Hawaii Farmers Union.

Chair, Vice Chairs Hunter Hevlin on behalf of Hawaii Farmers Union. This is a measure we are in strong support of. We've been advocating for the establishment of a healthy sales program for about half a decade now and have found a welcome partner in the Climate Commission who recently administered the climate Smart Pilot programs.

And they have the administrative capacity, some of the budding relationships with producers across the state to see this program move forward successfully. So hope to see it pass this year. Thank you.

Thank you.

Next we have Brian Miyamoto, Hawaii Farm Bureau.

Good morning Chairs, Vice Chairs, Brian Miyamoto here on behalf of the Hawaii Farm Bureau. We'll stand on a written testimony in support.

Thank you. Next we have Mariana Onasi, I said the correct, on zoom. Not present. Okay, that's everyone I have who registered to testify in person or online. Is there anyone else wishing to testify on this measure? Seeing none, Members any questions? Seeing none. Let's move on to the next measure.

Next up we have House Bill 1880 relating to pesticides, beginning on January 1, 2027, which prohibits the use or application of the pesticide containing 13 dichloropropene as an active ingredient, such as Taylon. First we have up to testify is Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity.

Good morning, Chair, Vice Chair, Members of the Committee Han Lo Plant Pest Control Branch Manager, Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity. We stand on our written testimony and available for questions. Thank you.

Next we have Annie Frederick. HAPA.

Good morning, Chair, Vice Chair, Member of the Committee. So since the RUP reporting data has been made available pursuant to Act 45 starting in 2019, we have been doing a very detailed analysis that data and GIS mapping it by parcels across the state.

And what we have found particularly is that fumigants are consistently the most heavily applied and specifically the active ingredient In T alone 1, 3D is the most heavily applied RUP across the state. What we've also learned is that it is really only applied by two users, but excessively heavily, anywhere between 100,000 to 200,000 across the state.

In particular, the region between Waialua and Wahiawa from north central Oahu is the most heavily applied area. We know that this particular fumigant is highly prone to drift. California has been tracking, doing drip monitoring around this particular fumigant and other fumigants for many years.

And what they found is that even kind of small amounts can drift miles off site and cause harms. There's different kinds of harms that we can look at particular to this chemical. Acute harms would be kind of severe respiratory impacts, nosebleeds, nausea, things like that.

But what we often see is what we often don't notice more are these kind of more chronic low level exposures that people are not used to detecting which can lead to cancers over time. Which is why California has actually listed it as a known carcinogen in Prop 65.

So I think out of an abundance of caution, given that there were two users primarily using it across the state, I believe that the user on Maui has transitioned away. I think it would be a prudent choice to protect public health and ban this chemical at this time. Thank you.

Thank you. Next we have Hunter Heaivilin Hawaii Farmers Union.

Stand on our written testimony in support.

Brian Miyamoto, Hawaii Farm Bureau.

Thank you, chair. The Hawaii Farm Bureau will stand on its written testimony in proposition.

Thank you. Next we have Mariana Molassi, Nathan Kuble on zoom, Janet Ashman on zoom.

Good morning chairs, vice chairs and representative Members of the committees. I am here to provide support to Brian Miyamoto of the Hawaii Farm Bureau and answer any questions that you may have.

Thank you. And we have a testimony from Miley Rist. It's all the individuals I have registered to testify in person online. Is there anyone else wishing to testify on this measure? Seeing none. Members, any questions? Questions? I have one. Go ahead Vice Chair.

So maybe Hunter or climate. Let me start with you, Hunter. Sure.

Hawaii Farmers Union. Sorry. I notice you know this is typically used for like Sweet Potato Ground products, pineapples and such. I know those same products are grown in Hamakua in the district I represent and they don't use pesticide.

I noticed they use a crop rotation method and it does render the ground kind of fallow for four months at a time while it recovers. And it's a cycle of growth that knocks down the nematodes and then knocks down another insect. I'm sorry, I'm not super familiar, but it's a sweet potato ginger fallow rotation.

Do you have any background or knowledge or how effective that is in knocking down nematodes?

It seems like you're well seated as the vice chair of the Ag Committee. Crop rotation is a long running technique for moderating pests in agricultural systems

And for eons it has been recognized as a mechanism of both building soil health and breaking the patterns that sustain the capacity for certain pest species to pop up and to sustain themselves.

In the case of industrial and monocropping the desire is to maintain productivity of a certain species on a certain parcel of land year over year over year.

The desire to allow the capacity then to build into the economic structure of the firms who are pursuing that is usually saying we don't want to fallow or we'd rather not or in some cases, even if there are fallowing and fields move around, the persistence of certain pests has led to the adoption of some of these chemical techniques where otherwise agroecological production methods that previously for again centuries, millennia helped manage some of those problems.

So we view this as an opportunity to nudge, you know, production towards the adoption of these conservation agricultural practices. And I think the first measure that we heard around a healthy soils program is indicative. Right.

What studied soil tests have shown is that the legacy of industrial cropping, even if it ceased decades ago, is still present in soil quality today.

So this is a permanent degradation or a near permanent degradation of soil health that requires us and the state then to take it upon itself to clean up to some degree after these industrial practices.

And as the history of particularly large scale agriculture has shown, when the economic winds shift, people leave the Hawaii as a market and we're then left to clean up the mess.

So I think as a mechanism to push production in towards more conservation agriculture practices that can serve our natural resources while still supporting the production that's happening, we view this as an opportunity to do that.

Okay, well I guess you're the right person to ask that question. Thank you.

Members, any other questions? Seeing none. Let's move on to the last measure. Next, we have House Bill 1831 relating to agriculture lands. Authorizes and provides funding for the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity in coordination with relevant state agencies to identify and resolve survey deficiencies and wastewater compliance issues on nonagricultural parklands, appropriates funding.

First up, we have the Attorney General's Office, comments.

Good morning. Kelsey Nagata, Deputy Attorney General, providing comments on HB 1831. The Bill, as written, may violate the contract clause of the US Constitution. There are some suggested revisions in our written testimony and I'm available for any questions. Thank you.

Thank you. We have Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity.

Good morning, Chairs, Vice Chairs, Rep. Matsumoto. Cedric Gates here on behalf of Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity. The Department supports the intent of this measure and offer comments, and we appreciate the author of this measure to assist...with the ag leases. Mahalo.

Thank you. Brian Miyamoto, Hawaii Farm Bureau.

Thank you, Chair. The Hawaii Farm Bureau will stand on its written testimony in support.

Thank you. That's all I have who registered to testify in person or on Zoom. Is there anyone else wishing to testify on this measure? Seeing none. Members, any questions? Seeing none.

We'll take a short recess. Recess.

Okay, we're reconvening our joint committee's decision making. So, first up, we have House Bill 1621, related to agriculture. Chair's recommendation is to—we're going to pass out a House draft one and we're just going to blank out the appropriation amounts and insert them into the Committee Report and change the effective date to July 1st, 3000.

Any questions, comments, or concerns? Seeing none.

[Roll Call]

And Committee on Energy and Environmental Protection, same recommendations.

[Roll Call]

Moving on to the next measure, House Bill 1880, relating to pesticides. So, I think this is important conversation and I want to keep this moving. So, I'm going to recommend you pass out a House draft one, and we're just going to change the effective date to July 1st, 3000, for further discussion. Any questions, comments, or concerns?

Seeing none. Vice Chair.

[Roll Call]

And Committee on Energy and Environmental Protection, same recommendation.

[Roll Call]

Okay, thank you. And last up, we have House Bill 1831 relating to agriculture lands. Recommendation is to pass out a House draft one. They're going to take the amendment recommended by the Attorney General's Office and change the effective date to July 1st, 3000. Questions, comments, or concerns? Seeing none.

[Roll Call]

Committee on Energy and Environmental Protections, same recommendations.

[Roll Call]

Alright. Thank you, Members, Chair Lowen. This object committee is adjourned.

Good morning. Okay, so we're now starting our Committee on Agriculture and Food Systems 9:01 agenda. This is our Friday, February 6th agenda. We are at the State Capitol in room 325.

And first up on our agenda, we have House Bill 1572 relating to aquaculture development. Requires the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity to establish a four-year restorative aquaculture development program to reduce aquaculture permit processing time, support aquaculture infrastructure expansion, increase the aquaculture workforce, and pursue federal aquaculture grants.

Establish three pilot demonstration sites for restorative aquaculture and convene Restorative Aquaculture Advisory Council. Requires reports to the Legislature and appropriates departments. First up to testify on this measure is Deputy Attorney General, Attorney General's Office.

Good morning. Kelsey Nakata, Deputy Attorney General, providing comments on HB 1572. As a technical drafting matter, the Bill doesn't specify whether the members of the council should serve with or without compensation. We've provided some recommendations in our written testimony and I'm available for any questions. Thank you.

We have Charlie Taylor, Department of Land and Natural Resources.

Aloha, Chair, Vice Chair, Members of the Committee. Charlie Taylor, DLNR's Division of Aquatic Resources. We stand on our written testimony providing comments and we do note and understand that this permitting aquaculture permitting process can be kind of daunting or challenging sometimes, so, we do support efforts to streamline that.

And we are also in supportive, especially in support of restorative aquaculture in the state and increasing that. So, be available for questions.

Next we have Brian Miyamoto, Hawaii Farm Bureau.

Thank you, Chair. The Hawaii Farm Bureau will stand on its written testimony providing comments.

Thank you very much. Next, we have Hunter Hevlin, Hawaii Farmers Union.

Thank you, Chair. We'll stand on our written testimony.

Thank you very much. Okay, that's all the people I have who registered to testify in person or online. Is there anyone else who wishes to testify this measure? Oh, did I miss you?

Hello, Chair, Vice Chair, Member of the Committee. Cedric Gates here on behalf of the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity. Chair, I know it's a Friday. We want to go home already, but we're here to testify in support of this measure. We appreciate the author introducing this. Here for any questions. Mahalo.

Thank you. Sorry about that. Anyone else wishing to testify in this measure? Seeing none. Members, any questions?

I have a question for Mr. Lowe. Thank you. So, I guess my question is there were a couple of testimonies submitted that had had questions around the perceived hyperfocus or exclusive focus on restorative aquaculture, and I was hoping that maybe you could speak to why it might be important to in particular support restorative aquaculture, especially if it's being linked to the green bee mechanism.

Department of Agriculture thanks, Representative, for the question. Yes, traditionally, it's focused on our commercial industry and restorative aquaculture is a new area. It's growing globally. But we need to—I believe we need to provide a framework so that we can put resources to it.

It doesn't get kind of mixed into the other commercial aquaculture type of topics and give it the resources and focus it needs to grow.

Thank you. Thank you, Chair. That's all.

Let's move on to the next measure. Next up we have House Bill 2119 relating to coffee pest control. Temporarily reestablishes the coffee and coffee as assigned subsidy program and the program manager position, including the position civil service and collective bargaining laws. Exemption requires the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity to report to the Legislature.

Appropriates funds for the operation and implementation of the pesticide subsidy program. First up, you have to testify. Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity.

Thank you, Chair. Department stands on certain testimony in support of this measure. Here for any question.

Thank you. Next we have Suzanne Schreiner, Hawaii Coffee Association, support Brian Miyamoto, Hawaii Farm Bureau.

Thank each other. Hawaii Farm Bureau stand on this written testimony in support.

Thank you. Hunter Hevlin, Hawaii Farmers Union Chair.

Hawaii Farmers Union sent on its written testimony and support.

Thank you. We have Victoria Mania. on Zoom not present. That's all. I have registered to testify in person or on Zoom. Is there anyone wishing to testify in this measure? Seeing none. Members, any questions? Seeing none. Let's move on to the next measure.

Next up, we have House Bill 2139, relating to invasive species. Incorporates funds to the University of Hawaii to conduct a study on effective treatment methods to reduce populations of Queensland Longhorn Beetle. First up we have to testify is Patrick Chee, DLNR.

Aloha, Chair, Vice Chair, Representative Perruso. The Department of Land and Natural Resources and the Hawaiian Invasive Species Council supports this measure. The Queensland Longhorn Beetle, also known as--well, I'm not good at the Latin name there--but in any case, it has a very wide number of species that it is known to affect, 20 odd so far, likely to be more.

So definitely, we need more research and tools in order to address it. You can see our testimony regarding the limitations of what we have. There's only really one measure that has been somewhat effective against Queensland Longhorn Beetle and potentially, you know, using extraordinary means in order to try and get rid of it. So if we can have more research done in order to address this, we would appreciate that. So thank you for the opportunity.

Thank you. Next we have Dean Grewal, University of Hawaii.

Chair, Vice Chair, thank you for the opportunity for providing this testimony. We are in support of this work, and we have the capacity to do it, and I'm here for any questions. Thank you.

Next we have Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity.

Morning, Chair, Vice Chair. The department stands on its testimony. Thank you.

Next we have Brian Miyamoto, Hawaii Farm Bureau.

Thank you, Chair, Vice Chair, period. Brian Miyamoto, here on behalf of the Hawaii Farm Bureau. You have our written testimony in support. We're planning on standing on this testimony. However, as a word of caution, here we go with another pest. I know not a lot of people are familiar with this pest.

As we're researching the testimony and the bill, as you see in our testimony, I believe it started in Puna in maybe 2009, expanded its host range, is now established in Hilo and throughout the Hamakua Coast, with confirmed presence as far north as Honoka'a and Ahualoa. So here we go again. That's why we need to address invasive species and biosecurity. We keep getting new incidents of pests, and they start somewhere.

If we don't react, then they're going to spread, and they're going to go to neighbor islands, and then it's another pest that's going to have additional funding requests and resources. So we need to address this pest.

And maybe I should have spoken before on the other bills, but that's where all tools, including pesticides, as in the previous bill, studied, data-driven, scientific facts can help address some of these concerns and provide the tools that our farmers, our ranchers, our state can for conservation land, our environmentalists, and our homeowners as far as with termites and pest control, structural pests need in order to combat this.

We live in the Middle Pacific and we're getting more and more pests coming here, and we need those tools, and we need to stop invasive species, so appreciate the Legislature's support and funding. We request more funding, and we need to address invasive species now. We're in a crisis. Thank you for the opportunity to testify.

Thank you. Next, we have Hunter Hevlin, Hawaii Farmers Union.

Chair, we'll stand on our written testimony in support of the first half of the previous testifier's oral testimony.

Next we have Franny Brewer, Big Island Invasive Species Committee. Not present. We have Emma Stierhoff on Zoom.

Good morning, Chair, Vice Chairs, and members of the committee. My name is Emma Stierhoff. I'm the lead ecological technician under the Liko Na Pilina Forest Restoration Project at the University of Hawaii.

We've been working pretty extensively on the nematode biocontrol, testing it at our forest site and working with BIISC and USDA to scale up to the necessary level. I'm here today to express my support of HB 2139, which will allocate more funding to essential research needed to address the growing threat posed by QLB in Hawaii.

As it spreads across East Hawaii, it has been devastating to farmers who are losing cacao, citrus, avocado, and the known host range for this plant is continuously expanding. We've also seen ecological consequences at our restoration site in Keaukaha, where we've seen widespread mortality of kukui and ulu, which are key canopy species at our restoration site.

And the death of these trees allows for other invasive plants to move in without that shade from those trees. We need to address this issue so that we can mitigate harm of QLBs to local farms, forests, and community spaces. And the nematode biocontrol offers a really promising solution.

These locally isolated nematodes can be directly injected into the trees where they hunt down the QLB larva and kill them within the tree. Research that we did on kukui and ulu in the summer of 2025 found that, in most cases, this nematode treatment either reduced or completely eliminated QLB infection.

And also, numerous accounts from local farmers and growers reflect the effectiveness of this treatment. These are also non-toxic, so they're safe to their human handlers and other organisms like cattle. So this gives us a really good opportunity to proactively control QLB before it continues to spread across Hawaii and potentially to other islands.

But we do need to invest more in this biocontrol in order to implement it at the necessary scale. It remains very time-intensive, and often more than one treatment is required to completely eliminate QLB in the tree.

So it is essential that we invest in research on more efficient treatment methods, the life cycle of the Queensland Longhorn Beetle, which we currently know very little about here in Hawaii, and also increase nematode rearing so that it can be scaled to match the community need. This research will contribute to reducing QLB populations in East Hawaii and support growers in protecting their trees using a non-toxic method.

Also, this low-cost scalable treatment will be really valuable if QLB does make it to other islands. I am available to answer any questions you may have, and I encourage you to vote in favor of HB 2139. Mahalo for your time.

Thank you. Next we have Carey Yost on Zoom.

Aloha. I have submitted written testimony that gives firsthand farmer experience with using the nematodes and in actually trying to hold back QLB from our small orchard. We have problems with things like fallow orchards and fallow lands, which the state owns some of, that keep re-infesting. So it's not just that one or two applications. It's a continual thing.

Right now we cannot get the nematodes that we rely on because there is so little production right now. We need funding. I have submitted testimony that shows that this is infesting host plants that include native canoe, culturally significant, agriculturally significant, and ornamental trees used around Hawaii.

If we allow this to spread, it will be orders of magnitude worse than CRB, and I'm not saying that facetiously. It literally is orders of plants that this is taking in the list that I have supplied, which includes-- I'm sorry, I actually did accidentally put a couple duplicates.

But even with duplicates, there are over a dozen orders of plants that this QLB right now is infesting, and that list increases every year. This is affecting farmers, impacting us so significantly. It is constant work. We need more support from our state on this. I stand in favor of this House measure.

Thank you very much. Thanks for sharing. Okay, that's all I have registered to testify in person or online. Is there anyone else wishing to testify on this measure?

I'm hoping to testify.

Okay, sure. Go ahead.

Aloha, mai kakou. My name is Lilah Shapiro, and I am from Puna, Hawaii. I also work alongside Emma Stierhoff with Liko Na Pillina, and I've been working hands on with using nematodes as a biocontrol for QLB. I strongly support HB 2139. This bill will allow us at the University of Hawaii at Hilo to continue research on the effectiveness of nematodes.

This biocontrol offers an opportunity to finally be proactive about managing an invasive species before it's too late and spreads to other islands like we have seen with Coconut Rhinoceros Beetle. I've seen firsthand the devastating impact QLB has had on our forests.

At our restoration site, as Emma said, we've lost many canopy trees, and with this new type of treatment, we've been able to see trees that have been insanely infected with oozing infection all over and no leaves make a complete recovery after having this treatment applied. And it feels really significant to finally have a tool that is working towards fighting an invasive species and I think we should not take that for granted.

And we still have so many questions to answer. This bill would allow us to research the best methods for applying this biocontrol so it can be scaled up for farmers with hundreds of trees and for other community members.

This would be extremely important to have, as Emma said, if it continues to spread, and it's vital to protect the economic vitality of Hawaii's agricultural sector and reduce long-term costs to local growers. A really rewarding part of this project has been working with farmers and community members who have experienced devastating losses from QLB.

Talking to them and seeing their relief when they learn this treatment works shows how urgent this crisis is and how a solution would mean so much to our communities. It has also shown how important it is to be able to scale up this treatment.

We have also worked with students at Hawaii Academy of Arts and Sciences, and working with them hands on treating the trees and collecting long-term data has shown them how everyone has a kuleana in protecting our ecosystems and that we can all be a part of the science behind it.

I've gotten to hear the excitement in their voices when they report back to me that their trees are doing better, so this is getting them direct experience in science and aloha in a work. However, we need more funding in order to continue the work doing outreach and also scaling up this project and researching the many questions that we still have about how this biocontrol works.

Taking action against QLB is essential to our environmental health, local food security, and cultural heritage. HB 2139 would make a meaningful difference in our community for generations to come. Mahalo for your commitment to supporting us and Hawaii's agricultural communities.

Thank you for your testimony. Is there anyone else wishing to testify on this measure? Seeing and hearing none. And, members, any questions?

Yeah, for Professor Grewal. Thank you. So I was looking, in the bill you have a specific dollar value. Is that for the research or is that for a position?

That's for research.

As far as I know.

Research.

Okay. And you think that's enough? Because I know, like, the nematode research-- the nematode biocontrol right now is, like, it's great if you have a kukui nut tree, or a avocado tree, or ulu, but if you have 2,000 coffee or cacao trees, you know, like, it's unrealistic to hit, you know, five different spots on hundreds of trees. Is there any other biocontrol that you guys have started to uncover or is this really it?

So right now, much of the research is focused on this particular nematode species which is already endemic to Hawaii. And there can be other species that can be more effective, but they are not endemic here, and it's hard to bring them many years in the past. Humanity has tried.

I think there is a little bit of research on fungi as well, but this beetle is embedded into the tissue and it becomes harder. You know, other than that, it be systemic pesticides.

And that's-- what is that, Infectomin? Or what is that?

Yeah, Imidacloprid would be one of those pesticides, but then when you want to eat, then there are restrictions of how long.

Okay. And so the 138,000 is enough to conduct your nematode research--

Already reset the moment to testing stage, and if it works, then I think the production of nematodes have to be accomplished locally as we cannot bring in these nematodes, nematode products. So then there may be a larger ask, but right now it is the testing.

Okay. And some of your research--I'm sorry, Chair. Some of your research will also indicate to-- because it is-- I think the second to last testifier brought up, you know, it does hit a wide variety of trees, and I see the UH Hilo farm, like all the kukui nut trees are just-- they're barkless and dead.

Getting it off Hawaii, out of East Hawaii, is there any kind of control methods that you'll be looking at beyond just biocontrol, but from, like, limiting-- you know with CRB, it's movement of mulch. Or is it just hatch, fly, move on? Is that the primary?

Yeah, for this beetle, it is more control in wherever the trees are. It's not so much like where it can, you know, breed in other places it's more attached to.

So it needs a host tree and then it needs to fly to find another host tree? Okay. Thank you.

Thank you. Any other questions? Seeing none. Let's move on to the next measure. Next up we have House Bill 2459 relating to the Food and Product Innovation Network. Requires the Food and Product Innovation Network to integrate a coordinated food safety and regulatory framework.

Requires the Agribusiness Development Corporation to establish performance performance indicators for the Food and Product Innovation Network. Develop a market access strategy. Find and harmonize state branding initiatives. Report certain data to the Legislature. Requires the Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism to evaluate or adopt enterprise zone initiatives to all counties.

First up to testify we have Dane Wicker. Good morning Chair, Vice Chair. Members of the Committee, Deputy Director Dylan Rickard db. And we stand on our testimony and support. Thank you. Next we have Department of Health, Environmental Health Administration.

Good morning, Chair, vice chair, Members of the Committee, Matt Carrano, Department of Health, Environmental Health Services Division. We stand in our on our testimony and support. Happy to work and collaborate with ADC and others on food security for Hawaii. Big social determinant of health. Here for questions.

Thank you.

Thank you. Next we have Dean Greenwald, University of Hawaii.

Chair, Vice chair. Thank you for the opportunity to provide comments. And we stand on unwritten comments and are here to answer any questions.

Thank you. We have Wendy Gady, Agribusiness Development Corporation.

Good morning, Chair, Vice chair, Member of the Committee. I'm Wendy Gady with adc. I'm the Executive Director and I'm very proud to introduce you to our Climate resilient Food and Product Innovation Network manager. This is the face that's going to. Make this Bill happen. And we stand in strong support.

And if you have any questions, we're here to answer.

Next we have Craig Nakamoto, hcda. Brian Miyamoto, Hawaii Farm Bureau.

Thank you, Chair. The Hawaii Farm Bureau will stand on its written testimony and support. Thank you.

Next we have Hunter Hevlin, my farmers union. Thank you, Chair. Farmers union stands on expert testimony and support. Okay, that's all I have registered to testify in person or online. Is there anyone else wishing to testify on this measure? Seeing none. Members, any questions?

Seeing none.

Let's move on to the next measure. Next up, we have House Bill 2194 relating to lay requires and establishes benchmarks for each state Executive agency to ensure that a certain percentage of lay purchased by that Executive agency consists of lay entirely of natural objects and plant material grown, harvested and assembled in the state.

Establishes labeling requirements for Ray and yes, first up we have to testify is state procurement office on zoom.

Good morning, Chair, vice chair, Member of the Committee, Bonnie Kui for the State Procurement Office. We will stand on our written testimony and we're available for questions. Thank you.

Thank you. Next we have Richard Cohen, Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity.

Thank you, Chair. The Department stands on its written testimony. It's part of this measure here. For any questions, follow.

Oh, I have you twice. Twice. Okay, let see.

We have Meline McKe, council on behalf of client Council standing on our written testimony.

All right, next we have Brian Miyamoto, Hawaii Farm Bureau.

Thank you, chair. The Hawaii Farm Bureau will stand on its written testimony in support.

Next we have Hunter Hein Way Farmers Union. Farmers Union stands on its writ of testimony as well. That's all I have. Who registered to testify in person or on Zoom. Is there anyone else wishing to testify on this measure? Seeing none remembers any questions. Okay. I have a question for Bonnie of State Procurement Office. She's still there.

Good morning. Yes, I'm still here. Good morning, Chair.

Good morning. So I was. I was going over testimony, and one of the things trying to get maybe more clarification on was the suggestion to try to harmonize the proposal in this measure to 103D, the state procurement code. Is there any specifics from that that you could share about how we could accomplish that?

There's no specifics at this time. We will have to probably promulgate rules for that, and that's done before the Procurement Policy Board. And of course, as the Bill passes, we would put out circulars to all the departments and other jurisdictions informing of them of the passage of the rule and that and that rules will be forthcoming.

All right, thank you. All right, seeing no further questions, let's move on to our last measure. House Bill 2561, relating to feral animals. Designates feral chickens on public lands in a city with a population of 300,000 or more as a controllable pest for purposes of health prevention.

Prohibits the intentional keeping, maintaining, or supporting of feral chickens on social, state or certain city lands, including by feeding and placing chickens in such areas. Prohibits the abandonment of chickens on public lands or on private property without consent. Establishes fines and authorizing enforcement, enforcing agencies. First up to testify, we have Department of Health, Environmental Health Administration.

Good morning, Chair, vice Chair, Members of the Committee, Matt Crono, Department of Health, Environmental Health Services Committee, Committee, Health Services Division. We support the measure. We just want to kind of clarify that while, you know, we really do support animal control as part of public health, we're not an animal control agency. So here for any questions.

Thank you.

Next we have Kathy Gogo at Animal Rights Hawaii on Zoom. Opposition, Brian Miyamoto, Hawaii Farm Bureau.

Thank you, Chair. The Hawaii Farm Bureau will stand on this for good testimony and support.

Thank you. Next we have Hunter Haviland Way Farmers Union.

Farmers Union stands on his testimony and support.

Thank you. Next we have Noel Kakimoto on Zoom. Present, we have Kathleen Canopen on Zoom. Apologize if I got that wrong or mispronounced.

Hi. Yes, good morning. Yes, I oppose the Bill. Aloha. I am here to give my experience. I go by Kai. My name is Kai Kwanoi, testifying in opposition to House Bill 2561. I grew up in Miami in neighborhoods where.

Where free roaming chickens and roosters are part of cultural identity in places like Galle Ocho or Little Havana and Key West. They're respected, protected, and they're managed through education and humane partnerships. And those approaches work.

The chickens here in Hawaii were brought here from the first Polynesians back in 300 to 800 AD and they even have their own word for them, MOA for chicken. I believe this Bill puts new enforcement burdens on Honolulu Police Department and the Department of Land and Natural Resources.

Right now, the Bill says those agencies, quote, may coordinate with animal welfare partners and public health partners. And, quote, the. I guess the word for may is not really saying that you should work with those partners. And in the Bill, it says that a lot. The words may.

To my knowledge, right now, those agencies are stretched thin, and I believe they should coordinate with those partners. If not, this will lead to increased chicken abandonment and I believe make the problem worse. Allowing untrained residents to humanely control chickens creates safety risks and. And will lead to community conflict.

I believe there are better options, egg removal programs that we can include in this Bill. Partnerships with farmers supported by small incentives. I've said this in my written testimony. Maybe tax credits, feedings that they can receive per hen, improved waste management, of course, and just public education in General.

I respectfully asked the Committee to reconsider this Bill and pursue a more effective, educative and culturally aware solution, as the Hawaiians say, which means do not disrespect the land. Mahalo for your time and consideration.

Thank you. Next we have Gregory Masikian on zoom.

Aloha Chair, Vice chair. Members of the Committee, I am in opposition to HB 2561, and I would like to point out that the Animal Law section of the State Bar association is also opposing this measure. I'll share very briefly with you. I did put it in my testimony in 2023.

I spent literally an entire day saving a rooster that was shot behind where I live with a pellet gun. He was shot three times with pellets. And I had X rays taken. And I was able to get the Aloha bird rescue group to take him to have a surgery to rehab him.

And he, you know, the last I heard, he was doing well. He had a. A hen that was sharing his cage, and he seemed to be happy. I would ask that when you look at this issue, you know, I understand that there's a concern with noise. I have that concern, too, with the roosters.

But what we want to do is be humane. And when I went to save that rooster, again, this was an entire day of my. My life that I spent on this when he was looking at me and I could see he was severely injured. There was aloha in his eyes and there was aloha in his spirit.

And I just asked that all Members of this Committee have that aloha when they look at a Bill like this and they make a decision on the repercussions. Because I do believe there will be further animal cruelty and you'll be classifying a chicken. You know, remember Easter, there's little baby chickens the children see.

You'll be classifying that chicken as a pest, as something that can just be exterminated. And I don't agree with that. So again, please have aloha spirit. Thank you.

Thank you for your testimony. We also have testimony from Brian Burns from Troopers Chicken Rescue on Zoom.

Morning. Mr. Chair, Vice Chair, Members of the Committee, my name is Brian Burns and I'm the President, founder of Troopers Chicken Rescue, a 501c3 nonprofit organization located here in Oahu. We respectfully urge this body to oppose HB 2561 in its current form and instead partner with those already working to solve this issue compassionately, responsibly and effectively.

This Bill proposes prohibiting the feeding or supporting of feral chickens on public lands and establishes escalating fines for those who do. But it is important to pause and consider what that truly means in practice. The individuals most likely to be punished under this legislation are not the ones breeding, dumping or exploiting these animals.

More often they are the residents stopping their cars, carrying water in the heat, or attempting in small but meaningful ways to reduce suffering where formal infrastructure does not yet exist. When public policy begins to penalize compassion, it is an appropriate moment to step back and reconsider whether the approach lines with our shared values and long term goals.

Across Hawaii, there is already a quiet but formidable force prepared to help address this challenge. An army of volunteers, veterinary professionals, students, rescue advocates, community Members, your constituents who are not waiting for permission to care. What we lack is not manpower. What we lack is partnership.

Troopers Chicken Rescue is actively working to secure appropriate land where these birds can be relocated and allowed to live safely with compassionate support. With thoughtful state collaboration, this effort can evolve into a structured population management strategy rather than a series of temporary interventions. Enforcement alone does not reduce populations. Infrastructure does.

It is also critical that we speak candidly about what is driving this crisis. Illegal cockfighting continues to fuel overbreeding and abandonment across our islands. Birds are discarded when they lose value, released when operations are threatened, and left behind when enforcement actions occur. But the consequences extend beyond population numbers.

We are witnessing the normalization of violence in front of our children. Young boys exposed to this culture are increasingly reenacting cruelty themselves. When suffering becomes spectacle, empathy erodes. And that is not the Hawaii we wish to leave to the next generation. This moment presents a clear choice.

We can advance legislation that risks pushing the problem out of sight, or we can build a coordinated system in which law enforcement transfer sees birds to qualified rescue partners. Volunteers operate within a structured framework. Compassionate relocation reduces outdoor populations over time, and education interrupts the cycle of violence before it repeats. This is not enforcement versus compassion.

It is enforcement strengthened by compassion. The Bill itself recognizes the importance of coordination with animal welfare partners. We are simply asking that this coordination be made intentional, supported, and operational so that it can deliver measurable outcomes for our communities. So today, our request is straightforward.

Please do not move forward with a framework that risks punishing empathy while leaving root causes insufficiently addressed. Pause this Bill. Sit down with us. Build a partnership. Create the infrastructure required for a durable solution. Let Hawaii lead with foresight rather than react out of frustration.

When we classify these animals as a nuisance, we risk turning away from Hawaii's ancestral reverence for the sacred moa. And when we punish compassion, we are not protecting our communities. We are undermining the very spirit of Aloha Ina that has guided them for generations. Because history will not remember whether we were tough on this problem.

It will remember whether we were wise enough to solve it. Shelve this Bill. Partner with us. Let us solve this the right way. Mahalo for your time, your service, and your commitment to the values that defend our island. Island.

Thank you for your testimony. We also have Elento on zoom.

Hello, this is Linda.

Can you hear me now? Yes. All right. This is Linda Elento. Thank you for the opportunity to share comments. I live in Kaneohe, and this has been going on for years, off and on. But I want to share somebody who's been here for 40 years.

Right now I need a rooster or roosters that are being fed by neighbors. They're. They're the problem. They cause migraines, can't sleep at night, causes disabilities. It affects my functioning during the day. And I know I'm not the only one in Hawaii that has this problem. We've tried the cages, trying to catch them.

I'm ready to use my BB gun and kill them. I know the last time I read the law, I'm allowed to kill them if I eat them. In our.

In our neighborhood, we also, we were able to have people come kill our pigs because we have Pigs and roosters and chickens, they're allowed to come get them and eat those pigs. We just simply want to get rid of the. The roosters.

And I'd appreciate, if you read my short testimony, be able to provide more information enforcing him. I don't think it's possible to have so many rules about enforcing them, like other people have said. But we have to solve this, the problem, even just in a small scale in, in our neighborhoods that are, you know, 20ft, 100ft, they.

They run around, they roam around, they go off all hours of the night. The roosters, that is. And it just requires somebody to feed them. And they all come. I want to get rid of them. Traps don't work. I'm not able to run after them. My dog can't catch them, but I can hear them.

And it does affect your health. Not just a. A nuisance. Thank you for the time to provide some testimony for you. 8 Bill 1852. I like to ask for a hearing for that, get more input. Basically, it allows someone like me to. To kill it. I mean, we can be humane. I grew up, my grandma had.

We raised chickens and hens for dinner. Every night would go grab one, you ring it by the neck and eat it for dinner. I'm not in the business of doing that and I don't care to. But I do know how to kill quail from the mainland.

Yes, that was to be eaten, but for my sanity and to be able to help my health. For sleeping, it's critical. Thank you.

Thank you for your testimony. Is there anyone else wishing. zero, that's all I had. Who registered to testify in person or online? Is there anyone else wishing to testify in this measure? Anyone else on Zoom? I just want to note we received numerous testimony, mostly in opposition to this measure. Just to note that for the record numbers.

Any questions? Questions? I guess I have a question. And since DOH is the only. Sorry, Matt. That's what we're here for. Background. So I don't know if you can answer this question, but my question is specifically on defining the section in the Bill that defines fro chickens as a controllable pest.

Is that really necessary to enable, I guess, either DLNR or the city to do what they need to do, or is that. Would you happen to know.

So, Matt Cronin, Department of Health, Environmental Health Services Division. I'm not actually able to answer that specifically, but I can shed a little bit of light just because we're one of the agencies and departments that do coordinate on some of the. These responses.

I know that when you use specialized definitions like pests, it puts it in certain categories for certain types of businesses. So it's a very complex kind of network of laws that lays together to protect animal cruelty concerns. Where obviously, I have pets, I've had every manner of pet possible. I love animals, too.

I don't think anyone is advocating to reduce animal protein.

I do think that when it comes to pest control, for instance, and I know Department of Agriculture and others might have an opinion on this, that how we categorize certain types of animals, insects, plants, really defines the tools that we can bring to bear to control them, whether humanely or like in the types of plants.

We don't really talk about humanely for plants, but, you know, the types of control measures that we have. So I do think that it's worth kind of exploring with some of those other agencies that are in the business of animal control, which we're not, if that makes a substantive difference on the tools that they have available.

Because I do think just in working in this community, there is a commonality, which there is recognized. The proliferation of these wild animals and feral animals is a problem, even if not a lot of people have testified in support of that notion.

And I think there's a really underlying strength that we don't want to increase violence towards animals for.

For societal purposes, period, you know, but there has to be some sort of a middle ground and legal mechanisms for people like the other testifier to reduce the impacts it has on, I think, property damage, I think crop damage, I think is.

I would imagine that the agricultural interests here, and certainly for us, we do receive a lot of calls from individuals that are concerned that it is impacting the welfare of their communities. And I think that's like the oh's connection to it. So I apologize. That's a long answer. About whether pest makes a substantive difference.

I do think that that is important.

I can't give you specifically how it's important within the lattice of laws that impact how we do control these feral animals, but we do support, again, kind of a really good middle ground of figuring out the right agencies and partners and others to really reduce the numbers and then control the proliferation of feral animals. Thank you.

All right, thanks.

Okay. I know he didn't testify in this measure, but if you could help answer that question, that'd be really appreciated.

Aloha. The Department of Land and Natural Resources. My name is Chi.

I did the question came in to our division yesterday, and I did a little bit of research, and unfortunately, chickens kind of live in this gray area they are considered either domestic or agricultural and therefore it doesn't really fall under the purview of the Department of Land and Natural Resources unless the Legislature deems it or adds it to say the Department of Agriculture.

There actually is a law within the Department of Agriculture that says that if a feral if an animal goes onto another property or public property and there's this list goats and cows and all these other things but chickens aren't on there and so if that were added to theirs then that would make it active for chickens as well.

But in addition chickens just aren't on the list for any of DLNR laws including our rules because again it lives in this weird gray area of not being wild animal per se. So if the Legislature deems it then it would make it easier for enforcement to happen.

Thanks.

Thank you Members. Any other questions? Seeing none. We're going to take a short recess before going into decision making. Recession.

Okay. We're reconvening the Committee on Agriculture and Food Systems for our 901 Agenda for Decision making. So first up, we have House Bill 1572 relating to aquaculture development. Recommendation of the Chair is to. We're going to pass a House draft one.

We're going to take the AG's amendment, blank out all the appropriation amounts and insert them into the Committee report and change the effective date to July 1st, 3000 for further discussion. Any questions, comments or concerns? Seeing none. Vice Chair for the vote.

Thank you. Chair voting on HB 1572. Chair's recommendation is passed with amendments. Chair and Vice Chair voting aye. Representative Kahlo. Aye. Noting Representative Lowen's excused absence. Representative Peruso. Aye. Representative Quinlan. Aye. Representative Monsimona. Aye. Chair, your recommendation is adopted.

All right, thank you, Members. Next up, we have House Bill 2119 relating to coffee pest control. Recommendation of the Chair is to pass out a House draft one. We're going to blank out the appropriation and insert those amount so into the Committee report and change the effective date to July 1, 3000 for further discussion.

Members, any questions, comments or concerns? Seeing none. Vice Chair.

Thank you. Chair voting on HB 2119. Chair's recommendation is to pass with amendments. Is there any reservations or nays? Seeing none. Chair, your recommendation is adopted.

Thank you. Next, we have House Bill 2139 relating to invasive species rec. Recommendation is to pass out a House draft one. We're going to blank out the appropriation amount, insert it into the Committee report and change the effective date to July 1, 3000 for further discussion. Members, any questions, comments or concerns? Seeing none.

Chair voting on HB 2139. Chair's recommendation is passed with amendments. Chair and Vice Chair voting Aye. Is there any reservations or nays? Seeing none. Chair, your recommendation is adopted. Thank you.

Next, we have House Bill 2459 relating to the Food and Product Innovation Network recommendation. The Chair. We're going to pass out a house draft one. So first we're going to delete section 163F, that new section on page six, which adds an enterprise zone.

So I've conferred with the Chair of Economic Development to address all proposed expansion of enterprise zones in one measure. So that's why we're going to move it. We're also going to add an appropriation and change the effective date to July 1st, 3000 and any technical amendments for clarity, consistency and style. There's Any questions, comments or concerns?

Seeing none.

Thank you. Chair voting on HB 2459. Chair's recommendation is passed with amendments. Chair Vice Chair voting aye. And recognizing the excused absence of representative loan here on out. Is there any nays or reservations saying none? Chair, your recommendation is adopted.

Thank you. Next up, we have House Bill 2194 relating to Lei. Okay, Members, I want to keep this moving, so recommendation is to pass a House draft one. So what we're going to do is we're going to blank out the percentage benchmarks in Section two.

We're also going to blank out the January 1, 2043 date in paragraph B. We're going to conform the term Hawaii maid in Section 3 with the Hawaii Maid Statute in 201-3.5 and change the effective date to July 1, 3000 for further discussion. Members, any questions, comments or concerns? Seeing none, Vice Chair.

Thank you, Chair. Voting on HB 2194. Chair's recommendation is to pass with amendments. Chair and Vice Chair voting Aye. Is there any reservations or nays? Seeing none. Chair, your recommendation is adopted.

Thank you, Members. Next we have House Bill 2561 relating to feral animals. I just want to say thank you to all the people who reached out and submit a testimony on this measure. It's a very heated topic I see among folks.

So what I'm going to try to do is try to balance all these competing issues as best as I can. But my recommendation is to pass out a House draft one.

What we're going to do is in proposed Section four, beginning on page four, I want to include an exemption from feeding, the prohibition of feeding and trapping on public lands for research and rescue activities, provided that approvals are obtained by a state or county agency. I'm going to delete Section 5, which was.

Which was what most of the opposition was concerned about. And instead we will add a part two to this Bill taking language from House Bill 1826 to provide a blank appropriation to the county to set up a collection program for any chickens that are caught.

So instead of allowing people to take care of chickens on their own property and try to define what humane is, which I know is very challenging, we're going to leave it to the professionals and give them a chance or a place to take them instead. That's sort of like our compromise.

I'm also going to change the effective date to July 1st, 3000 and any technical amendments needed. Any questions, comments or concerns? Members seeing none. Yes, sir.

Thank you, Chair voting on HB2561. Chair's recommendation is to pass with amendments. Chair and Vice Chair voting aye Is there any nays or reservations? Seeing none, Chair, your recommendation is adopted.

All right, thank you. And we're going to move on to decision making from our Wednesday, February 4, measures that were heard. So on that agenda we have House Bill 2596 relating to plants. I am going to defer the recommendation to Vice Chair Kush.

Thank you, Chair. I just wanted to say thank you to Invasive Species Council and all those who provided testimony on 2596, which was a plan labeling law. I think it has a lot of benefits and some good strengths, but there was a lot of overhang.

It kind of came together at the end and I want to have it deferred and we'll work on it in the interim. And so I appreciate all everybody's input.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Next we have House Bill 2017 relating to agriculture. So I want to thank the Majority Caucus leader Huang, Farm Bureau DJ Zhou for trying to come up with something workable. So our recommendation is to pass out a House draft one.

And what we're going to do is we're going to take the tax incentives out of the IAL statute and move them into Chapter 235. So DHH will have its own freestanding tax credit with the same benefits.

Also going to change the effective date to July 1st, 3000 and any technical amendments for clarity, consistency and stock questions, comments or concerns.

Okay, voting on. I'm sorry, you didn't ask for questions, did you? No, I did. Sorry. Okay, thanks, sir. Good folks. Voting on HB2017CH, Chair's recommendation is to pass with amendments. Chair and Vice Chair voting aye. Is there any reservations or nays? Seeing none, Chair, your recommendation is adopted. Thank you.

And last up, we have House Bill 1931 relating to agriculture. Okay, Members, I've been working with the introducer on this and I know it's a work in progress, but I still want to see vegan because it has a of lot long way to go. I do think we need to update our noctis release.

That hasn't updated in many, many years. So my recommendation is to pass out a House draft one. So first we're going to clarify that the chairperson of the Board of Agriculture points to the noxious wheat coordinator.

We're going to make the term plant taxa and taxon consistent throughout the Bill and to address some of the concerns raised during the application process for the update, we're going to change it to allow any person to submit a proposal for obnoxious read designation at any time instead of just from January through March.

All Proposals submitted to the board at least 90 days prior to April 1st of each year shall be accepted for review to allow the Coordinator and Advisory Committee on Plants and Animals time to review and make recommendations.

All proposals that meet these criteria shall be acted upon the board within 180 days and after Board action, the noxious weed list will be updated pursuant to Section 1524 and distribution notifications will be in this section.

I also want to put in a reference of the Advisory Committee on Plants and Animals to the entity defined in Section 105A. 10. Change the effective date to 7-1-3000 and any technical amendments for clarity, consistency and style recognition. Any questions, comments or concerns Members? Seeing none, Vice Chair.

Thank you, Chair, voting on HB 1931. Chair's recommendation is passed with amendments. Chair Vice Chair voting Aye. Is there any reservations or nays? Seeing none. Chair your recommendation is adopted.

Thank you, Members. We're adjourned.