APRIL 5 UPDATE:

Unfortunately, SB3327 SD2 HD1 and HB2758 HD2 SD1 were not heard in their final committees—meaning that these measures are essentially pau for the session.

While this is disappointing, we are not giving up! There is a lot at stake when it comes to invasive pests and bettering Hawaiʻi’s biosecurity.

Please stay tuned for other ways that we can stop the spread of invasive species.

April 1 update:

It’s crunch time—this Friday is the last day for bills in the 2023-2024 Hawaiʻi Legislature to have their final “standing committee” meeting. SB3237 SD2 HD1 and HB2758 HD2 SD1 need to be heard by this Friday or else they are pau for this session.

Please help keep these bills alive, and stop the further spread of invasive pests that threaten almost every every aspect of our lives in Hawaiʻi. Call or email House Finance Committee Chair, Representative Yamashita and Senate Judiciary Chair Karl Rhoads and Ways and Means Chair Donovan Dela Cruz, and ask that they schedule these critical bills for hearings by the “Decking Deadline.” Sample script below.

Call: Representative Yamashita, (808)586-6200
Email: repyamashita@capitol.hawaii.gov
Email subject: Please hear SB3237 SD2 HD1

Aloha Chair Yamashita,

My name is ____ and I am from ____. I am writing to respectfully but strongly urge you to hold a hearing on SB3237 SD2 HD1, Relating to Agriculture, by Friday’s Decking deadline. Time is of the essence when it comes to slowing the further spread of invasive species. The financial, human, and environmental costs of inaction in the face of our current and future invasive species crises will only increase exponentially and be felt for generations, if we do not adopt the long-needed quarantine, inspection, licensing, pest designation, and importation protections and controls embodied in this measure.

This measure is critical to giving the Department of Agriculture the tools and resources it needs to control and eradicate invasive pest species that may impact every aspect of life here in Hawaiʻi.

Mahalo nui for your consideration of this request.

HB2758 HD2 SD1

Call: Senator Dela Cruz, (808)586-6090; Senator Rhoads, (808)586-6130
Email: sendelacruz@capitol.hawaii.gov, senrhoads@capitol.hawaii.gov
Email subject: Please hear HB2758 HD2 SD1

Aloha Chair Dela Cruz and Chair Rhoads,

My name is ____ and I am from ____. I am writing to respectfully but strongly urge you to hold a hearing on HB2758 HD2 SD1, Relating to Agriculture, by Friday’s Decking deadline. Time is of the essence when it comes to slowing the further spread of invasive species. The financial, human, and environmental costs of inaction in the face of our current and future invasive species crises will only increase exponentially and be felt for generations, if we do not adopt the long-needed quarantine, inspection, licensing, pest designation, and importation protections and controls embodied in this measure.

Mahalo nui for your consideration of this request.

March 20 update:

SB3237 SD2 HD1 was passed out of the House Consumer Protection & Commerce Committee on Wednesday with amendments.

The measure now needs to be heard in its final committee, the House Finance Committee. Stay tuned for our next chance to protect our islands from the further spread of invasive pests!

MARCH 18 update:

Exciting news! The Senate omnibus invasive species measure, SB3237 SD2 HD1, has now been scheduled for a hearing before the House Consumer Protection & Commerce Committee on Wednesday at 2 p.m. While this latest draft no longer authorizes the invasive species committees or Hawaiʻi Ant Lab to implement eradication and control programs in the event that the Hawaiʻi Department of Agriculture fails to do so, it still contains a myriad of other long-needed and critically necessary inspection, import, quarantine, licensing, and pest designation authorities that can give our communities a fighting chance at detecting, controlling, and eradicating invasive species like the coconut rhinoceros beetle, little fire ant, and coqui frog. Please take a moment to help protect our islands and future generations from a pest-infested landscape by submitting testimony in support of this bill! Sample testimony and testimony instructions below.

Sample testimony

Aloha Chair Nakashima, Vice Chair Sayama, and Members of the Committee,

My name is ___ and I am from ___, and I STRONGLY SUPPORT SB3237 SD2 HD1.

We cannot wait any longer before giving the Department of Agriculture the tools and resources it needs to control and eradicate invasive pest species that may impact every aspect of life here in Hawaiʻi, including our environment, food security, cultural integrity, economy, and overall quality of life. The financial, human, and environmental costs of inaction in the face of our current and future invasive species crises will only increase exponentially and be felt for generations, if we do not adopt the long-needed quarantine, inspection, licensing, pest designation, and importation protections and controls embodied in this measure.

Please pass this bill to give our islands and our people a fighting chance to stop the further introduction and spread of invasive species throughout our Hawaiʻi nei.

Mahalo nui for the opportunity to testify.

Testimony instructions

Register for a capitol website account if you haven’t yet (youʻll need to confirm your registration by responding to an automated email)
Sign in to capitol.hawaii.gov with your registration information and click the "Submit Testimony" button.
Enter ”SB3237” where it says "Enter Bill or Measure."
Input your information and your written testimony, select your testimony option(s)—in-person + written, remotely + written, written only. Please consider providing verbal testimony (in-person or remotely) if you are able! Note: Virtual testimony option may be disabled 24 hours before the hearing.
If you are testifying via Zoom, be sure to review these instructions (page 4).

MARCH 15 UPDATE:

SB3237 SD2, establishing a suite of invasive species control and eradication tools, was passed out of the House Agriculture & Food System Committee on Wednesday with amendments with 40+ written testimonies in support. The bill now needs to be heard in the House Consumer Protection and Commerce (Chaired by Representative Nakashima) and Finance (Chaired by Representative Yamashita) Committees.

HB2758 HD2, SB3237 SD2’s companion, was deferred for decision making to Monday, March 18 at 2:45pm by the Senate Agriculture and Environment (Chaired by Senator Gabbard) and Transportation and Culture and the Arts (Chaired by Senator Lee) Committees, with 39+ written testimonies in support. Stay tuned for their decision!

March 11 update:

SB3237 SD2, the companion of HB2758 HD2 (below), is scheduled to be heard in the House Agriculture and Food Systems Committee on Wednesday, March 13, 8:30am in House conference room 325.

Sample testimony:

Aloha Chair Gates, Vice Chair Kahaloa, and Members of the Committee,

My name is ______ and I STRONGLY SUPPORT HB2758 HD2.

This measure will fill critical gaps in our biosecurity planning and response systems, and mitigate the present and future potential impacts of invasive pests and noxious weeds on our native ecosystems, cultural practices, food security, public health, economy, and the overall quality of life of present and future generations.

While communities across the islands are now taking action to detect, control, and eradicate pests in their neighborhoods, these efforts have been frustrated by a lack of sufficient government support, including and particularly from the Hawaiʻi Department of Agriculture (HDOA). For example, the HDOA’s failure to prohibit the intraisland movement and sale of infested plants and other commodities has likely contributed to the establishment of the coconut rhinoceros beetle on O‘ahu, which has now spread to Maui and Hawaiʻi Island. The HDOA’s lack of comprehensive planning and programming to detect and control or eradicate invasive pests and noxious weeds is now confounding efforts to stop the spread of little fire ants across Oʻahu, and leaves all islands at risk of experiencing the devastating consequences of these and other invasive species.

We simply can no longer wait for the HDOA to take the actions we need to comprehensively address the real and present threat of invasive pests and noxious weeds. Comprehensive detection, control, and eradication programs, including the licensing of nurseries and regulatory mechanisms to prevent the import and inter- and intra-island spread of invasive pests and noxious weeds, are needed now. This measure will help to bring our biosecurity systems into the 21st century, and give our communities a much better chance at protecting our islands and future generations from the wide-ranging harms of invasive species.

Accordingly, I respectfully but strongly urge the Committee to PASS SB3237 SD2. Thank you for the opportunity to testify.

March 9 update:

HB2758 HD2, the “Invasive Pest Control” omnibus bill will be heard in the Senate Agriculture and Environment and Transportation and Culture and the Arts Committees on Tuesday, March 12, 3pm in Senate conference room 224.

This bill establishes a suite of invasive species control and eradication tools that we desperately need, if we want to save ourselves and future generations from the wide-ranging impacts of a pest-infested landscape.⁠ You can learn more about this critical bill and all it does below.

Sample testimony:

Aloha Chair Lee, Chair Gabbard, Vice Chair Inouye, Vice Chair Richards, and Members of the Committees,

My name is ______ and I STRONGLY SUPPORT HB2758 HD2.

Accordingly, I respectfully but strongly urge the Committees to PASS HB2758 HD2. Thank you for the opportunity to testify.

March 1 update:

SB3237 SD1 was UNANIMOUSLY passed out of the Senate Judiciary and Ways and Means Committee! This was the bills final hearing in the Senate, it will now move to the House. Mahalo everyone!

FEBRUARY 28 update:

SB3237 SD1, the companion to HB2758 HD2, has been rescued from certain death, and scheduled for its final hearing in the Senate before the Judiciary and Ways and Means Committees on Friday, March 1 at 10:31 a.m. in Conference Room 211.

Please take a moment to submit testimony in support of this important measure! Incredibly, both House and Senate omnibus invasive species bills are now poised to make crossover, thanks in huge part to the outpouring of support by concerned community members like you. Sample testimony and testimony instructions are provided below.

Sample testimony for SB3237 SD1:

Aloha Chair Rhoads, Chair Dela Cruz, Vice Chair Gabbard, Vice Chair Moriwaki, and Members of the Committees,

My name is ______ and I STRONGLY SUPPORT SB3237 SD1.

Accordingly, I respectfully but strongly urge the Committees to PASS SB3237 SD1. Thank you for the opportunity to testify.

Testimony instructions:

Register for a capitol website account if you haven’t yet (youʻll need to confirm your registration by responding to an automated email)
Sign in to capitol.hawaii.gov with your registration information and click the "Submit Testimony" button.
Enter ”SB3237” where it says "Enter Bill or Measure."
Input your information and your written testimony. Note: No oral testimony will be accepted at this hearing.

FEBRUARY 23 UPDATE:

HB2758 was passed UNANIMOUSLY out of the House Finance Committee yesterday! Mahalo nui to everyone that heeded the last minute call to action and submitted testimony.

Fingers crossed we are headed over to the Senate!

FEBRUARY 21 UPDATE:

The House Invasive Species Omnibus Bill, HB2758 HD2, has been scheduled for its final hearing in the House of Representatives, before the House Finance Committee at its 1:00 p.m. hearing *tomorrow,* February 22, in room 308.

Please take a moment to submit testimony in support of this important measure! Sustained community support has been key to its continued progress, and will be critical to keeping this bill alive in the weeks ahead (and mahalo nunui to all who have supported this bill in its prior hearings - we’ve made it this far all thanks to you!).

Invasive species threaten to radically alter life as we know it in Hawaiʻi, with pests such as the little fire ant (LFA) and coconut rhinoceros beetle (CRB) already impacting farms and food production, cultural practices, recreational activities, public health, and the economy of regions where they are established. Unfortunately, numerous regulatory gaps continue to hinder our collective ability to fight back against invasive species - gaps that would be filled by the comprehensive provisions of HB2758 HD2.

Fortunately, overwhelming public support has helped to keep this bill alive and moving through the lawmaking process, and will be critical to getting it to the finish line this legislative session. Please submit your testimony now in support of HB2758 HD2 - sample testimony is included below.

Sample testimony for HB2758 HD2:

Aloha Chair Yamashita, Vice Chair Kitagawa, and Members of the Committee,

My name is ______ and I STRONGLY SUPPORT HB2758 HD2.

Accordingly, I respectfully but strongly urge the Committee to PASS HB2758 HD2. Thank you for the opportunity to testify.

Testimony instructions:

Register for a capitol website account if you haven’t yet (youʻll need to confirm your registration by responding to an automated email)
Sign in to capitol.hawaii.gov with your registration information and click the "Submit Testimony" button.
Enter ”HB2758” where it says "Enter Bill or Measure."
Input your information and your written testimony, select your testimony option(s)—in-person + written, remotely + written, written only. Please consider providing verbal testimony (in-person or remotely) if you are able! Note: Virtual testimony option may be disabled 24 hours before the hearing.
If you are testifying via Zoom, be sure to review these instructions (page 4)

February 15 update:

HB2758 was passed out of the House Consumer Protection and Commerce Committee with amendments. The votes were: 4 Ayes: Reps Nakashima, Sayama, Amato, Belatti; 2 Noes: Representative(s) Onishi, Pierick; and 5 Excused: Representative(s) Hashem, Hussey-Burdick, Gates, Lowen, Tam. You can watch the hearing here.

February 12 update:

Great news! HB2758 HD1, which was just passed out of the House Agriculture & Food Systems Committee last week (with many thanks to Chair Gates and Vice Chair Kahaloa, and all who testified in support!), has now been scheduled for its next hearing before the House Consumer Protection and Commerce Committee, on Wednesday, February 14, at 2 pm.

Sample testimony below and scroll a little further down for more details on the bill and how we got here.

Sample testimony for HB2758 HD1:

Aloha Chair Nakashima, Vice Chair Sayama, and Members of the Committee,

My name is ______ and I STRONGLY SUPPORT HB2758 HD1.

While communities across the islands are taking action to detect, control, and eradicate pests in their neighborhoods, these efforts have been frustrated by a lack of sufficient government support, including and particularly from the Hawaiʻi Department of Agriculture (HDOA). For example, the HDOA’s failure to prohibit the intraisland movement and sale of infested plants and other commodities has likely contributed to the establishment of the coconut rhinoceros beetle on O‘ahu, which has now spread to Maui and Hawaiʻi Island. The HDOA’s lack of comprehensive planning and programming to detect and control or eradicate invasive pests and noxious weeds is now confounding efforts to stop the spread of little fire ants across Oʻahu, and leaves all islands at risk of experiencing the devastating consequences of these or other invasive species.

Accordingly, I respectfully but strongly urge the Committee to PASS HB2758 HD1. Thank you for the opportunity to testify.

Testimony instructions:

Register for a capitol website account if you haven’t yet (youʻll need to confirm your registration by responding to an automated email)
Sign in to capitol.hawaii.gov with your registration information and click the "Submit Testimony" button.
Enter ”HB2758” where it says "Enter Bill or Measure."
Input your information and your written testimony, select your testimony option(s)—in-person + written, remotely + written, written only. Please consider providing verbal testimony (in-person or remotely) if you are able! Note: Virtual testimony option may be disabled 24 hours before the hearing.
If you are testifying via Zoom, be sure to review these instructions (page 4)

February 9 update:

The House Committee on Agriculture passed HB2758 with amendments after two dozen testimonies in support (with less than 48 hours notice). SB3237 was heard on Thursday where the Senate Committees on Agriculture and Environment and Transportation and Culture and the Arts deferred the measure until February 12 and 13 for decision making. You can watch the hearing here. HB2758 now needs to be heard in Consumer Protection & Commerce and Finance committees.

BILL(S) BACKGROUND

It is all hands on deck to stop these and other invasive species in their tracks. While we wait for the Hawaiʻi Department of Agriculture (HDOA) to promulgate long-awaited proposed rules to finally prohibit the intra-island movement of certain invasive species like the LFA and CRB, proposed legislation is also needed to establish and/or strengthen our biosecurity protections in a timely manner. One such measure, HB2758, has a hearing TOMORROW, Wednesday, February 7 at 9:30am. Its companion, SB3237, has a hearing on Thursday, February 8, at 3 p.m. Please take a moment to submit testimony NOW – sample testimony and more details below.

HDOA Invasive Species Bill: HB2758/SB3237

What it does

HB2758/SB3237 establishes a suite of invasive species control and eradication tools and processes, including by designating little fire ants, coconut rhinoceros beetles, and two-lined spittlebugs as pests “for control or eradication,” while statutorily designating dozens of additional pests and noxious weeds; establishing processes and authorities for the Board of Agriculture and HDOA to detect, control, and eradicate these and other invasive pests and noxious weeds, including by emergency actions; allowing the counties and other organizations such as the invasive species committees to develop and implement control and eradication programs where the HDOA has failed to do so; prohibiting the importation and transportation of known invasive species and their host materials; and establishing a plant nursery licensing program, to facilitate inspections, best management practices, and quarantines if necessary; among many other provisions.

See the bulleted list at the end of this email for a summarized rundown of the provisions of this measure.

Why this is important

Invasive species can impact every aspect of life in Hawaiʻi—jeopardizing our native ecosystems, food security, cultural practices, public health, fire safety, climate resiliency, economy, and overall quality of life. The impacts from invasive pests and noxious weeds may also be irreversible once they are established, and the limited window of time to eradicate newly introduced invasive species requires that we maintain robust and comprehensive biosecurity planning and response systems.

Unfortunately, the HDOA has been unable to take proactive action to fulfill its kuleana and build regulatory systems that can meaningfully protect us from such biological threats.

Hawaiʻi must get serious about our biosecurity systems before it is too late. This measure addresses multiple long-standing gaps in invasive species planning and response programs and establishes comprehensive protections against the further introduction and spread of invasive pests and noxious weeds. We cannot afford to tolerate the business as usual status quo, if we do not want to pass on a pest-ridden future to our children and grandchildren.

Sample testimony for HB2758:

Aloha Chair Gates, Vice Chair Kahaloa, and Members of the Committee,

My name is ______ and I STRONGLY SUPPORT HB2758.

Accordingly, I respectfully but strongly urge the Committee to PASS HB2758. Thank you for the opportunity to testify.

Sample testimony for SB3237:

Aloha Chair Gabbard, Chair Lee, Vice Chair Richards, and Vice Chair Inouye, and Members of the Committee,

My name is ______ and I STRONGLY SUPPORT SB3237.

Accordingly, I respectfully but strongly urge the Committees to PASS SB3237. Thank you for the opportunity to testify.

Testimony instructions:

Register for a capitol website account if you haven’t yet (youʻll need to confirm your registration by responding to an automated email)
Sign in to capitol.hawaii.gov with your registration information and click the "Submit Testimony" button.
Enter ”HB2758/SB3237” where it says "Enter Bill or Measure."
Input your information and your written testimony, select your testimony option(s)—in-person + written, remotely + written, written only. Please consider providing verbal testimony (in-person or remotely) if you are able! Note: Virtual testimony option may be disabled 24 hours before the hearing.
If you are testifying via Zoom, be sure to review these instructions (page 4)

Summary of the Omnibus Biosecurity Bill:

HB2758/SB3237 is an omnibus measure that will comprehensively address the longstanding gaps in our biosecurity infrastructure. Among other provisions, this bill:

Designates the CRB, LFA, and two-lined spittlebug as statutorily designated pests “for control or eradication” (in addition to the current coqui frog);
Requires the HDOA to update its list of pests designated for control or eradication every two years;
Allows the HDOA to take emergency action to eradicate pests that impact native species, public health and welfare, agriculture, etc. regardless of whether the pest is designated or not;
Requires the HDOA to implement programs, including quarantine measures, to stop the spread or introduction of designated pests;
Empowers the invasive species committees, the Hawaiʻi Ant Lab, or the counties to establish programs for invasive pest control or eradication when the HDOA fails to do so;
Allows the invasive species committees and Hawaiʻi Ant Lab employees to also use the HDOA process to inspect properties for control and eradication program purposes;
Creates a comprehensive licensing system for local nurseries to provide for inspection, best management practices, and quarantine in the case of infestation, among other safeguards;
Designates 31 known pests and allows the Board of Agriculture to designate others, and allows the Board to quarantine these pests and pest host material and prohibit them from being moved out of areas designated by the Board where these pests may be found;
Allows the HDOA to take emergency action to quarantine these pests and pest host material in newly infested areas for thirty days or until the next Board of Agriculture meeting;
Prohibits the import of firewood, a known vector for invasive species introductions, with certain exceptions;
Authorizes the HDOA to enter into cooperative agreements with federal, state, and county agencies to enforce federal quarantines;
Prohibits the import of certain citrus pests and diseases as well as “regulated articles” from areas subject to federal quarantines due to the presence of these pests;
Requires a compliance agreement or a permit to import of pests or pest-infested materials;
Clarifies the inspection authority of agricultural inspectors;
Prohibits the importation or movement of noxious weeds except for the disposal of such weeds;
Prohibits the inter-island and intra-island transport of pests, pest host material, and other items specified by the department except by permit or a compliance agreement, or after treatment specified by an HDOA official;
Requires the Board of Agriculture to receive and consider applications for new noxious weed designations at least twice a year and make its list of noxious weeds available on its website;
Authorizes HDOA to take emergency action to designate noxious weeds;
Authorizes HDOA to develop and implement noxious weed control and eradication programs;
Requires lessees of state agricultural lands to control noxious weeds on their leased lands; and
Prohibits noxious weeds from being imported or moved within the state subject to exceptions;
Among other provisions.

CapitolWatch | Sierra Club of Hawaiʻi

CapitolWatch | Sierra Club of Hawaiʻi

2024 Blog

CapitolWatch | Sierra Club of Hawaiʻi

Stop the invasion! Testify on invasive pests bill today!

APRIL 5 UPDATE:

April 1 update:

March 20 update:

MARCH 18 update:

MARCH 15 UPDATE:

March 11 update:

Sample testimony:

March 9 update:

Sample testimony:

March 1 update:

FEBRUARY 28 update:

FEBRUARY 23 UPDATE:

FEBRUARY 21 UPDATE:

February 15 update:

February 12 update:

Sample testimony for HB2758 HD1:

Testimony instructions:

February 9 update:

BILL(S) BACKGROUND

CapitolWatch | Sierra Club of Hawaiʻi