# Hawaii HB 2596: RELATING TO PLANTS.

Hawaii HB 2596, RELATING TO PLANTS., is a 2025–2026 Regular Session (Year 2) House bill sponsored by Matthias Kusch (Democratic); status failed, last action 2026-02-06 (The committee(s) on AGR recommend(s) that the measure be deferred.) (as of 2026-11-01).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-HB2596-2026
- As of: 2026-11-01
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: Hawaii HB 2596
- State: Hawaii
- Session: 2025–2026 Regular Session (Year 2)
- Title: RELATING TO PLANTS.
- Status: failed
- Chamber: House
- Introduced: 2026-01-28
- Last action: 2026-02-06, The committee(s) on AGR recommend(s) that the measure be deferred.
- Sponsor: Matthias Kusch (Democratic)
- Cosponsors: 17
- Subjects: Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity, Invasive Species Council, Invasive Plant Species, Labeling, Weed Risk Assessment, AGR, CPC, JHA
- Touches household money: no
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 0

## Summary

Requires persons who sell or offer plants for sale at retail to provide information on the risk of invasiveness of the plant species. Requires the Invasive Species Council to develop a labeling system for plants that displays the plants' weed risk assessments. Establishes fines for violations. Effective 1/1/2027.

## Bill overview

No economic impacts identified for this bill.

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Matthias Kusch (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Terez Amato (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Cory M. Chun (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Luke A. Evslin (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Tina Nakada Grandinetti (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Daisy Hartsfield (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Kirstin Kahaloa (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Jeanne Kapela (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: KEOHOKAPU-LEE LOY
- Cosponsor: Darius K. Kila (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Lisa Kitagawa (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Lisa Marten (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Tyson K. Miyake (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Dee Morikawa (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Amy A. Perruso (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Mahina Poepoe (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Adrian K. Tam (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: David A. Tarnas (Democratic), House

## Actions (6)

- 2026-02-06: The committee(s) on AGR recommend(s) that the measure be deferred. (House)
- 2026-02-04: The committee(s) on AGR recommend(s) that the measure be deferred until 02-06-26 9:01AM. (House)
- 2026-02-04: Bill scheduled for decision making on Friday, 02-06-26 9:01AM in conference room 325 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE. (House)
- 2026-02-02: Referred to AGR, CPC, JHA, referral sheet 6 (House)
- 2026-02-02: Bill scheduled to be heard by AGR on Wednesday, 02-04-26 9:00AM in House conference room 325 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE. (House)
- 2026-01-28: Introduced and Pass First Reading. (House)

## Bill text

- Original: [HTML](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/HB2596_.HTM), [PDF](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/HB2596_.pdf)

## Related bills

- SB 847: RELATING TO PSYCHOLOGISTS. (became law)
- HB 2344: RELATING TO SCHOOL FACILITIES. (signed)
- HB 2023: RELATING TO TRANSPORTATION. (signed)
- HB 2021: RELATING TO TRANSPORTATION. (signed)
- SB 2338: RELATING TO HOUSING. (signed)
- HB 1973: RELATING TO HEALTH. (signed)

## Sources
- [Original (HTML)](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/HB2596_.HTM)
- [Original (PDF)](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/HB2596_.pdf)

## Related
- [SB 847: RELATING TO PSYCHOLOGISTS.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-SB847-2026)
- [HB 2344: RELATING TO SCHOOL FACILITIES.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-HB2344-2026)
- [HB 2023: RELATING TO TRANSPORTATION.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-HB2023-2026)
- [HB 2021: RELATING TO TRANSPORTATION.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-HB2021-2026)
- [SB 2338: RELATING TO HOUSING.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-SB2338-2026)
- [HB 1973: RELATING TO HEALTH.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-HB1973-2026)
- [Hawaii bills](https://policyrisk.com/states/hawaii/bills)
- [Hawaii state hub](https://policyrisk.com/states/hawaii)
- [All state legislation](https://policyrisk.com/state-bills)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-HB2596-2026 (as of 2026-11-01).