All Roll Calls
Yes: 230 • No: 5
HawaiiHB 4272025–2026 Regular Session (Year 1)House
RELATING TO BIOSECURITY.
Sponsored By: Nadine K. Nakamura (Democratic)
Signed by Governor
Summary
Part I: Renames the Department of Agriculture as the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity (Department) and the Board of Agriculture as the Board of Agriculture and Biosecurity. Part II: Establishes a Deputy Chairperson for Biosecurity. Part III: Authorizes and specifies conditions under which the Department may declare a biosecurity emergency, during which the Department and Governor may take certain actions to prevent the establishment or spread of pests and prohibited or restricted organisms. Broadens the objectives and general actions of the Biosecurity Program. Part IV: Authorizes the Department to establish transitional facilities. Requires the Department to certify and train biosecurity compliance auditors to inspect imported plants and animals. Requires inspection of various items transported interisland. Increases penalties for illegally transporting plants, animals, and microorganisms. Part V: Authorizes the Department to enter into government‑industry agreements for readiness and response to unwanted organisms in the State. Authorizes biosecurity and pest management plans to address, contain, or eradicate pests. Requires the Department to establish a pest dashboard by 12/1/2025. Part VI: Authorizes the Department to adopt rules to establish and enforce the Plant Care Component Program. Authorizes the Department to assess administrative penalties for the enforcement of the Plant Care Component Program. Part VII: Transfers the Hawaii Invasive Species Council from the Department of Land and Natural Resources to the Department. Part VIII: Appropriates funds. (CD1)
DOABiosecurity Emergency DeclarationQuarantineTransitional FacilitiesCertified Biosecurity Compliance AuditorsPenaltiesReadiness and Response AgreementsPest DashboardBiosecurity and Pest Management PlansPlant Care Component ProgramHawaii Invasive Species CouncilRulesAppropriationsAEN/TCA/CPN, WAM/JDC
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
6 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 5 mixed.
Emergency powers for biosecurity threats
The department can declare a biosecurity emergency with the governor’s approval when a serious threat meets the law’s conditions. An emergency lasts 100 days unless extended with the governor’s approval. During an emergency, the governor can move money to the department, and the state can requisition needed goods, land, or watercraft. The state must pay fair compensation within 20 days for property taken, or in monthly or shorter installments for temporary use. Someone disputing an award receives 75% and can sue for more within two years for permanent land takings, or one year in other cases. The department can also subpoena importer records tied to a discovered or suspected infestation.
Fines and costs for biosecurity violations
Covered biosecurity violations carry fines of $100 to $10,000; a second violation within five years carries fines of $500 to $25,000. Specified violations involving restricted organisms can bring misdemeanor fines of $5,000 to $20,000, while certain intentional conduct can bring a class C felony and fines of $50,000 to $200,000. When an offense leads to a pest-control program, the court must order the responsible person or organization to pay the program’s development and implementation costs. The law also presumes intent to propagate in specified cases involving covered organisms. A person who voluntarily surrenders a covered organism without a permit before seizure action begins is exempt from penalties under the relevant section.
New inspection rules for shippers
Specified plants, animals, soil, and related items moved between islands must meet inspection, labeling, and shipment-information rules. Items that have not been inspected must be held, and owners or agents pay required inspection, treatment, quarantine, or destruction costs. Importers may have to use licensed transitional facilities, which the department inspects quarterly. Trained auditors can certify items at an approved facility; certification lasts one year, and the department may charge fees.
More state action against pest threats
The department’s goals now include surveying for pests and restricted organisms, stopping their entry and unpermitted movement between islands, and controlling or removing them after entry. The department also expands public education about pest risks and reporting suspected organisms in imported products. People and government units can submit pest-control plans for board review and a public hearing. The state may also make readiness and response agreements with plant and animal businesses; those agreements support prevention and response and provide information for the public dashboard.
Public pest dashboard and data rules
The agriculture department must launch a public pest dashboard by December 1, 2025, with regularly updated, real-time information about treatment areas for designated pests. State and local entities, and covered contractors, must provide required information. Entities that fail to provide it may not receive or spend public funds.
New rules for plant care materials
The department can set treatment, certification, fee, and other rules for plant care materials. Out-of-state materials can be distributed after treatment before arrival, or after treatment and department certification in Hawaii. The board can fine someone up to $10,000 per violation. Before a fine, the board must give notice and a chance for a hearing; a written hearing request is due within 20 days.
Sponsors & Cosponsors
Sponsor
Nadine K. Nakamura
Democratic • House
Cosponsors
Terez Amato
Democratic • House
Della Au Belatti
Democratic • House
Cory M. Chun
Democratic • House
Elle Cochran
Republican • House
Luke A. Evslin
Democratic • House
Andrew Takuya Garrett
Democratic • House
Tina Nakada Grandinetti
Democratic • House
Mark J. Hashem
Democratic • House
Daniel Holt
Democratic • House
Ikaika Hussey
Democratic • House
Linda Ichiyama
Democratic • House
Greggor Ilagan
Democratic • House
Kim Coco Iwamoto
Democratic • House
Kirstin Kahaloa
Democratic • House
Jeanne Kapela
Democratic • House
KEOHOKAPU-LEE LOY
Affiliation unavailable
Darius K. Kila
Democratic • House
Lisa Kitagawa
Democratic • House
Matthias Kusch
Democratic • House
LA CHICA
Affiliation unavailable
LAMOSAO
Affiliation unavailable
Mike Lee
Democratic • House
Nicole E. Lowen
Democratic • House
M.
Affiliation unavailable
Lisa Marten
Democratic • House
Scot Z. Matayoshi
Democratic • House
Tyson K. Miyake
Democratic • House
Dee Morikawa
Democratic • House
Ikaika Olds
Democratic • House
Amy A. Perruso
Democratic • House
Mahina Poepoe
Democratic • House
Sean Quinlan
Democratic • House
Jackson D. Sayama
Democratic • House
Gregg Takayama
Democratic • House
Jenna Takenouchi
Democratic • House
Adrian K. Tam
Democratic • House
David A. Tarnas
Democratic • House
Shirley Ann Templo
Democratic • House
Chris Todd
Democratic • House
Justin H. Woodson
Democratic • House
Kyle T. Yamashita
Democratic • House
Roll Call Votes
House vote • 4/30/2025
House Floor Vote
Yes: 45 • No: 5
Senate vote • 4/25/2025
The Conference committee recommends that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS....
Yes: 4 • No: 0
House vote • 4/25/2025
The Conference Committee recommends that the measure be Passed, with Amendments....
Yes: 4 • No: 0
Senate vote • 4/8/2025
Senate Floor Vote
Yes: 25 • No: 0
Senate vote • 4/1/2025
The committee(s) on WAM recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENT...
Yes: 11 • No: 0
Senate vote • 4/1/2025
The committee(s) on JDC recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENT...
Yes: 5 • No: 0
Senate vote • 3/18/2025
The committee(s) on AEN recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENT...
Yes: 4 • No: 0
Senate vote • 3/18/2025
The committee(s) on CPN recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENT...
Yes: 4 • No: 0
Senate vote • 3/18/2025
The committee(s) on TCA recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENT...
Yes: 5 • No: 0
House vote • 2/27/2025
House Floor Vote
Yes: 47 • No: 0
House vote • 2/20/2025
The committee on FIN recommend that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes ...
Yes: 14 • No: 0
House vote • 2/11/2025
The committee on JHA recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The ...
Yes: 9 • No: 0
House vote • 2/4/2025
Passed Second Reading as amended in HD 1 and referred to the committee(s) on JHA...
Yes: 48 • No: 0
House vote • 1/29/2025
The committee on AGR recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The ...
Yes: 5 • No: 0
Actions Timeline
Act 236, 06/27/2025 (Gov. Msg. No. 1338).
6/27/2025SenateAct 236, on 06/27/2025 (Gov. Msg. No. 1338).
6/27/2025HouseReceived notice of passage on Final Reading in House (Hse. Com. No. 821).
5/2/2025SenateReceived notice of Final Reading (Sen. Com. No. 888).
5/1/2025HouseTransmitted to Governor.
5/1/2025HousePassed Final Reading, as amended (CD 1). Ayes, 25; Aye(s) with reservations: none . 0 No(es): none. 0 Excused: none.
4/30/2025SenatePassed Final Reading as amended in CD 1 with Representative(s) Iwamoto, Marten voting aye with reservations; Representative(s) Alcos, Garcia, Muraoka, Pierick, Shimizu voting no (5) and Representative(s) Cochran excused (1).
4/30/2025HouseThe Conference committee recommends that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes of the Senate Conference Managers were as follows: 4 Aye(s): Senator(s) Gabbard, Lee, C., Wakai, Rhoads; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 2 Excused: Senator(s) Keohokalole, Awa.
4/25/2025SenateThe Conference Committee recommends that the measure be Passed, with Amendments. The votes were as follows: 4 Ayes: Representative(s) Kahaloa, Tarnas, Yamashita, Matsumoto; Ayes with reservations: none; 0 Noes: none; and 1 Excused: Representative(s) Quinlan.
4/25/2025HouseReported from Conference Committee (Conf Com. Rep. No. 220) as amended in (CD 1).
4/25/2025HouseForty-eight (48) hours notice Wednesday, 04-30-25.
4/25/2025HouseReported from Conference Committee as amended CD 1 (Conf. Com. Rep. No. 220).
4/25/2025Senate48 Hrs. Notice (as amended CD 1) 04-30-25
4/25/2025SenateConference committee meeting to reconvene on 04-25-25 9:40AM; Conference Room 325.
4/24/2025SenateConference committee meeting to reconvene on 04-24-25 9:30AM; Conference Room 325.
4/23/2025SenateConference committee meeting to reconvene on 04-23-25 9:31AM; Conference Room 325.
4/22/2025SenateConference committee meeting scheduled for 04-22-25 10:54AM; Conference Room 325.
4/21/2025SenateSenate Conferees Appointed: Gabbard Chair; Lee, C., Keohokalole, Wakai, Rhoads Co-Chairs; Awa.
4/17/2025SenateReceived notice of Senate conferees (Sen. Com. No. 828).
4/17/2025HouseReceived notice of appointment of House conferees (Hse. Com. No. 732).
4/15/2025SenateHouse Conferees Appointed: Kahaloa, Tarnas, Yamashita Co-Chairs; Quinlan, Matsumoto.
4/14/2025HouseReceived notice of disagreement (Hse. Com. No. 704).
4/11/2025SenateHouse disagrees with Senate amendment (s).
4/10/2025HouseReport adopted; Passed Third Reading, as amended (SD 2). Ayes, 25; Aye(s) with reservations: none . Noes, 0 (none). Excused, 0 (none). Transmitted to House.
4/8/2025SenateReturned from Senate (Sen. Com. No. 635) in amended form (SD 2).
4/8/2025House
Bill Text
Bill Text
HB427_CD1
HB427_HD1
HB427_HD2
HB427_SD1
HB427_SD2
Original
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