# Hawaii SB 523: RELATING TO AGRICULTURAL BIOSECURITY.

Hawaii SB 523, RELATING TO AGRICULTURAL BIOSECURITY., is a 2025–2026 Regular Session (Year 1) Senate bill sponsored by Herbert M. "Tim" Richards III (Democratic); status in committee, last action 2025-02-12 (Reported from AEN (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 300) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to WAM.) (as of 2026-10-17).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-SB523-2025
- As of: 2026-10-17
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: Hawaii SB 523
- State: Hawaii
- Session: 2025–2026 Regular Session (Year 1)
- Title: RELATING TO AGRICULTURAL BIOSECURITY.
- Status: in committee
- Chamber: Senate
- Introduced: 2025-01-17
- Last action: 2025-02-12, Reported from AEN (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 300) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to WAM.
- Sponsor: Herbert M. "Tim" Richards III (Democratic)
- Cosponsors: 5
- Subjects: DOA, Biosecurity Fencing Cost-Sharing Program, Agricultural Fencing Costs, Reimbursements, Appropriations, AEN, WAM
- Touches household money: no
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 0

## Summary

Requires the Department of Agriculture to establish and administer a Biosecurity Fencing Cost-Sharing Program. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

## Bill overview

No economic impacts identified for this bill.

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Herbert M. "Tim" Richards III (Democratic), Senate
- Cosponsor: AQUINO
- Cosponsor: Stanley Chang (Democratic), Senate
- Cosponsor: Kurt Fevella (Republican), Senate
- Cosponsor: Mike Gabbard (Democratic), Senate
- Cosponsor: Joy A. San Buenaventura (Democratic), Senate

## Actions (7)

- 2025-02-12: Reported from AEN (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 300) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to WAM. (Senate)
- 2025-02-12: Report adopted; Passed Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referred to WAM. (Senate)
- 2025-02-05: The committee(s) on AEN recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in AEN were as follows: 5 Aye(s): Senator(s) Gabbard, Richards, DeCoite, Rhoads, Awa; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 0 Excused: none. (Senate)
- 2025-01-31: The committee(s) on AEN added the measure to the public hearing scheduled on 02-05-25 1:03PM; CR 224 & Videoconference. (Senate)
- 2025-01-21: Referred to AEN, WAM. (Senate)
- 2025-01-17: Introduced. (Senate)
- 2025-01-17: Passed First Reading. (Senate)

## Bill text

- Bill Text: [PDF](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2025/bills/SB523_SD1_.pdf)
- Original: [HTML](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2025/bills/SB523_.HTM), [PDF](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2025/bills/SB523_.PDF)
- SB523_SD1: [HTML](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2025/bills/SB523_SD1_.HTM)

## Related bills

- SB 572: RELATING TO HOUSING. (signed)
- HB 431: RELATING TO HOUSING. (signed)
- HB 420: RELATING TO REMEDIES. (signed)
- SB 1296: RELATING TO DISASTER RECOVERY. (signed)
- HB 830: RELATING TO HISTORIC PRESERVATION REVIEWS. (signed)
- HB 1064: RELATING TO FIRE PROTECTION. (signed)

## Sources
- [Bill Text (PDF)](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2025/bills/SB523_SD1_.pdf)
- [Original (HTML)](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2025/bills/SB523_.HTM)
- [Original (PDF)](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2025/bills/SB523_.PDF)
- [SB523_SD1 (HTML)](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2025/bills/SB523_SD1_.HTM)

## Related
- [SB 572: RELATING TO HOUSING.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-SB572-2025)
- [HB 431: RELATING TO HOUSING.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-HB431-2025)
- [HB 420: RELATING TO REMEDIES.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-HB420-2025)
- [SB 1296: RELATING TO DISASTER RECOVERY.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-SB1296-2025)
- [HB 830: RELATING TO HISTORIC PRESERVATION REVIEWS.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-HB830-2025)
- [HB 1064: RELATING TO FIRE PROTECTION.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-HB1064-2025)
- [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-SB523-2025 (as of 2026-10-17).