House agriculture committee advances bill to create plant care component program

Chair Kirsten Kahaloa of the House Committee on Agriculture & Food Systems said the committee passed HB 1449 with amendments on Jan. 31, 2025, at the Hawaii State Capitol after receiving written and in-person testimony.

The bill would authorize the Hawaii Department of Agriculture to adopt rules and establish administrative penalties to implement a plant care component program. Testimony on the measure was filed by the Department of Agriculture and stakeholder groups; the Hawaii Invasive Species Council and Hawaii Farm Bureau indicated support and said they would stand on written testimony.

Committee discussion at decision making included technical and style amendments, inclusion of the departmental positions referenced in testimony, and deferring the bill’s effective date to July 1, 3000 to allow continued drafting and review. Kahaloa said the committee would show the requested positions in the standing committee report and incorporate technical edits for clarity and consistency.

The committee’s recommendation to pass HB 1449 with amendments was adopted with recorded aye votes from the chair, the vice chair, Representative Lowen, Representative Peruso and Representative Quinlan; Representative Ward was noted absent and excused.

The measure will proceed with the committee’s amendments toward further review and placement in the standing committee report. The committee noted the appropriations and position details provided by the Department of Agriculture would be reflected in that report.