HB 643 Hawaii House · 2026 Regular Session

RELATING TO THE COCONUT RHINOCEROS BEETLE PROGRAM.

Summary

Establishes short-term management initiatives for the coconut rhinoceros beetle response program. Appropriates funds for activities and positions related to coconut rhinoceros beetle infestation control. Effective 7/1/3000. (SD1)

Bill status passed both 4 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2025

Committee Review

Apr 2026

House Passage

Feb 2025

Senate Passage

Apr 2025

Governor

Introduced Jan 17, 2025 Last action Apr 17, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 3 comparisons

What changed between versions

HB643_HD2 → HB643_SD1 · 4 edits

MODERATE

The bill was amended to shift primary responsibility for the coconut rhinoceros beetle response program from the University of Hawaii to the Department of Agriculture, which will then contract with the university. The report title and funding recipient were updated to reflect this change, and the list of grant compliance requirements was renumbered and slightly reordered to include new monitoring obligations.

Scope change

The bill's scope shifted from a University of Hawaii-led initiative to a Department of Agriculture-led initiative, altering the administrative oversight and funding distribution structure.

FISCAL

The recipient of appropriated funds changed from the University of Hawaii to the Department of Agriculture, which must then contract with the university.

SCOPE

The report title was updated to reflect the Department of Agriculture as the primary agency instead of the University of Hawaii.

REQUIREMENT

The list of grant compliance requirements was renumbered and reorganized; specific clauses regarding discrimination and record-keeping were moved and merged, while new language was added to require record availability for state monitoring.

TECHNICAL

Minor text formatting changes were made throughout the document, including rephrasing sentences for clarity and updating version identifiers.

Floor votes

How they voted

This bill passed the Senate by voice vote (no roll call recorded).

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Amendments

Apr 17, 2026

Committee

Re-Referred to EDU/AEN, WAM.

upper

Apr 4, 2025

Amended

House disagrees with Senate amendment (s).

lower

Apr 3, 2025

Introduced

Returned from Senate (Sen. Com. No. 548) in amended form (SD 1).

lower

Apr 3, 2025

Upper · Passed

Report Adopted; Passed Third Reading, as amended (SD 1). Ayes, 25; Aye(s) with reservations: none. Noes, 0 (none). Excused, 0 (none). Transmitted to House.

upper

Mar 28, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on WAM recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in WAM were as follows: 12 Aye(s): Senator(s) Dela Cruz, Moriwaki, Aquino, DeCoite, Elefante, Hashimoto, Inouye, Kanuha, Kidani, Kim, Wakai, Fevella; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 1 Excused: Senator(s) Lee, C..

upper

Mar 25, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on WAM will hold a public decision making on 03-28-25 10:02AM; Conference Room 211 & Videoconference.

upper

Mar 21, 2025

Upper · Passed

Report adopted; Passed Second Reading and referred to WAM.

upper

Mar 21, 2025

Committee

Reported from HRE/AEN (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1245) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading and referral to WAM.

upper

Mar 17, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on AEN recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. 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.

upper

Mar 17, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on HRE recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes in HRE were as follows: 5 Aye(s): Senator(s) Kim, Kidani, Fukunaga, Hashimoto, Fevella; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 0 Excused: none.

upper

Mar 10, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on HRE/AEN has scheduled a public hearing on 03-17-25 1:00PM; Conference Room 224 & Videoconference.

upper

Mar 4, 2025

Committee

Referred to HRE/AEN, WAM.

upper

Feb 28, 2025

Introduced

Received from House (Hse. Com. No. 29).

upper

Feb 27, 2025

Lower · Passed

Passed Third Reading with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Cochran, Pierick, Templo, Ward excused (4). Transmitted to Senate.

lower

Feb 20, 2025

Lower · Passed

The committee on FIN recommend that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes were as follows: 14 Ayes: Representative(s) Yamashita, Takenouchi, Grandinetti, Holt, Hussey, Keohokapu-Lee Loy, Kitagawa, Kusch, Lamosao, Lee, M., Miyake, Morikawa, Templo, Reyes Oda; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and 2 Excused: Representative(s) Alcos, Ward.

lower

Feb 12, 2025

Lower · Passed

Report adopted; referred to the committee(s) on FIN as amended in HD 2 with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Cochran, Sayama, Ward excused (3).

lower

Feb 12, 2025

Committee

Reported from HED (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 438) as amended in HD 2, recommending referral to FIN.

lower

Feb 7, 2025

Lower · Passed

The committee on HED recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 9 Ayes: Representative(s) Garrett, Amato, Kapela, Kila, La Chica, Olds, Sayama, Woodson, Souza; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and 2 Excused: Representative(s) Evslin, Muraoka.

lower

Feb 3, 2025

Committee

Reported from AGR (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 36) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to HED.

lower

Jan 29, 2025

Lower · Passed

The committee on AGR recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 5 Ayes: Representative(s) Kahaloa, Kusch, Lowen, Perruso, Quinlan; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and 1 Excused: Representative(s) Ward.

lower

Jan 21, 2025

Committee

Referred to AGR, HED, FIN, referral sheet 2

lower

Jan 21, 2025

Introduced

Introduced and Pass First Reading.

lower

Jan 17, 2025

Introduced

Pending introduction.