SB 1100 Hawaii Senate · 2026 Regular Session

RELATING TO BIOSECURITY.

Summary

Part I: Renames the Department of Agriculture to the "Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity". Renames the Board of Agriculture to the "Board of Agriculture and Biosecurity" and amends the composition of the Board. Part II: Establishes and appropriates funds for a Deputy Director of Biosecurity. Part III: Changes references to the plant and animal declaration form to the "biosecurity form". Part IV: 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. Authorizes the Chairperson of the Board to quarantine an area under certain conditions. Broadens the objectives and general actions of the Biosecurity Program. Part V: Requires the Department to establish and regularly update an invasive species dashboard. Authorizes pest management plans to address, contain, or eradicate pests. Part VI: Appropriates funds for positions for the Department. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

Bill status passed both 4 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2025

Committee Review

Mar 2025

Senate Passage

Mar 2025

House Passage

Mar 2025

Governor

Introduced Jan 17, 2025 Last action Dec 8, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 4 comparisons

What changed between versions

SB1100_SD1 → SB1100_SD2 · 6 edits

MODERATE

This bill updates the legislative session from SD1 to SD2 and amends Hawaii Revised Statutes to strengthen biosecurity measures. Key changes include renaming the department to 'department of agriculture and biosecurity,' establishing a new Deputy Chairperson of Biosecurity role, creating an Invasive Species Dashboard for public data, and clarifying enforcement protocols for pest inspections and penalties.

Scope change

The bill expands the scope of biosecurity oversight by formally establishing a new leadership role (Deputy Chairperson) and adding a public-facing data dashboard for invasive species, while maintaining the core authority of the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity.

REQUIREMENT

Established a new 'Deputy Chairperson of Biosecurity' position to oversee biosecurity initiatives and ensure compliance with the new invasive species dashboard requirements.

Mandated the creation of an 'Invasive Species Dashboard' by December 1, 2025, to provide real-time treatment area data to the public, managed by the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity.

Changed the department name from 'department of agriculture' to 'department of agriculture and biosecurity' throughout the bill to reflect expanded responsibilities.

Added a requirement for state departments and agencies to post treatment area information to the dashboard or risk losing eligibility for public funds.

ENFORCEMENT

Clarified that the department 'shall' refuse entry or destroy prohibited articles rather than having the discretion to do so, strengthening enforcement authority.

TIMELINE

Updated the legislative session identifier from SD1 to SD2 and adjusted effective dates and fiscal year references in appropriations sections.

SB1100_HD2 → SB1100_SD1 · 8 edits

MODERATE

This bill reorganizes the Department of Agriculture into the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity, creating a new Deputy Chairperson for Biosecurity to oversee invasive species and emergency response. It establishes a new system of private 'transitional facilities' for inspecting imported goods to speed up trade, creates a licensing program for private biosecurity inspectors, and transfers the Invasive Species Council to the new department. The bill also adds strict penalties for illegally transporting prohibited animals and plants between islands.

Scope change

The bill expands the department's authority to include biosecurity and invasive species management, reassigns the Invasive Species Council from DLNR to the new department, and introduces new private-sector roles in border inspection.

STRUCTURE

Created a new Deputy Chairperson for Biosecurity position to lead biosecurity initiatives and emergency response.

Transferred the Invasive Species Council from the Department of Land and Natural Resources to the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity.

REQUIREMENT

Established a new system of private 'transitional facilities' where imported goods are moved off-site for inspection to reduce port delays, with costs borne by importers.

Created a new licensing program for private 'biosecurity inspectors' authorized to inspect goods at transitional facilities.

Added a new program to certify and regulate 'plant care components' (like wood chips and compost) to prevent pest introduction.

ENFORCEMENT

Increased penalties for illegally transporting prohibited animals or plants between islands, raising fines and adding felony charges for intentional transport.

DEFINITION

Renamed the Department of Agriculture to the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity and updated the Board composition to include biosecurity expertise.

TIMELINE

Set specific effective dates for various parts of the bill, with most biosecurity measures taking effect on January 1, 2027.

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

Mar 21, 2025

Lower · Passed

Report adopted; referred to the committee(s) on FIN as amended in HD 2 with none voting aye with reservations; Representative(s) Pierick voting no (1) and Representative(s) Cochran, Garrett, Kapela, Kitagawa, Ward excused (5).

lower

Mar 21, 2025

Committee

Reported from CPC (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1478) as amended in HD 2, recommending referral to FIN.

lower

Mar 19, 2025

Lower · Passed

The committee on CPC recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 7 Ayes: Representative(s) Matayoshi, Chun, Ichiyama, Kong, Lowen, Tam; Ayes with reservations: Representative(s) Iwamoto; 1 Noes: Representative(s) Pierick; and 2 Excused: Representative(s) Ilagan, Marten.

lower

Mar 14, 2025

Committee

Reported from AGR (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1258) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to CPC.

lower

Mar 12, 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; 0 Noes: none; and 1 Excused: Representative(s) Ward.

lower

Mar 7, 2025

Committee

Re-referred to AGR, CPC, FIN, referral sheet 20

lower

Mar 6, 2025

Committee

Referred to AGR, CPC/JHA, FIN, referral sheet 19

lower

Mar 4, 2025

Introduced

Received from Senate (Sen. Com. No. 260) in amended form (SD 2).

lower

Mar 4, 2025

Upper · Passed

Report adopted; Passed Third Reading, as amended (SD 2). Ayes, 25; Aye(s) with reservations: none . Noes, 0 (none). Excused, 0 (none). Transmitted to House.

upper

Feb 19, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on JDC recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in JDC were as follows: 4 Aye(s): Senator(s) Rhoads, Chang, San Buenaventura, Awa; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 1 Excused: Senator(s) Gabbard.

upper

Feb 19, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on WAM recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in WAM were as follows: 13 Aye(s): Senator(s) Dela Cruz, Moriwaki, Aquino, DeCoite, Elefante, Hashimoto, Inouye, Kanuha, Kidani, Kim, Lee, C., Wakai, Fevella; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 0 Excused: none.

upper

Feb 14, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on WAM/JDC will hold a public decision making on 02-19-25 10:16AM; Conference Room 211 & Videoconference.

upper

Feb 14, 2025

Upper · Passed

Report adopted; Passed Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referred to WAM/JDC.

upper

Feb 14, 2025

Committee

Reported from AEN/TCA/CPN (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 652) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to WAM/JDC.

upper

Feb 6, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on CPN recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in CPN were as follows: 5 Aye(s): Senator(s) Keohokalole, McKelvey, Richards, Awa; Aye(s) with reservations: Senator(s) Fukunaga ; 0 No(es): none; and 0 Excused: none.

upper

Feb 6, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on TCA recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in TCA were as follows: 5 Aye(s): Senator(s) Lee, C., Inouye, Elefante, Kanuha, DeCorte; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 0 Excused: none.

upper

Feb 6, 2025

Upper · Passed

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.

upper

Feb 3, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on AEN/TCA/CPN has scheduled a public hearing on 02-06-25 9:30AM; Conference Room 229 & Videoconference.

upper

Jan 31, 2025

Committee

Re-Referred to AEN/TCA/CPN, WAM/JDC.

upper

Jan 23, 2025

Committee

Referred to AEN/TCA, WAM/JDC.

upper

Jan 17, 2025

Introduced

Introduced.

upper

12 primary · 2 co-sponsors