SB 1171 Hawaii Senate · 2026 Regular Session

RELATING TO INVASIVE SPECIES.

Summary

Requires the Department of Agriculture to establish rules allowing the sale and distribution of fine mesh nets in the State to protect plants from invasive species. Requires DOA to establish a program to provide certain monofilament netting free of charge to the public to slow the growth and spread of coconut rhinoceros beetles in the State. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2025

Committee Review

Feb 2025

Senate Passage

Feb 2025

House Passage

Governor

Introduced Jan 17, 2025 Last action Dec 8, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

SB1171 → SB1171_SD1 · 4 edits

MODERATE

The bill was amended to broaden the scope of allowed netting from specific mesh sizes to any 'appropriate mesh size' for plant protection, while simultaneously removing the requirement to distribute free nets through local hardware stores. The free net program was restructured to be managed directly by the Department of Agriculture with new safety standards to prevent bird entanglement, and the effective date was delayed from July 1, 2025, to July 1, 2050.

Scope change

The bill's scope expanded to allow a wider variety of netting sizes for plant protection, but the mechanism for distributing free nets to the public was narrowed by removing the mandatory partnership with local hardware stores.

DEFINITION

Changed the definition of permissible netting from specific 'one-half to three-inch mesh' to 'an appropriate mesh size' as determined by the Department of Agriculture.

REQUIREMENT

Removed the requirement that the Department of Agriculture must supply netting to local hardware stores for public distribution.

Added new safety requirements that netting must be visible and applied in a manner unlikely to entangle birds or disturb native animals.

MODIFIED

Changed the effective date of the Act from July 1, 2025, to July 1, 2050.

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

Feb 11, 2025

Upper · Passed

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

upper

Feb 11, 2025

Committee

Reported from AEN (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 265) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to WAM.

upper

Feb 3, 2025

Upper · Passed

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

upper

Jan 31, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on AEN has scheduled a public hearing on 02-03-25 1:02PM; Conference Room 224 & Videoconference.

upper

Jan 27, 2025

Committee

Referred to AEN, WAM.

upper

Jan 17, 2025

Introduced

Introduced.

upper

2 primary · 0 co-sponsors