SB 252 Hawaii Senate · 2026 Regular Session

RELATING TO INVASIVE SPECIES.

Summary

Clarifies that the importation of any pest or material infested or infected with an insect or other animal, disease, or pest is prohibited. Authorizes the Department of Agriculture to administratively inspect any article imported or moved into the State from the continental United States or between the Hawaiian Islands. Prohibits the sale, barter, or donation of items or material that is a pest, is infested or infected with a pest, or prohibited from being sold. Authorizes the Department of Agriculture to compel the quarantine, treatment, or destruction of certain materials. Clarifies penalties for various quarantine and import law violations, based in part on whether violations were knowingly committed. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

Issues: ✓ Environment

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 13, 2025 Last action Dec 8, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 4 comparisons

What changed between versions

SB252_SD1 → SB252_SD2 · 3 edits

MINOR

This bill updates the legislative session number from the 33rd to the 34th and changes the effective date of the law from immediate approval to April 23, 2057. The text also corrects several spelling errors, changing 'Hawaii' to 'Hawai'i' throughout the document to align with official state naming conventions.

TIMELINE

The effective date of the Act was changed from 'upon approval' to 'April 23, 2057', significantly delaying when the new rules take effect.

TECHNICAL

Multiple instances of the word 'Hawaii' were corrected to 'Hawai'i' to match the official spelling of the state name.

Minor formatting and word choice adjustments were made, such as changing 'articles' to 'items or materials' and updating the legislative session designation from S.D. 1 to S.D. 2.

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; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Cochran, Garrett, Kapela, Kitagawa, Ward excused (5).

lower

Mar 21, 2025

Committee

Reported from JHA (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1456) as amended in HD 2, recommending referral to FIN.

lower

Mar 18, 2025

Lower · Passed

The committee on JHA recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 10 Ayes: Representative(s) Tarnas, Poepoe, Belatti, Hashem, Kahaloa, Perruso, Takayama, Todd, Garcia, Shimizu; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and 1 Excused: Representative(s) Cochran.

lower

Mar 14, 2025

Committee

Reported from AGR (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1227) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to JHA.

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 6, 2025

Committee

Referred to AGR, JHA, FIN, referral sheet 19

lower

Mar 4, 2025

Introduced

Received from Senate (Sen. Com. No. 114) in amended form (SD 2).

lower

Mar 4, 2025

Upper · Passed

Report Adopted; Passed Third Reading, as amended (SD 2). Ayes, 24; Aye(s) with reservations: Senator(s) DeCoite. Noes, 0 (none). Excused, 1 (Senator(s) Lee, C.). Transmitted to House.

upper

Feb 26, 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 26, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on JDC recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in JDC were as follows: 5 Aye(s): Senator(s) Rhoads, Gabbard, Chang, San Buenaventura, Awa; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 0 Excused: none.

upper

Feb 21, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on JDC/WAM will hold a public decision making on 02-26-25 10:05AM; Conference Room 211 & Videoconference.

upper

Feb 10, 2025

Upper · Passed

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

upper

Feb 10, 2025

Committee

Reported from AEN/CPN (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 162) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to JDC/WAM.

upper

Jan 29, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on CPN recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in CPN were as follows: 3 Aye(s): Senator(s) Keohokalole, Fukunaga, McKelvey; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 2 Excused: Senator(s) Richards, Awa.

upper

Jan 29, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on AEN recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in AEN were as follows: 3 Aye(s): Senator(s) Gabbard, Rhoads; Aye(s) with reservations: Senator(s) DeCoite ; 0 No(es): none; and 2 Excused: Senator(s) Richards, Awa.

upper

Jan 24, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on AEN/CPN has scheduled a public hearing on 01-29-25 9:30AM; Conference Room 229 & Videoconference.

upper

Jan 21, 2025

Committee

Referred to AEN/CPN, JDC/WAM.

upper

Jan 15, 2025

Introduced

Introduced and passed First Reading.

upper

Jan 13, 2025

Introduced

Pending Introduction.

upper

6 primary · 1 co-sponsor