SB 746 Hawaii Senate · 2026 Regular Session

RELATING TO INVASIVE SPECIES.

Summary

Establishes a two-year coconut rhinoceros beetle eradication pilot program in certain areas under the Department of Land and Natural Resources that incentivizes community members to collect and submit the coconut rhinoceros beetle and its larvae for compensation. Requires a report to the Legislature. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

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 17, 2025 Last action Dec 8, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 3 comparisons

What changed between versions

SB746_SD1 → SB746_SD2 · 4 edits

MODERATE

The bill was updated from a draft version (SD1) to a second draft (SD2), refining the language to explicitly name the 'coconut rhinoceros beetle eradication pilot program.' The changes clarify that compensation is only for beetles found in the wild, excluding those bred by humans, and update the list of eligible community members to more standard job titles. These edits aim to reduce ambiguity regarding program scope and eligibility criteria.

Scope change

The bill's scope was clarified to explicitly define the program as a 'coconut rhinoceros beetle eradication pilot program' and added a specific exemption for beetles bred by humans.

DEFINITION

The definition of 'Community member' was updated to replace specific job titles (e.g., 'green waste and compost facility workers') with broader terms (e.g., 'green waste or compost facility worker') and adjust military and landscape professional titles.

REQUIREMENT

A new requirement was added stating that compensation is strictly for beetles and larvae captured in the wild, explicitly excluding those bred by human intervention.

SCOPE

The program description was modified to explicitly include 'eradication' in the title and purpose, clarifying the bill's primary goal.

TECHNICAL

Minor formatting and text cleanup were applied to the legislative findings and report descriptions to improve readability and consistency.

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 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 WAL (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1483), recommending referral to FIN.

lower

Mar 20, 2025

Lower · Passed

The committee on WAL recommend that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes were as follows: 9 Ayes: Representative(s) Hashem, Lamosao, Belatti, Ichiyama, Iwamoto, Morikawa, Poepoe, Shimizu, Souza; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and 1 Excused: Representative(s) Woodson.

lower

Mar 14, 2025

Committee

Reported from AGR (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1240) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to WAL.

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, WAL, FIN, referral sheet 19

lower

Mar 4, 2025

Introduced

Received from Senate (Sen. Com. No. 191) 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 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 will hold a public decision making on 02-19-25 10:02AM; Conference Room 211 & Videoconference.

upper

Feb 14, 2025

Upper · Passed

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

upper

Feb 14, 2025

Committee

Reported from WTL/AEN (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 571) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to WAM.

upper

Feb 12, 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

Feb 12, 2025

Upper · Passed

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

upper

Feb 7, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on WTL/AEN has scheduled a public hearing on 02-12-25 1:05PM; Conference Room 229 & Videoconference.

upper

Jan 23, 2025

Committee

Referred to WTL/AEN, WAM.

upper

Jan 17, 2025

Introduced

Introduced.

upper

5 primary · 1 co-sponsor