HB1337 • 2026

RELATING TO ENDEMIC PLANTS.

Agriculture

Active

The official status still shows this bill as active or still awaiting another formal step.

Sponsor: KEOHOKAPU-LEE LOY
Last action: 2026-02-02
Official status: Re-Referred to EDU, WAM.
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The effective date provided in the summary (7/1/3000) appears to be an error or placeholder, as it does not align with typical legislative processes.

Endemic Plant Seed Bank Program

This bill requires the University of Hawaii to establish a seed bank pilot program to preserve and promote endemic Hawaiian plants.

What This Bill Does

Requires the University of Hawaii at Manoa College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resilience to start an endemic plant seed bank pilot program.
The pilot program focuses on preserving and promoting the planting of endemic Hawaiian plant species.
The university must submit a report with findings and recommendations by early 2027.
The pilot program ends on June 30, 2027.

Who It Names or Affects

University of Hawaii at Manoa College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resilience
Endemic Hawaiian plants

Terms To Know

Endemic Plants: Plants that naturally grow in a specific area and nowhere else.
Seed Bank: A place where seeds are stored to protect plant species from extinction.

Limits and Unknowns

The bill does not specify how the seed bank will be funded.
It is unclear what actions, if any, will follow after the pilot program ends in June 2027.

Amendments

These notes stay tied to the official amendment files and metadata from the legislature.

HD1

Hawaii published version HD1

Plain English: This amendment requires the University of Hawaii at Manoa College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resilience to create a pilot program for an endemic plant seed bank by July 1, 2025.

The amendment mandates the establishment of a seed bank pilot program focused on preserving and promoting Hawaiian endemic plants.
It requires the university to submit a report with findings and recommendations before June 30, 2027.

The effective date listed as July 1, 3000 appears incorrect or is likely a placeholder and needs clarification.

Bill History

2026-02-02 S
Re-Referred to EDU, WAM.
2025-12-08 D
Carried over to 2026 Regular Session.
2025-03-13 S
The committee on HRE deferred the measure.
2025-03-10 S
The committee(s) on HRE has scheduled a public hearing on 03-13-25 3:05PM; Conference Room 229 & Videoconference.
2025-03-06 S
Referred to HRE, WAM.
2025-03-06 S
Passed First Reading.
2025-03-06 S
Received from House (Hse. Com. No. 358).
2025-03-04 H
Passed Third Reading with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Pierick, Ward excused (2). Transmitted to Senate.
2025-02-28 H
Reported from FIN (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1111), recommending passage on Third Reading.
2025-02-26 H
The committee on FIN recommend that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes were as follows: 15 Ayes: Representative(s) Yamashita, Takenouchi, Grandinetti, Holt, Hussey, Keohokapu-Lee Loy, Kitagawa, Kusch, Lamosao, Lee, M., Miyake, Morikawa, Templo, Alcos, Reyes Oda; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and 1 Excused: Representative(s) Ward.
2025-02-26 H
Bill scheduled for decision making on Wednesday, 02-26-25 11:00AM in conference room 308 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
2025-02-25 H
The committee(s) on FIN recommend(s) that the measure be deferred until 02-26-25.
2025-02-21 H
Bill scheduled to be heard by FIN on Tuesday, 02-25-25 2:00PM in House conference room 308 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
2025-02-13 H
Report adopted; referred to the committee(s) on FIN with none voting aye with reservations; Representative(s) Pierick voting no (1) and Representative(s) Cochran, Kitagawa, Ward excused (3).
2025-02-13 H
Reported from HED (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 612), recommending referral to FIN.
2025-02-12 H
The committee on HED recommend that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes were as follows: 10 Ayes: Representative(s) Garrett, Amato, Evslin, Kapela, Kila, La Chica, Olds, Woodson, Muraoka, Souza; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and 1 Excused: Representative(s) Sayama.
2025-02-07 H
Bill scheduled to be heard by HED on Wednesday, 02-12-25 2:00PM in House conference room 309 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
2025-02-06 H
Passed Second Reading as amended in HD 1 and referred to the committee(s) on HED with none voting aye with reservations; Representative(s) Pierick voting no (1) and Representative(s) Ward excused (1).
2025-02-06 H
Reported from AGR (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 193) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to HED.
2025-02-05 H
The committee on AGR recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 4 Ayes: Representative(s) Kahaloa, Kusch, Lowen, Perruso; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and 2 Excused: Representative(s) Quinlan, Ward.
2025-01-31 H
Bill scheduled to be heard by AGR on Wednesday, 02-05-25 9:30AM in House conference room 325 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
2025-01-28 H
Re-referred to AGR, HED, FIN, referral sheet 7
2025-01-27 H
Referred to HED, FIN, referral sheet 4
2025-01-23 H
Introduced and Pass First Reading.

Official Summary Text

RELATING TO ENDEMIC PLANTS.
University of Hawaii; College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resilience; Endemic Plants; Seed Bank; Pilot Program
Requires the University of Hawaii at Manoa College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resilience to establish an endemic plant seed bank pilot program to preserve and promote the planting of plant species that are endemic to Hawaii. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

HB1337

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

1337

THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2025

STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

relating
to ENDEMIC plants
.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

����
SECTION
1.
�
The legislature finds that seed banks
are one of the most prevalent and practical approaches to the conservation of
resources for habitat restoration and are important in preserving plant
biodiversity.
�
Endemic seed banking has
become increasingly important as over one-half of Hawaii's native flora are at
risk of extirpation or extinction due to human impacts.
�
The legislature therefore finds that this Act
is an issue of statewide concern.

����
SECTION 2.
�
(a)
�

The university of Hawaii shall establish an endemic plant seed bank
pilot program.

����
(b)
�
The pilot program shall focus on the
development of a seed bank to preserve and promote the planting of plant species
that are endemic to Hawaii.

����
(c)
�
The university of Hawaii shall submit a
report on its findings and recommendations, including any proposed legislation,
to the legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the
regular session of 2027.

����
(d)
�
The pilot program shall end on June 30, 2027.

����
SECTION 3.
�
This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

INTRODUCED BY:

_____________________________

Report Title:

University
of Hawaii; Endemic Plants; Seed Bank; Pilot Program

Description:

Requires
the University of Hawaii to establish an endemic plant seed bank pilot program
to preserve and promote the planting of plant
species that are endemic
to Hawaii
.

The summary description
of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is
not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.