HB1951 • 2026

RELATING TO BIOSECURITY.

Agriculture Budget Education

Active

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

Sponsor: CHUN, KAHALOA, KUSCH, LOWEN, MATSUMOTO, PERRUSO
Last action: 2026-02-20
Official status: 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) Quinlan excused (1).
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The bill summary does not provide specific details on long-term funding or initial focus areas, leaving these points uncertain.

Establishing a Biosecurity Center to Fight Invasive Species

This bill requires the University of Hawaii at Manoa's College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resilience to create a biosecurity center that will work on detecting, monitoring, eradicating, and managing invasive species. It also provides funding for this purpose.

What This Bill Does

Creates a Center on Biosecurity Research, Education, and Extension at the University of Hawaii's College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resilience to address invasive species issues.
Appropriates $45 million for fiscal year 2026-2027 to fund construction of biocontainment labs, greenhouses, office buildings, and facilities for detector dogs.
Hires staff including extension agents, scientists, data managers, website specialists, and laboratory technicians to support the center's work.

Who It Names or Affects

The University of Hawaii at Manoa College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resilience
Hawaii's agricultural industry, natural ecosystems, and urban landscapes

Terms To Know

Invasive species: Plants, animals, or other organisms that are not native to an area but can cause harm to the environment, economy, or human health.
Biocontainment lab: A laboratory designed and operated to prevent the accidental release of harmful biological agents.

Limits and Unknowns

The bill does not specify how the center will be funded beyond fiscal year 2026-2027.
It is unclear what specific invasive species the center will focus on initially.
The effectiveness and long-term impact of the center's work are uncertain.

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's College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resilience to establish a Center for Biosecurity Research, Education, and Extension to address invasive species issues and provides funding for its establishment.

Establishes a center focused on biosecurity research, education, and extension within the University of Hawaii at Manoa's College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resilience.
Provides funds for planning, design, construction, and staffing to support the new center’s operations.

The exact amount of funding is not specified in the provided text.
The amendment includes a future effective date (July 1, 3000) which seems unusual and may be an error or placeholder.

HD2

Hawaii published version HD2

Plain English: This amendment requires the University of Hawaii at Manoa's College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resilience to establish a Center on Biosecurity Research, Education, and Extension to address invasive species issues.

Establishes a center focused on biosecurity research, education, and extension to tackle invasive species problems.
Allocates funds for planning, design, construction of facilities, and hiring staff necessary for the center's operations.

The exact amount of funding appropriated is not specified in the provided text.
The effective date listed as July 1, 3000 appears to be an error or placeholder and should likely be a future year closer to enactment.

Bill History

2026-02-20 H
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) Quinlan excused (1).
2026-02-20 H
Reported from AGR (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 591-26) as amended in HD 2, recommending referral to FIN.
2026-02-18 H
The committee on AGR recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 7 Ayes: Representative(s) Chun, Kusch, Kahaloa, Lowen, Perruso, Quinlan, Matsumoto; Ayes with reservations: none; 0 Noes: none; and 0 Excused: none.
2026-02-13 H
Bill scheduled to be heard by AGR on Wednesday, 02-18-26 9:30AM in House conference room 325 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
2026-02-10 H
Passed Second Reading as amended in HD 1 and referred to the committee(s) on AGR with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and none excused (0).
2026-02-09 H
Reported from HED (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 124-26) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to AGR.
2026-02-04 H
The committee on HED recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 10 Ayes: Representative(s) Garrett, Amato, Evslin, Kapela, Kila, La Chica, Olds, Woodson, Muraoka, Souza; Ayes with reservations: none; 0 Noes: none; and 0 Excused: none.
2026-01-30 H
Bill scheduled to be heard by HED on Wednesday, 02-04-26 2:00PM in House conference room 309 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
2026-01-28 H
Referred to HED, AGR, FIN, referral sheet 3
2026-01-26 H
Introduced and Pass First Reading.
2026-01-23 H
Pending introduction.

Official Summary Text

RELATING TO BIOSECURITY.
UH College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resilience; Center on Biosecurity Research, Education, and Extension; Appropriation ($)
Requires the College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resilience to establish a Center on Biosecurity Research, Education, and Extension to develop and implement innovative solutions for detecting, monitoring, eradicating, and managing invasive species. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

HB1951

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

1951

THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026

STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

relating
to biosecurity
.

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

����
SECTION
1.
�
The legislature finds that invasive
species pose a serious threat to Hawaii's agriculture, urban landscapes, and
natural ecosystems.
�
The coconut
rhinoceros beetle has decimated the coconut palm industry on the island of Oahu
and is spreading to other islands, altering the landscape aesthetics and
threatening food production.
�
Coffee
berry borer and coffee leaf rust have substantially reduced coffee production
in the State, and the two-lined spittle bug is devastating pastures, which
threatens the viability of Hawaii's livestock industry.
�
Invasive mammals and birds, such as axis
deer, wild pigs, wild goats, and rose-ringed parakeets, are devastating
agricultural and natural ecosystems in the counties of Maui, Hawaii, and
Kauai.
�
Additionally, the coqui frog is
causing noise pollution and threatening the State's native and endangered
species.

����
The
purpose of this Act is to appropriate funds to the university of Hawaii at
Manoa college of tropical agriculture and human resilience to establish a
center on biosecurity research, education, and extension to develop and
implement innovative solutions for detecting, monitoring, eradicating, and
managing invasive species.

����
SECTION
2.
�
The university of Hawaii at Manoa college
of tropical agriculture and human resilience shall establish a center on
biosecurity research, education, and extension to develop and implement
innovative solutions for detecting, monitoring, eradicating, and managing
invasive species by:

����
(1)
�
Developing predictive risk assessment and
spread models for anticipated invasive species to guide the State's proactive
biosecurity response plans;

����
(2)
�
Develop rapid detection methods, tracking
systems, and eradication protocols for invasive species;

����
(3)
�
Develop and implement area-wide and
community-based solutions, including the use of canines, to detect, eradicate,
and manage invasive species in collaboration with the department of agriculture
and biosecurity and other agencies and organizations;

����
(4)
�
Identify chemical control options through the
IR-4 program and work with the department of agriculture and biosecurity to
register them in Hawaii;

����
(5)
�
Identify and evaluate biocontrol agents under
biocontainment and coordinate their multiplication and release for managing
invasive species;

����
(6)
�
Provide rapid pest and disease diagnostics
through the university of Hawaii at Manoa college of tropical agriculture and
human resilience's plant pest and disease diagnostics and animal disease
diagnostics labs;

����
(7)
�
Disseminate data and information to the public
through a dedicated website and public campaigns through the university of
Hawaii at Manoa college of tropical agriculture and human resilience's
cooperative extension;

����
(8)
�
Collaborate with governmental, non-profit, and
for-profit organizations in developing useful byproducts from established
invasive species, including but not limited to timber, fiber, meat, animal
feed, biofertilizer, and biochar; and

����
(9)
�
Develop a certificate and a one-year
professional master's degree in biosecurity.

����
SECTION
3.
�
There is appropriated out of the
general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $45,000,000 or so much
thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2026-2027 for the university of
Hawaii at Manoa college of tropical agriculture and human resilience to
establish a center on biosecurity research, education, and extension, to be
allocated as follows:

����
(1)
�
$25,000,000 for design, plans, and
construction of biocontainment labs and greenhouses;

����
(2)
�
$18,000,000 for design, plans, and
construction of a standard office and laboratory building and an outdoor canine
facility for detector dogs; and

����
(3)
�
$2,000,000 to establish two full-time
equivalent (2.0 FTE) extension agents in wildlife and weed management, one
full-time equivalent (1.0 FTE) risk assessment/spread modeling scientist, one
full-time equivalent (1.0 FTE) data manager, one full-time equivalent (1.0 FTE)
website and information dissemination specialist, three full-time equivalent
(3.0 FTE) administrative professional technical laboratory technicians, one
full-time equivalent (1.0 FTE) administrative professional technical fiscal
support specialist, and one full-time equivalent (1.0 FTE) administrative
professional technical office support.

����
The sum
appropriated shall be expended by the university of Hawaii for the purposes of
this Act.

����
SECTION 4.
�
This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2026.

INTRODUCED BY:

_____________________________

Report Title:

UH College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resilience;
Center for Biosecurity Research, Education, and Extension; Appropriation

Description:

Requires
the C
ollege of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resilience to establish a
Center for Biosecurity Research, Education, and Extension to develop and
implement innovative solutions for detecting, monitoring, eradicating, and
managing invasive species.
�
Appropriates
funds.

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