HB2207 • 2026

RELATING TO INVASIVE SPECIES.

Agriculture

Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor: KAHALOA, BELATTI, CHUN, EVSLIN, GARRETT, GRANDINETTI, ILAGAN, KAPELA, KEOHOKAPU-LEE LOY, LOWEN, MARTEN, MATAYOSHI, MIYAKE, MORIKAWA, OLDS, PERRUSO, POEPOE, REYES ODA, SOUZA, TAKAYAMA, TAKENOUCHI, TAM, TARNAS, TEMPLO
Last action: 2026-05-07
Official status: Transmitted to Governor.
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The bill summary and text do not provide specific details on safety measures beyond general guidelines, nor does it specify penalties for non-compliance.

Rules for Fine Mesh Nets to Protect Plants

This bill allows the use of fine mesh nets, including monofilament netting, to protect plants from invasive species like the coconut rhinoceros beetle and requires the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity to create rules for their sale and distribution.

What This Bill Does

Allows the use of certain monofilament netting for protecting plants against invasive species.
Requires the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity to establish rules allowing the sale and distribution of fine mesh nets, including monofilament netting, in the state to protect plants from the coconut rhinoceros beetle.

Who It Names or Affects

The Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity
People who sell or use fine mesh nets

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.
Monofilament netting: A type of fishing and pest control net made from a single strand of plastic fiber.

Limits and Unknowns

The bill does not specify when the rules will be implemented or how long it will take.
It is unclear if there are any penalties for breaking these new rules.

Amendments

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

CD1

Hawaii published version CD1

Plain English: HB2207 CD1 HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES H.B.

HB2207 CD1 HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES H.B.
NO.
2207 THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026 H.D.
2 STATE OF HAWAII S.D.

HD1

Hawaii published version HD1

Plain English: HB2207 HD1 HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES H.B.

HB2207 HD1 HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES H.B.
NO.
2207 THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026 H.D.
1 STATE OF HAWAII A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO INVASIVE SPECIES .

HD2

Hawaii published version HD2

Plain English: HB2207 HD2 HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES H.B.

HB2207 HD2 HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES H.B.
NO.
2207 THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026 H.D.
2 STATE OF HAWAII A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO INVASIVE SPECIES .

SD1

Hawaii published version SD1

Plain English: HB2207 SD1 HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES H.B.

HB2207 SD1 HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES H.B.
NO.
2207 THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026 H.D.
2 STATE OF HAWAII S.D.

SD2

Hawaii published version SD2

Plain English: HB2207 SD2 HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES H.B.

HB2207 SD2 HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES H.B.
NO.
2207 THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026 H.D.
2 STATE OF HAWAII S.D.

Bill History

2026-05-08 S
Received notice of passage on Final Reading in House (Hse. Com. No. 888).
2026-05-07 H
Transmitted to Governor.
2026-05-06 H
Received notice of Final Reading (Sen. Com. No. 816).
2026-05-06 H
Passed Final Reading as amended in CD 1 with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and none excused (0).
2026-05-06 S
Passed Final Reading, as amended (CD 1). Ayes, 25; Aye(s) with reservations: none . 0 No(es): none. 0 Excused: none.
2026-05-01 S
48 Hrs. Notice (as amended CD 1) 05-06-26
2026-05-01 S
Reported from Conference Committee as amended CD 1 (Conf. Com. Rep. No. 118-26).
2026-05-01 H
Forty-eight (48) hours notice Wednesday, 05-06-26.
2026-05-01 H
Reported from Conference Committee (Conf Com. Rep. No. 118-26) as amended in (CD 1).
2026-05-01 H
The Conference Committee recommends that the measure be Passed, with Amendments. The votes were as follows: 5 Ayes: Representative(s) Chun, Matayoshi, Kusch, Kahaloa, Matsumoto; Ayes with reservations: none; 0 Noes: none; and 0 Excused: none.
2026-05-01 S
The Conference committee recommends that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes of the Senate Conference Managers were as follows: 4 Aye(s): Senator(s) Gabbard, Kanuha, DeCoite, Richards; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 0 Excused: none.
2026-05-01 S
Conference committee meeting to reconvene on 05-01-26 12:45 PM; Conference Room 325.
2026-04-30 S
Conference committee meeting to reconvene on 05-01-26 9:15AM; Conference Room 325.
2026-04-28 H
Bill scheduled for Conference Committee Meeting on Thursday, 04-30-26 9:35AM in conference room 325.
2026-04-24 S
Received notice of appointment of House conferees (Hse. Com. No. 820).
2026-04-23 H
House Conferees Appointed: Chun, Matayoshi, Kusch Co-Chairs; Kahaloa, Matsumoto.
2026-04-23 H
Re-referred to AGR, CPC, FIN, referral sheet 33
2026-04-20 H
Received notice of Senate conferees (Sen. Com. No. 713).
2026-04-20 S
Senate Conferees Appointed: Gabbard Chair; Kanuha Co-Chair; DeCoite, Richards.
2026-04-17 S
Received notice of disagreement (Hse. Com. No. 780).
2026-04-16 H
House disagrees with Senate amendment (s).
2026-04-14 H
Returned from Senate (Sen. Com. No. 664) in amended form (SD 2).
2026-04-14 S
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.
2026-04-09 S
48 Hrs. Notice 04-14-26.
2026-04-09 S
Reported from WAM (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 3671) with recommendation of passage on Third Reading, as amended (SD 2).
2026-04-06 S
The committee(s) on WAM recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in WAM were as follows: 12 Aye(s): Senator(s) Dela Cruz, Moriwaki, DeCoite, Elefante, Hashimoto, Inouye, Kanuha, Kidani, Kim, Richards, Wakai, Fevella; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 1 Excused: Senator(s) Lee, C..
2026-04-01 S
The committee(s) on WAM will hold a public decision making on 04-06-26 10:32AM; Conference Room 211 & Videoconference.
2026-03-24 S
Report adopted; Passed Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referred to WAM.
2026-03-24 S
Reported from AEN (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 3159) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to WAM.
2026-03-18 S
The committee(s) on AEN recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in AEN were as follows: 5 Aye(s): Senator(s) Gabbard, Richards, DeCoite, Rhoads, Awa; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 0 Excused: none.
2026-03-13 S
The committee(s) on AEN has scheduled a public hearing on 03-18-26 3:30PM; Conference Room 224 & Videoconference.
2026-03-12 S
Referred to AEN, WAM.
2026-03-12 S
Passed First Reading.
2026-03-12 S
Received from House (Hse. Com. No. 378).
2026-03-10 H
Passed Third Reading as amended in HD 2 with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and none excused (0). Transmitted to Senate.
2026-03-06 H
Forty-eight (48) hours notice Tuesday, 03-10-26.
2026-03-06 H
Reported from CPC (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1040-26) as amended in HD 2, recommending passage on Third Reading.
2026-02-24 H
The committee on CPC recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 11 Ayes: Representative(s) Matayoshi, Grandinetti, Chun, Ilagan, Ichiyama, Iwamoto, Kong, Lowen, Marten, Tam, Pierick; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and Excused: none.
2026-02-20 H
Bill scheduled to be heard by CPC on Tuesday, 02-24-26 2:00PM in House conference room 329 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
2026-02-18 H
Passed Second Reading as amended in HD 1 and referred to the committee(s) on CPC with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and none excused (0).
2026-02-18 H
Reported from AGR (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 384-26) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to CPC.
2026-02-11 H
The committee on AGR recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 5 Ayes: Representative(s) Chun, Kusch, Kahaloa, Perruso, Matsumoto; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and 2 Excused: Representative(s) Lowen, Quinlan.
2026-02-06 H
Bill scheduled to be heard by AGR on Wednesday, 02-11-26 9:30AM in House conference room 325 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
2026-01-30 H
Referred to AGR, CPC, referral sheet 5
2026-01-28 H
Introduced and Pass First Reading.
2026-01-26 H
Pending introduction.

Official Summary Text

RELATING TO INVASIVE SPECIES.
DAB; Rules; Fine Mesh Nets; Monofilament Netting; Coconut Rhinoceros Beetle
Allows the use of certain monofilament netting for the protection of plants against invasive species. Requires the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity to establish rules allowing the sale and distribution of fine mesh nets, including monofilament netting, in the State to protect plants from the coconut rhinoceros beetle. (CD1)

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

HB2207

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

2207

THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026

STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

relating
to invasive species
.

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

����
SECTION 1.
�
The
legislature finds that the coconut rhinoceros beetle can have devastating
impacts on palm species that are foundational to the State's agricultural
economy, cultural heritage, and ecosystems.
�

The use of fine meshed nets can be an effective means of preventing
adult coconut rhinoceros beetles from accessing vulnerable plants, effectively
mitigating their impact on local plants and the environment.
�
Additionally, fine mesh netting, meant for
non-aquatic usage, is a regulated device for pest control under the Federal
Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (7 U.S.C 136).

����
The legislature further finds that even
though Act 184, Session Laws of Hawaii 2024, authorizes the department of
agriculture and biosecurity to adopt rules for the use of banned monofilament netting
such power is only extended for bird keeping.
�
The legislature is concerned that, due to this
limiting authority, the ability of the department to promulgate rules to allow
for the sale of
monofilament netting for coconut
rhinoceros beetle
interdiction may be thwarted.

����
Accordingly, the purpose of this Act is to:

����
(1)
�
Allow
for the use of monofilament netting for purposes of protecting plants against
invasive species under certain conditions; and

����
(2)
�
Require
the
department of agriculture and biosecurity
to
establish rules allowing the sale and distribution of fine mesh nets in the
State to protect plants from the coconut rhinoceros beetle
.

����
SECTION
2
.
�
Section 141-17, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is
amended to read as follows:

����
"[
[
]
�141-17[
]
]
�
Fine meshed
nets; invasive species; permissible; rules.
�
(a)
�
Notwithstanding any other law to the
contrary, fine meshed nets
, including monofilament netting of an appropriate
mesh size
may be used for the protection of plants against invasive
species, as determined by the department of agriculture and biosecurity;
provided that the fine meshed nets shall be applied in a manner that is
unlikely to entangle birds, become dislodged and enter water, or entangle or
disturb native and beneficial animals, including but not limited to
pollinators, ladybugs or lady beetles, and net-winged insects.

����
(b)
�
The department of agriculture and
biosecurity shall adopt rules in accordance with chapter 91 to implement this
section, including but not limited to establishing requirements related to
filament diameter, color, and the inclusion of visual cues to prevent
non-targeted entanglement [
and
]
;
prohibiting the use of mist net
material [
that is used
]
designed
for bird work[
.
]
; and
allowing the distribution and sale of fine mesh nets, including monofilament
netting of an appropriate mesh size; provided that fine mesh nets may be sold
solely for the purpose of protecting plants from
the coconut
rhinoceros beetle (Oryctes rhinoceros).
"

����
SECTION 3.
�

Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken.
�
New statutory material is underscored.

����
SECTION 4.
�

This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

INTRODUCED BY:

_____________________________

Report Title:

DAB;
Rules; Fine Mesh Nets; Monofilament Netting; Coconut Rhinoceros Beetle

Description:

Requires
the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity to establish rules allowing the
sale and distribution of fine mesh nets, including monofilament netting, in the
State to protect plants from the coconut rhinoceros beetle.

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