RELATING TO THE COCONUT RHINOCEROS BEETLE PROGRAM.

Agriculture Budget

Active

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

Sponsor: MARTEN, AMATO, BELATTI, EVSLIN, GRANDINETTI, IWAMOTO, KAHALOA, KAPELA, KITAGAWA, LAMOSAO, LEE, M., LOWEN, MATSUMOTO, MORIKAWA, OLDS, PERRUSO, PIERICK, POEPOE, QUINLAN, REYES ODA, TAKAYAMA, TAM, TODD, WARD
Last action: 2026-04-17
Official status: Re-Referred to EDU/AEN, WAM.
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The exact amounts for some initiatives are not provided in the official bill text.

Coconut Rhinoceros Beetle Program Act

This act establishes short-term management initiatives and funds the University of Hawaii's coconut rhinoceros beetle response program to control infestations.

What This Bill Does

Creates a plan for educating tree trimmers, arborists, and landscapers about how to manage coconut rhinoceros beetles.
Provides money to help homeowners pay for treatments that protect their palm trees from the beetles.
Expands services to other islands if coconut rhinoceros beetles are found there.
Funds inspections of cargo between islands using dogs trained to find the beetles.

Who It Names or Affects

The University of Hawaii
Tree trimmers, arborists, and landscapers in Hawaii
Homeowners with palm trees

Terms To Know

Biocontrol: Using natural enemies like viruses to control pests.
Fiscal year: A period of one year used for budgeting and financial reporting.

Limits and Unknowns

The exact amount of money allocated for some initiatives is not specified.
This act does not address long-term solutions beyond the short-term management initiatives.
It's unclear how this funding will be managed or if it will continue after fiscal year 2026-2027.

Amendments

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

HD1

Hawaii published version HD1

Plain English: This amendment establishes short-term management initiatives for the coconut rhinoceros beetle response program and allocates funds to support these efforts.

The University of Hawaii will engage with tree trimmers, arborists, and the landscaping industry by providing annual workshops on best practices and posting a list of trained companies online.
Funds are allocated for subsidizing canopy treatments for residential palm owners.
Deployment of response teams to other islands when coconut rhinoceros beetles are detected is extended.
Canine inspections will be performed on high-risk cargo moving between islands in coordination with the Department of Agriculture.

The exact amounts for each funding allocation are not specified and need further clarification.
The effective date mentioned (July 1, 3000) appears to be an error or placeholder and needs correction.

HD2

Hawaii published version HD2

Plain English: The amendment provides funding and initiatives to manage coconut rhinoceros beetles, including training for professionals, subsidizing treatments for residents, extending services to other islands, canine inspections, and research on biocontrol.

Provides funds for training tree trimmers, arborists, and the landscaping industry about best management practices for coconut rhinoceros beetles.
Subsidizes canopy treatments for residential palm owners who need protection from beetle infestations.
Extends services to Hawaii island and other islands when coconut rhinoceros beetles are detected.
Allocates funds for canine inspections of high-risk cargo moving between islands.

The exact amounts of funding allocated for each initiative are not specified in the provided text.
Details on how the biocontrol research will be conducted and funded are not fully explained.

SD1

Hawaii published version SD1

Provides funds for training tree trimmers, arborists, and the landscaping industry about best management practices for coconut rhinoceros beetles.
Subsidizes canopy treatments for residential palm owners who need protection from beetle infestations.
Extends services to Hawaii island and other islands when coconut rhinoceros beetles are detected.
Allocates funds for canine inspections of high-risk cargo moving between islands.

The exact amounts of funding allocated for each initiative are not specified in the provided text.
Details on how the biocontrol research will be conducted and funded are not fully explained.

Bill History

2026-04-17 S
Re-Referred to EDU/AEN, WAM.
2026-03-20 H
Received notice of all Senate conferees being discharged (Sen. Com. No. 409).
2026-03-20 S
Senate Conferee(s) discharged.
2025-12-08 D
Carried over to 2026 Regular Session.
2025-04-17 H
Received notice of Senate conferees (Sen. Com. No. 826).
2025-04-17 S
Senate Conferees Appointed: Kim Chair; Gabbard, DeCoite Co-Chairs; Fevella.
2025-04-08 S
Received notice of disagreement (Hse. Com. No. 559).
2025-04-04 H
House disagrees with Senate amendment (s).
2025-04-03 H
Returned from Senate (Sen. Com. No. 548) in amended form (SD 1).
2025-04-03 S
Report Adopted; Passed Third Reading, as amended (SD 1). Ayes, 25; Aye(s) with reservations: none. Noes, 0 (none). Excused, 0 (none). Transmitted to House.
2025-04-01 S
48 Hrs. Notice 04-03-25.
2025-04-01 S
Reported from WAM (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1482) with recommendation of passage on Third Reading, as amended (SD 1).
2025-03-28 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, Aquino, DeCoite, Elefante, Hashimoto, Inouye, Kanuha, Kidani, Kim, Wakai, Fevella; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 1 Excused: Senator(s) Lee, C..
2025-03-25 S
The committee(s) on WAM will hold a public decision making on 03-28-25 10:02AM; Conference Room 211 & Videoconference.
2025-03-21 S
Report adopted; Passed Second Reading and referred to WAM.
2025-03-21 S
Reported from HRE/AEN (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1245) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading and referral to WAM.
2025-03-17 S
The committee(s) on AEN recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. 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.
2025-03-17 S
The committee(s) on HRE recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes in HRE were as follows: 5 Aye(s): Senator(s) Kim, Kidani, Fukunaga, Hashimoto, Fevella; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 0 Excused: none.
2025-03-10 S
The committee(s) on HRE/AEN has scheduled a public hearing on 03-17-25 1:00PM; Conference Room 224 & Videoconference.
2025-03-04 S
Referred to HRE/AEN, WAM.
2025-02-28 S
Passed First Reading.
2025-02-28 S
Received from House (Hse. Com. No. 29).
2025-02-27 H
Passed Third Reading with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Cochran, Pierick, Templo, Ward excused (4). Transmitted to Senate.
2025-02-27 H
Reported from FIN (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 871), recommending passage on Third Reading.
2025-02-20 H
The committee on FIN recommend that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes were as follows: 14 Ayes: Representative(s) Yamashita, Takenouchi, Grandinetti, Holt, Hussey, Keohokapu-Lee Loy, Kitagawa, Kusch, Lamosao, Lee, M., Miyake, Morikawa, Templo, Reyes Oda; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and 2 Excused: Representative(s) Alcos, Ward.
2025-02-18 H
Bill scheduled to be heard by FIN on Thursday, 02-20-25 2:00PM in House conference room 308 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
2025-02-12 H
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, Sayama, Ward excused (3).
2025-02-12 H
Reported from HED (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 438) as amended in HD 2, recommending referral to FIN.
2025-02-07 H
The committee on HED recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 9 Ayes: Representative(s) Garrett, Amato, Kapela, Kila, La Chica, Olds, Sayama, Woodson, Souza; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and 2 Excused: Representative(s) Evslin, Muraoka.
2025-02-04 H
Bill scheduled to be heard by HED on Friday, 02-07-25 2:00PM in University of Hawaii at Manoa, Bachman Hall, Board of Regents Conference Room 106, 2444 Dole Street VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
2025-02-03 H
Passed Second Reading as amended in HD 1 and referred to the committee(s) on HED with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Cochran, Ward excused (2).
2025-02-03 H
Reported from AGR (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 36) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to HED.
2025-01-29 H
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; Noes: none; and 1 Excused: Representative(s) Ward.
2025-01-23 H
Bill scheduled to be heard by AGR on Wednesday, 01-29-25 9:30AM in House conference room 325 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
2025-01-21 H
Referred to AGR, HED, FIN, referral sheet 2
2025-01-21 H
Introduced and Pass First Reading.
2025-01-17 H
Pending introduction.

Official Summary Text

RELATING TO THE COCONUT RHINOCEROS BEETLE PROGRAM.
Department of Agriculture; University of Hawaii; Coconut Rhinoceros Beetle; Prevention; Appropriations ($)
Establishes short-term management initiatives for the coconut rhinoceros beetle response program. Appropriates funds for activities and positions related to coconut rhinoceros beetle infestation control. Effective 7/1/3000. (SD1)

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

HB643

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

643

THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2025

STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

relating
to the coconut rhinoceros beetle program
.

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

����
SECTION
1.
�
The legislature finds that
Oryctes
rhinoceros
, or the coconut rhinoceros beetle, can have devastating impacts
on palm species that are foundational to the State's agricultural economy,
cultural heritage, and ecosystems.
�
Native
to Southeast Asia, adult coconut rhinoceros beetles feed on emerging palm
fronds, causing damage that can often be severe enough to kill the plant.
�
The coconut rhinoceros beetle was first
detected in the State in 2013 and is now established on Oahu, with smaller
infestations on the windward side of Kauai, Waikaloa village on Hawaii island,
and throughout the State.

����
The
legislature further finds that the coconut rhinoceros beetle response program
is a coordinated partnership among the university of Hawaii, United States
Department of Agriculture, Hawaii department of agriculture, and other key
organizations.
�
At the university of
Hawaii at Manoa lab, the program investigates new control methods and best
practices, and a data team analyzes information from traps, mulch surveys, and
tree damage.
�
An outreach team also provides
information to the public and professionals while supporting community response
efforts.
�
While the expertise and
methodology developed was not available at the start of the infestation on
Oahu, it can now be deployed to prevent infestations on islands that are not
yet infested.
�
For infested areas, the
program currently educates arborists and tree trimmers to protect trees with
contact pesticides.

����
Additionally,
the program is working on a long-term solution through a biocontrol, which has
been found to be effective in other parts of the world.
�
The program is also working on permitting to
bring in agents and hopes to host range studies in early 2026.
�
Researchers have a rearing colony of coconut
rhinoceros beetles at the university and need to test whether the viral strains
that kill the beetles affect any native species.
�
Once an appropriate strain is identified, it
could be released on infected beetles to spread and suppress the population in
the wild.

����
The
legislature also finds that emergency response funding from the United States
Department of Agriculture is ending, as it is no longer considered an emergency
after more than ten years.
�
Stable
year-to�year funding to the university of Hawaii to support key positions
within the core coconut rhinoceros beetle response program would assist in
leveraging additional federal funds.

����
The
purpose of this Act is to:

����
(1)
�
Establish short-term management initiatives
for the coconut rhinoceros beetle response program; and

����
(2)
�
Appropriate funds to support the coconut
rhinoceros beetle response program's activities and positions.

����
SECTION
2.
�
In its coconut rhinoceros beetle
response, the university of Hawaii shall incorporate the following short-term
management initiatives:

����
(1)
�
Engagement with tree trimmers, arborists, and
the landscaping industry by educating them on the current best management
practices and combating the misinformation circulating about coconut rhinoceros
beetle treatment options; provided that annual workshops shall be held on each
island; provided further that a list of companies that receive the training
shall be posted online for use by consumers;

����
(2)
�
Subsidizing canopy treatments for residential
palm owners;

����
(3)
�
Extending services by the coconut rhinoceros
beetle response program to Hawaii island and the islands of Maui, Molokai, and
Lanai when coconut rhinoceros beetles are detected;

����
(4)
�
Performing canine inspections, in cooperation
with the department of agriculture, on high-risk cargo moving between islands;

����
(5)
�
Subsidizing container fumigation of high-risk
materials traveling between islands; and

����
(6)
�
Conducting research with an emphasis on
biocontrol.

����
SECTION 3.
�
There is appropriated out of the general
revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $
or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2025-2026 and the same
sum or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2026-2027 to be
allocated as follows:

����
(1)
�
$15,000 for training tree trimmers, arborists,
and the landscaping industry on the current best management practices about
coconut rhinoceros beetles;

����
(2)
�
$160,000 for subsidizing canopy treatments for
residential palm owners;

����
(3)
�
$
for extending deployment of coconut rhinoceros beetle response teams to Hawaii
island and the islands of Maui, Molokai, and Lanai when coconut rhinoceros
beetles are detected;

����
(4)
�
$250,000 to perform canine inspections for
coconut rhinoceros beetles for high-risk cargo moving between islands;

����
(5)
�
$
for subsidizing container fumigation of high-risk materials traveling between
islands; and

����
(6)
�
$200,000 for
full-time equivalent ( FTE) permanent positions for
biocontrol research.

����
The sums

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, 2025.

INTRODUCED BY:

_____________________________

Report Title:

Coconut
Rhinoceros Beetle; Prevention; University of Hawaii; Appropriation

Description:

Establishes short-term management initiatives for the
coconut rhinoceros beetle response program.
�
Appropriates funds for
activities and positions related to coconut rhinoceros beetle infestation
control.

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