REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND BIOSECURITY TO CONVENE A WORKING GROUP TO IMPROVE CONSUMER AWARENESS OF INVASIVE PLANT SPECIES, REDUCE THE SPREAD OF INVASIVE SPECIES THROUGH PLANT SALES, AND CREATE A COMPREHENSIVE LABELING FRAMEWORK THAT PROVIDES AN INDICATION OF A PLANT SPECIES' INVASIVENESS RISK WHEN SOLD IN THE STATE.

HCR60

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.C.R. NO.

60

THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026

STATE OF HAWAII

HOUSE CONCURRENT

RESOLUTION

requesting the department of agriculture and BIOSECURITY
to convene a working group to improve consumer awareness of invasive plant
species, reduce the spread of invasive species through plant sales, and create
a comprehensive labeling framework that provides an indication of a plant
species' invasiveness risk when sold in the State.

����
WHEREAS, the
introduction of invasive plant species into Hawaii's ecosystem has serious
environmental implications, including degrading watershed integrity,
accelerating erosion, and decreasing biodiversity; and

����
WHEREAS,
invasive plant species also contribute to significant agricultural harm by
causing crop destruction, competing with crops for resources, creating fire
hazards, increasing costs, and reducing agricultural productivity; and

����
WHEREAS,
approximately ninety percent of invasive plants in Hawaii have been imported
intentionally, primarily through horticulture; and

����
WHEREAS,
invasive plant species are sold within the State and often unknowingly
purchased by consumers, highlighting a clear disconnect between consumer values
and the information currently available at the point of sale; and

����
WHEREAS, the
list of plants designated by the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity as
noxious weeds, which are prohibited from import or sale in the State, was last
updated in 1992; and

����
WHEREAS, the
list contains species that are now widespread and omits some invasive plant
species that pose the highest risks to the State; and

����
WHEREAS, the
Plant Pono Program was created to help Hawaii residents and members of the
nursery industry make informed decisions about plant purchases and sales and
reduce the spread of invasive species; and

����
WHEREAS, the
Plant Pono Program provides a publicly accessible website and resources that
allow users to select plants that are less likely to escape cultivation and
harm native forests, watersheds, agriculture, and biodiversity; and

����
WHEREAS, initiatives
aimed at increasing awareness of invasive plant species have been effective
abroad, including in New Zealand, which has implemented successful initiatives
like the Weedbusters Program and Great Weeds Hunt, which seek to reduce the
population of invasive plant species through public education and community
engagement; and

����
WHEREAS, despite
this initiative, issues related to invasive species persist, demonstrating the
need for further, collaborative efforts to raise consumer awareness about the
potential invasiveness of plants at a time and place when consumers are making
plant purchasing decisions; now, therefore,

����
BE IT
RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Thirty-third Legislature of the
State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2026, the Senate concurring, that the
Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity is requested to convene a working
group to improve consumer awareness of invasive plant species, reduce the
spread of invasive species through plant sales, and create a comprehensive
labeling framework that provides an indication of a plant species' invasiveness
risk when sold in the State; and

����
BE IT FURTHER
RESOLVED that the Chairperson of the Board of Agriculture and Biosecurity, or
the Chairperson's designee, is requested to serve as chairperson of the working
group; and

����
BE IT FURTHER
RESOLVED that the working group is requested to invite a representative from
each of the following organizations to participate in the working group:

����
(1)
�
Hawai
ʻ
i
Farm Bureau;

����
(2)
�
Hawaii Floriculture and Nursery Association;

����
(3)
�
Hawai
ʻ
i
Farmers Union United;

����
(4)
�
Coordinating Group on Alien Pest Species;

����
(5)
�
Retail Merchants of Hawai
ʻ
i; and

����
(6)
�
Invasive Species Committees, as selected by
the chairperson; and

����
BE IT FURTHER
RESOLVED that the working group is requested to submit a report of 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;
and

����
BE IT FURTHER
RESOLVED that the working group shall cease to exist on June 30, 2027; and

����
BE IT FURTHER
RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the
Chairperson of the Board of Agriculture and Biosecurity; Executive Director of
the Hawai
ʻ
i Farm
Bureau; President of the Hawaii Floriculture and Nursery Association; Chief
Executive Officer of Hawai
ʻ
i
Farmers Union United; Program Manager and Information Officer of the
Coordinating Group on Alien Pest Species; Interim President and Chief Executive
Officer of the Retail Merchants of Hawai
ʻ
i;
and Program Manager of the Big Island Invasive Species Committee, Project
Manager of the Kauai Invasive Species Committee, Manager of the Maui Invasive
Species Committee, and Manager of the Oahu Invasive Species Committee.

OFFERED BY:

_____________________________

Report Title:
�

Invasive
Plant Species; Working Group; Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity