SB177 • 2026

RELATING TO AQUACULTURE.

Agriculture

Passed Legislature

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

Sponsor: WAKAI, CHANG, DECOITE, HASHIMOTO, INOUYE, KANUHA, KIDANI, RICHARDS, Fevella, San Buenaventura
Last action: 2026-05-08
Official status: Enrolled to Governor.
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

Using official source text because the generated explanation was unavailable or could not be confirmed against the official bill text.

RELATING TO AQUACULTURE.

What This Bill Does

RELATING TO AQUACULTURE.
DAB; Division of Animal Industry; Aquaculture Program; Import Evaluation; Biological Aquatic Risk-Based Framework; Biocontainment Standards; Aquatic Livestock Authorizes the Division of Animal Industry of the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity to adopt, amend, and repeal rules to develop an evaluation and authorization process to import and transport aquatic livestock in the State.
Requires the Aquaculture Program to develop a biological aquatic risk-based framework and biocontainment standards for the aquatic livestock evaluation and authorization process.
(CD1)

Limits and Unknowns

This entry is temporarily using official source text because the generated explanation could not be confirmed against the official bill text during the last sync.

Amendments

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

CD1

Hawaii published version CD1

Plain English: SB177 CD1 THE SENATE S.B.

SB177 CD1 THE SENATE S.B.
NO.
177 THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2025 S.D.
1 STATE OF HAWAII H.D.

HD1

Hawaii published version HD1

Plain English: SB177 HD1 THE SENATE S.B.

SB177 HD1 THE SENATE S.B.
NO.
177 THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2025 S.D.
1 STATE OF HAWAII H.D.

SD1

Hawaii published version SD1

Plain English: SB177 SD1 THE SENATE S.B.

SB177 SD1 THE SENATE S.B.
NO.
177 THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2025 S.D.
1 STATE OF HAWAII A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO AQUACULTURE .

Bill History

2026-05-08 S
Enrolled to Governor.
2026-05-08 S
Received notice of passage on Final Reading in House (Hse. Com. No. 888).
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; Representative(s) Belatti, Perruso, Poepoe voting no (3) 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 H
Forty-eight (48) hours notice Wednesday, 05-06-26.
2026-05-01 H
Reported from Conference Committee (Conf Com. Rep. No. 181-26) as amended in (CD 1).
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. 181-26).
2026-05-01 H
The Conference Committee recommends that the measure be Passed, with Amendments. The votes were as follows: 4 Ayes: Representative(s) Chun, Matayoshi, Kusch, 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: 2 Aye(s): Senator(s) Gabbard, Richards; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 1 Excused: Senator(s) Awa.
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.
2026-04-29 S
Conference committee meeting to reconvene on 04-30-26 9:30AM; Conference Room 325.
2026-04-28 S
Conference committee meeting to reconvene on 04-29-26 9:30AM; Conference Room 325.
2026-04-27 S
Conference committee meeting scheduled for 04-28-26 9:35AM; Conference Room 325.
2026-04-23 S
Received notice of appointment of House conferees (Hse. Com. No. 811).
2026-04-22 H
House Conferees Appointed: Chun, Matayoshi, Kusch Co-Chairs; Matsumoto.
2026-04-22 H
Received notice of Senate conferees (Sen. Com. No. 720).
2026-04-21 S
Senate Conferees Appointed: Gabbard Chair; Richards Co-Chair; Awa.
2026-04-02 S
Received notice of the discharge of all House Conferees (Hse. Com. No. 457).
2026-04-01 H
House Conferee(s) discharged.
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.
2025-04-25 H
Conference Committee Meeting will reconvene on Friday, 04-25-25 2:40 PM; Conference Room 411.
2025-04-25 H
Conference Committee Meeting will reconvene on Friday, 04-25-25 at 10:50AM in Conference Room 325.
2025-04-24 S
Conference committee meeting to reconvene on 04-25-25 9:40AM; Conference Room 325.
2025-04-23 S
Conference committee meeting to reconvene on 04-24-25 9:30AM; Conference Room 325.
2025-04-22 S
Conference committee meeting to reconvene on 04-23-25 9:31AM; Conference Room 325.
2025-04-21 S
Received notice of appointment of House conferees (Hse. Com. No. 754).
2025-04-17 S
Conference committee meeting scheduled for 04-22-25 9:30AM; Conference Room 325.
2025-04-17 H
House Conferees Appointed: Kahaloa, Matayoshi, Kusch Co-Chairs; Quinlan, Pierick.
2025-04-15 H
Received notice of Senate conferees (Sen. Com. No. 789).
2025-04-15 S
Senate Conferees Appointed: Gabbard Chair; Wakai Co-Chair; Richards, Awa.
2025-04-08 H
Received notice of disagreement (Sen. Com. No. 774).
2025-04-08 S
Senate disagrees with House amendments.
2025-04-08 S
Received from House (Hse. Com. No. 572).
2025-04-04 H
Passed Third Reading with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Cochran, Kapela excused (2). Transmitted to Senate.
2025-04-04 H
Passed Second Reading; placed on the calendar for Third Reading with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Cochran, Kapela excused (2).
2025-04-04 H
Reported from FIN (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1963), recommending passage on Third Reading.
2025-04-01 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 1 Excused: Representative(s) Alcos.
2025-03-28 H
Bill scheduled to be heard by FIN on Tuesday, 04-01-25 2:00PM in House conference room 308 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
2025-03-20 H
Report adopted; referred to the committee(s) on FIN with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Cochran, Ward excused (2).
2025-03-20 H
Reported from CPC (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1381), recommending referral to FIN.
2025-03-18 H
The committee on CPC recommend that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes were as follows: 8 Ayes: Representative(s) Matayoshi, Chun, Ilagan, Ichiyama, Iwamoto, Kong, Lowen, Marten; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and 2 Excused: Representative(s) Tam, Pierick.
2025-03-14 H
Bill scheduled to be heard by CPC on Tuesday, 03-18-25 2:05PM in House conference room 329 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
2025-03-14 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 Representative(s) Cochran, Holt, Iwamoto, Ward excused (4).
2025-03-14 H
Reported from AGR (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1221) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to CPC.
2025-03-12 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; 0 Noes: none; and 1 Excused: Representative(s) Ward.
2025-03-07 H
Bill scheduled to be heard by AGR on Wednesday, 03-12-25 9:00AM in House conference room 325 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
2025-03-06 H
Referred to AGR, CPC, FIN, referral sheet 19
2025-03-06 H
Pass First Reading
2025-03-04 H
Received from Senate (Sen. Com. No. 106) in amended form (SD 1).
2025-03-04 S
Report adopted; Passed Third Reading. Ayes, 25; Aye(s) with reservations: none . Noes, 0 (none). Excused, 0 (none). Transmitted to House.
2025-02-28 S
One Day Notice 03-04-25.
2025-02-28 S
Reported from WAM (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 937) with recommendation of passage on Third Reading.
2025-02-27 S
The committee(s) on WAM recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes in WAM were as follows: 13 Aye(s): Senator(s) Dela Cruz, Moriwaki, Aquino, DeCoite, Elefante, Hashimoto, Inouye, Kanuha, Kidani, Kim, Lee, C., Wakai, Fevella; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 0 Excused: none.
2025-02-21 S
The committee(s) on WAM will hold a public decision making on 02-27-25 10:30AM; Conference Room 211 & Videoconference.
2025-02-05 S
Report adopted; Passed Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referred to WAM.
2025-02-05 S
Reported from AEN (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 49) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to WAM.
2025-01-24 S
The committee(s) on AEN recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in AEN were as follows: 4 Aye(s): Senator(s) Gabbard, Richards, Rhoads, Awa; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 1 Excused: Senator(s) DeCoite.
2025-01-21 S
The committee(s) on AEN has scheduled a public hearing on 01-24-25 1:00PM; Conference Room 224 & Videoconference.
2025-01-17 S
Referred to AEN, WAM.
2025-01-15 S
Introduced and passed First Reading.
2025-01-13 S
Pending Introduction.

Official Summary Text

RELATING TO AQUACULTURE.
DAB; Division of Animal Industry; Aquaculture Program; Import Evaluation; Biological Aquatic Risk-Based Framework; Biocontainment Standards; Aquatic Livestock
Authorizes the Division of Animal Industry of the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity to adopt, amend, and repeal rules to develop an evaluation and authorization process to import and transport aquatic livestock in the State. Requires the Aquaculture Program to develop a biological aquatic risk-based framework and biocontainment standards for the aquatic livestock evaluation and authorization process. (CD1)

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

SB177

THE SENATE

S.B. NO.

177

THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2025

STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

relating
to aquaculture
.

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

����
SECTION 1.
�
Chapter 141,
Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to part IV to be appropriately
designated and to read as follows:

����
"
�141-
�
Aquatic
livestock import assessment and approval process; rules.
�
The division of animal industry shall have
the power to adopt, amend, and repeal rules not inconsistent with law, to develop
an assessment and approval process to import and move aquatic livestock in the
State.
�
This process shall:

����
(1)
�
Be
based on the framework maintained by the department pursuant to this chapter
and chapter 142;

����
(2)
�
Include
pre-arrival disease testing requirements, entry inspection, and post-arrival
inspection; and

����
(3)
�
Require
quarantine or depopulation of any aquatic animals as necessary.
"

����
SECTION
2
.
�
Section 141-51, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is
amended by adding three new definitions to be appropriately inserted and to
read as follows:

����
"
"Aquatic livestock"
means various species of domestic and non-domestic fish, crustaceans, and
mollusks that are propagated and raised for food, restorative activities, or
similar commercial purposes.

����
"Biocontainment" means the
methods, procedures, facility features, and containment or safety equipment for
infectious materials and animals in the aquatic livestock environment where
these materials and animals are potentially handled or maintained.
�
"Biocontainment" includes
preventing the release of infectious animal species and associated pathogens
into the environment.

����
"Biological aquatic risk"
means the combination of the consequences of an event and the associated
likelihood of its occurrence, where biological material is the source of harm,
whether from an escaped aquatic livestock species or associated pathogens or
disease.
"

����
SECTION
3
.
�
Section 141-52, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is
amended by amending subsection (a) to read as follows:

����
"(a)
�

There is established within the department an aquaculture program that
shall:

����
(1)
�
Monitor actions taken by industry and
by federal, state, county, and private agencies in activities relating to
aquaculture, and promote and support worthwhile aquaculture activities;

����
(2)
�
Serve as an information clearinghouse
for aquaculture activities;

����
(3)
�
Coordinate development projects to
investigate and solve biological and technical problems involved in raising
selected species with commercial potential;

����
(4)
�
Actively seek federal funding for
aquaculture activities;

����
(5)
�
Undertake activities required to
develop and expand the aquaculture industry[
; and
]
, which shall include:

���������
(A)
�
Developing a biological aquatic risk-based framework for an
assessment and approval process for aquatic livestock that categorizes aquatic
livestock species based on the probability and consequence of the establishment
of a feral population; and

���������
(B)
�
Developing biocontainment standards that establish physical and
operational requirements;

and

����
(6)
�
Perform other functions and activities
that may be assigned by law."

����
SECTION
4
.
�
Section 161-6, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is
amended to read as follows:

����
"[
[
]�161-6[
]
]
�

Division of animal industry.
�
The
division of animal industry of the department of agriculture shall administer
this chapter subject to the supervision of the board.
�
[
The
]
Except as provided by section
141- , the
board may delegate any of its powers under this
chapter, except the power to make rules and regulations, or may direct any of
its duties to be performed by any appropriate agents, officers, or employees of
the board.

����
The board may employ on a full or part-time
basis veterinarians and poultry inspectors, subject to chapter 76, to carry out
a uniform inspection system of poultry or poultry products throughout the
State.
�
All poultry inspectors shall be
under the supervision and control of a veterinarian employed by the
board."

����
SECTION 5.
�

The division of animal industry shall develop a biological aquatic risk-based
framework for the assessment and approval process to import and move aquatic
livestock in the State.
�
In developing
the framework, the division of animal industry shall consider:

����
(1)
�
Relevant
standards established by the United States Department of Agriculture;

����
(2)
�
Current
aquatic livestock policies and development issues;

����
(3)
�
Best
practices of aquaculture industry; and

����
(4)
�
The
protection of indigenous species as defined in section 195D-2, Hawaii Revised
Statutes.

����
SECTION 6.
�

There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii
the sum of $1,000,000 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 for the division of animal industry to develop a biological
aquatic risk-based framework pursuant to the requirements of this Act.

����
The sums

appropriated shall be expended by the department of agriculture
for the purposes of this Act.

����
SECTION 7.
�

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

����
SECTION 8.
�

This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2025.

INTRODUCED BY:

_____________________________

Report Title:

DOA;
Division of Animal Industry; Aquaculture Program; Import Assessment; Biological
Aquatic Risk-Based Framework; Biocontainment Standards; Aquatic Livestock;
Appropriations

Description:

Authorizes
the Division of Animal Industry of the Department of Agriculture to adopt,
amend, and repeal rules to develop an assessment and approval process to import
and move aquatic livestock in the State.
�

Requires the Aquaculture Program to develop a risk-based framework and
biocontainment standards for the aquatic livestock assessment and approval
process.
�
Makes appropriations.

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