RELATING TO BEEKEEPING.

SB2160

THE SENATE

S.B. NO.

2160

THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026

STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

RELATING
TO BEEKEEPING
.

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

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SECTION 1.
�
The
legislature finds that bees are beneficial to local pollination processes and
native ecosystems and play a critically important role in agriculture as they
pollinate food crops and provide other useful products, including honey and
wax.
�
The State's tropical weather,
climate, and plant diversity present ideal conditions for the year-round
breeding of queen bees, which may be exported to ensure a more genetically
diverse, adaptive, and resilient global bee stock.
�
Although the honeybee is not a species native
to the State, it has played a significant role in the pollination of plants
that support agriculture in the State.

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The legislature further finds that the
department of agriculture and biosecurity currently manages and monitors the
beekeeping industry in the State.
�

However, its ability to monitor, respond to, and prevent disease or pest
outbreaks, as well as pursue and distribute financial resources available to
beekeepers, could be more efficiently achieved with more up‑to‑date
data.

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The legislature also finds that new
beekeepers who do not have proper training or information on how to safely
manage bees may cause harm to both the beekeeping industry or nearby
properties, increasing the risk of personal liability.

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Accordingly, the purpose of this Act is to:

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(1)
�
Clarify
the registration process for beekeepers with the department of agriculture and
biosecurity;

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(2)
�
Require
the department of agriculture and biosecurity to provide guidance and support
to registered beekeepers to help beekeepers adhere to certain industry
standards and best management practices in beekeeping; and

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(3)
�
Establish
a limitation on liability for any registered beekeeper who follows industry
standards and best practices.

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SECTION
2
.
�
Section 142-100, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is
amended to read as follows:

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"[
[
]
�142-100
�
Beekeepers, registration; apiary program.[
]
]

�
(a)
�

Beekeepers may register with the department of agriculture and
biosecurity, on forms prescribed and prepared by the department, which shall
include the following information:

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(1)
�
The name, address, and contact information for
the beekeeper; and

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(2)
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Other information that may assist the
department in compiling accurate information on Hawaii's beekeeping industry.

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(b)
�
The department of agriculture and biosecurity
shall keep registration information confidential subject to the limitations on
confidentiality imposed under chapter 92F; provided that the name and business
address of each registrant shall be made publicly available by the department; [
and
]
provided further that the department may compile statistics based on the
information[
,
] pursuant to section 141‑1.

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(c)
�
The registration shall be effective for a
period of [
one year,
]
five years,
and shall be renewed at the end
of the [
one-year
]
five-year
period.

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(d)
�

The department of agriculture and biosecurity shall advise and support
the efforts of registered beekeepers to adhere to the following industry
standards and best management practices:

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(1)
�
Keep
colonies at least twenty-five feet from property lines; provided that a
distance between ten and twenty-five feet shall be adequate if:

���������
(A)
�
Beekeepers ensure that colonies face the direction opposite the
property line; or

���������
(B)
�
Beekeepers situate colonies behind a flyover barrier that
directs bee flight paths away from the property line;

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(2)
�
Keep
colonies in hives with removable frames that shall be kept in sound and usable
condition;

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(3)
�
Maintain
an adequate and accessible supply of fresh water on-site, including landing
sites for the bees to drink from;

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(4)
�
Ensure
that hives are protected from bright lights at night;

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(5)
�
Manage
colonies in a controlled manner to prevent swarming;

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(6)
�
Adhere
to storage and sanitation practices that prevent disease and theft; mitigate
pests, including small hive beetles, wax moths, and varroa mites; and support
the overall health of the hives;

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(7)
�
Thoroughly
clean reused hive and beekeeping equipment of hive products, including old comb
and honey;

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(8)
�
Grow
flowers and plant species where practicable for all seasons that are suitable
for regional climates to support bee activity year-round; and

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(9)
�
Requeen
hives and colonies if the apiary begins to demonstrate more aggressive
behavior.

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[
(d)
]

(e)
�
The department of
agriculture and biosecurity shall establish an apiary program, which may
include the following positions, to carry out the purposes of this [
[
]section[
]
]:

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(1)
�
One
apiary specialist;

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(2)
�
One
apiary planner; and

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(3)
�
Two
apiary technicians.

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(f)
�

A beekeeper that is actively registered with the department of
agriculture and biosecurity pursuant to subsection (a), and in good faith
adheres to the industry standards and best management practices established in
subsection (d), shall not be liable for any injury resulting to any person
arising from the beekeeper's apiary, except for damages that result from the
beekeeper's gross negligence or wanton acts or omissions.

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(g)
�

For the purposes of this section:

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"Apiary" means the assembly of
one or more managed bee colonies and their hives kept at a single location.

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"Bee" means all life stages of
the common domesticated European honeybee.
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"Bee" does not include wasps, hornets, African subspecies, or
Africanized hybrids.

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"Colony" means an aggregate of
bees consisting principally of workers, but ideally also consists of one queen,
and includes drones, brood, combs, and honey.

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"Disease" means any condition
adversely affecting bees or their brood, including bacteria, viruses,
invertebrate pests, and the presence of undesirable genetic characteristics.

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"Flyover barrier" means a
solid wall, fence, dense vegetation, or combination thereof that encourages
bees to fly over rather than fly through.

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"Hive" means a structure of
housing for a colony.
"

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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 2026-2027 for the department
of agriculture and biosecurity to register and provide support to beekeepers
pursuant to this Act, including the establishment of positions for the
department's apiary program.

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The sum appropriated shall be expended by
the department of agriculture and biosecurity for the purposes of this Act.

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SECTION 4.
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This Act does not affect rights and duties that matured, penalties that
were incurred, and proceedings that were begun before its effective date.

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SECTION 5.
�

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

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SECTION 6.
�

This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2026.

INTRODUCED BY:

_____________________________

Report Title:

DAB; Beekeepers;
Registration; Industry Standards; Best Management Practices; Apiary Program;
Limitation on Liability; Appropriation

Description:

Clarifies
the registration process for beekeepers with the Department of Agriculture and
Biosecurity.
�
Requires the Department of
Agriculture and Biosecurity to provide guidance and support to registered
beekeepers to help beekeepers adhere to certain industry standards and best
management practices.
�
Establishes a
limitation on liability for any registered beekeeper who follows industry
standards and best practices.
�

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.