SB2321 • 2026

RELATING TO THE TWO-LINED SPITTLEBUG.

Budget

Active

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

Sponsor: GABBARD, CHANG, KANUHA, MCKELVEY, RICHARDS, SAN BUENAVENTURA, Hashimoto
Last action: 2026-05-01
Official status: Conference committee meeting to reconvene on 05-01-26 5:00 PM; Conference Room 411.
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 THE TWO-LINED SPITTLEBUG.

What This Bill Does

RELATING TO THE TWO-LINED SPITTLEBUG.
DAB; Two-Lined Spittlebug Response Pilot Program; Invasive Species; Reports; Appropriation ($) Establishes a two-year Two-Lined Spittlebug Response Pilot Program to mitigate and control the spread of the two-lined spittlebug.
Requires reports to the Legislature.
Appropriates funds.

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.

HD1

Hawaii published version HD1

Plain English: SB2321 HD1 THE SENATE S.B.

SB2321 HD1 THE SENATE S.B.
NO.
2321 THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026 S.D.
1 STATE OF HAWAII H.D.

SD1

Hawaii published version SD1

Plain English: SB2321 SD1 THE SENATE S.B.

SB2321 SD1 THE SENATE S.B.
NO.
2321 THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026 S.D.
1 STATE OF HAWAII A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE TWO-LINED SPITTLEBUG .

Bill History

2026-05-01 S
Conference committee meeting to reconvene on 05-01-26 5:00 PM; Conference Room 411.
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.
2026-04-24 S
Conference committee meeting to reconvene on 04-28-26 9:30AM; Conference Room 325.
2026-04-23 S
Conference committee meeting scheduled for 04-24-26 11:00AM; Conference Room 325.
2026-04-20 H
Received notice of Senate conferees (Sen. Com. No. 714).
2026-04-20 S
Senate Conferees Appointed: Gabbard Chair; Richards Co-Chair; Rhoads.
2026-04-20 S
Received notice of appointment of House conferees (Hse. Com. No. 787).
2026-04-20 H
House Conferees Appointed: Chun, Kusch Co-Chairs; Matsumoto.
2026-04-10 H
Received notice of disagreement (Sen. Com. No. 564).
2026-04-10 S
Senate disagrees with House amendments.
2026-04-10 S
Received from House (Hse. Com. No. 505).
2026-04-09 H
Passed Third Reading with none voting aye with reservations; Representative(s) Pierick voting no (1) and Representative(s) Cochran excused (1). Transmitted to Senate.
2026-04-09 H
Reported from FIN (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1993-26), recommending passage on Third Reading.
2026-04-07 H
The committee on FIN recommend that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes were as follows: 15 Ayes: Representative(s) Todd, Takenouchi, Hartsfield, Hussey, Keohokapu-Lee Loy, Kitagawa, Kusch, Lee, M., Miyake, Perruso, Templo, Yamashita, Gedeon, Reyes Oda; Ayes with reservations: Representative(s) Alcos; Noes: none; and 1 Excused: Representative(s) Morikawa.
2026-04-02 H
Bill scheduled for decision making on Tuesday, 04-07-26 10:10AM in conference room 308 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
2026-04-02 H
The committee(s) on FIN recommend(s) that the measure be deferred until 04-07-26.
2026-03-31 H
Bill scheduled to be heard by FIN on Thursday, 04-02-26 2:00PM in House conference room 308 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
2026-03-24 H
Passed Second Reading as amended in HD 1 and referred to the committee(s) on FIN with none voting aye with reservations; Representative(s) Pierick voting no (1) and Representative(s) Garrett, Quinlan excused (2).
2026-03-24 H
Reported from AGR (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1390-26) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to FIN.
2026-03-20 H
The committee on AGR recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 6 Ayes: Representative(s) Chun, Kusch, Kahaloa, Lowen, Perruso, Matsumoto; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and 1 Excused: Representative(s) Quinlan.
2026-03-17 H
Bill scheduled to be heard by AGR on Friday, 03-20-26 9:30AM in House conference room 325 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
2026-03-12 H
Referred to AGR, FIN, referral sheet 17
2026-03-12 H
Pass First Reading
2026-03-10 H
Received from Senate (Sen. Com. No. 209) in amended form (SD 1).
2026-03-10 S
Report adopted; Passed Third Reading. Ayes, 25; Aye(s) with reservations: none . Noes, 0 (none). Excused, 0 (none). Transmitted to House.
2026-03-06 S
One Day Notice 03-10-26.
2026-03-06 S
Reported from WAM (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 2972) with recommendation of passage on Third Reading.
2026-03-04 S
The committee(s) on WAM recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes in WAM were as follows: 12 Aye(s): Senator(s) Dela Cruz, Moriwaki, DeCoite, Elefante, Hashimoto, Inouye, Kanuha, Kidani, Kim, Lee, C., Richards, Wakai; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 1 Excused: Senator(s) Fevella.
2026-03-02 S
The committee(s) on WAM will hold a public decision making on 03-04-26 10:31AM; Conference Room 211 & Videoconference.
2026-02-11 S
Report adopted; Passed Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referred to WAM.
2026-02-11 S
Reported from AEN (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 2185) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to WAM.
2026-02-04 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.
2026-01-30 S
The committee(s) on AEN has scheduled a public hearing on 02-04-26 3:00PM; Conference Room 224 & Videoconference.
2026-01-26 S
Referred to AEN, WAM.
2026-01-21 S
Introduced and passed First Reading.
2026-01-15 S
Pending Introduction.

Official Summary Text

RELATING TO THE TWO-LINED SPITTLEBUG.
DAB; Two-Lined Spittlebug Response Pilot Program; Invasive Species; Reports; Appropriation ($)
Establishes a two-year Two-Lined Spittlebug Response Pilot Program to mitigate and control the spread of the two-lined spittlebug. Requires reports to the Legislature. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

SB2321

THE SENATE

S.B. NO.

2321

THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026

STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

relating
to the two-lined spittlebug
.

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

����
SECTION 1.
�
The
legislature finds that the two-lined spittlebug (
Prosapia bicincta
) is
an invasive insect that attacks key forage grasses used by the livestock
ranching industry.
�
In 2016, the State's
first two-lined spittlebug infestation was discovered in Kailua-Kona on the
island of Hawaii, where the pest damaged nearly two thousand acres of
pastureland.
�
Grasses damaged by
two-lined spittlebug infestations are often unsalvageable and must be
replanted.

����
The legislature further finds that
two-lined spittlebug infestations have reduced the quality of forage pastures
in Hawaii by reducing their nutritional value, palatability, and productivity.
�
Infestations of the pest also promote the
establishment of weeds and lower-quality foraging grasses.

����
The legislature additionally finds that
livestock ranching is a highly productive and extremely valuable industry on
all of the State's major islands.
�
In
2023, the State's livestock industry had a production value of more than $50,000,000,
with an inventory of over one hundred forty-three thousand head of beef cattle.
�
Collectively, ranchlands cover almost twenty
per cent of the State's land area.

����
The legislature concludes that expanding
livestock industry serves as an economic engine for the State and is a major
employer for local communities.
�
This is
particularly true on the island of Hawaii, where most of the State's cattle are
raised.
�
Additionally, seventy per cent
of all beef cattle in Hawaii are raised on sod-forming grasses, such as kikuyu
and pangola.
�
Consequently, two-lined
spittlebugs threaten jobs and food security in the State, making it crucial to
address infestation and restrict further spread.

����
Accordingly, the purpose of this Act is to establish
a two‑lined spittlebug response pilot program to mitigate and control the
spread of the two-lined spittlebug.

����
SECTION 2.
�

(a)
�
There is established within
the department of agriculture and biosecurity a two-year two-lined spittlebug
response pilot program.
�
The pilot
program shall:

����
(1)
�
Identify
new areas of infestation, determine population density, and develop a
management plan for the infested area;

����
(2)
�
Apply
the use of insecticides, grazing, and other methods for weed management and reseeding
pastures;

����
(3)
�
Conduct
a cost-benefit study of two-lined spittlebug mitigation techniques;

����
(4)
�
Conduct
outreach to state and county departments to reduce the movement of two-lined
spittlebugs through heavy machinery;

����
(5)
�
As
necessary, take measures to reduce the population of two-lined spittlebugs and
assist in recovery efforts; and

����
(6)
�
Provide
support for livestock ranchers' mitigation efforts, including reimbursement for
approved two-lined spittlebug control measures, as determined by the department
of agriculture and biosecurity.

����
(b)
�

The department of agriculture and biosecurity shall submit a report to
the legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the regular
sessions of
2027 and 2028.
�
The report shall:

����
(1)
�
Document
the expenditure of moneys appropriated by this Act;

����
(2)
�
Discuss
the progress of activities to mitigate and control infestations of the
two-lined spittlebug; and

����
(3)
�
Provide
any findings and recommendations, including any proposed legislation.

����
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
establishment and operation of the two-lined spittlebug response pilot program.

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

����
SECTION 4.
�

This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2026.

INTRODUCED BY:

_____________________________

Report Title:

DAB;
Two-Lined Spittlebug Response Pilot Program; Invasive Species; Reports; Appropriation

Description:

Establishes
a two-year Two-Lined Spittlebug Response Pilot Program
to mitigate and
control the spread of the two-lined spittlebug
.
�
Requires reports to the
Legislature.
�
Appropriates funds.

The summary description
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not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.