Hawaii · 2025 Regular Session · Bill
HB 427: RELATING TO BIOSECURITY.
Enacted Official data
- Introduced
- In committee
- Passed one chamber
- Passed both chambers
- Enacted
Last official action: ·Record last updated:
Plain-language summary
HB 427 is a bill introduced in the Hawaii House on January 17, 2025. According to its official title, it concerns: RELATING TO BIOSECURITY. Primary sponsor: Nadine Nakamura (Democratic), Terez Amato (Democratic), Della Belatti (Democratic), Cory Chun (Democratic), Elle Cochran (Republican), Luke Evslin (Democratic), Andrew Garrett (Democratic), Tina Grandinetti (Democratic), Mark Hashem (Democratic), HOLT, Ikaika Hussey (Democratic), Linda Ichiyama (Democratic), Greggor Ilagan (Democratic), Kim Coco Iwamoto (Democratic), Kirstin Kahaloa (Democratic), Jeanné Kapela (Democratic), Sue Lee Loy (Democratic), Darius Kila (Democratic), Lisa Kitagawa (Democratic), Matthias Kusch (Democratic), Trish La Chica (Democratic), Rachele Lamosao (Democratic), LEE, M., Nicole Lowen (Democratic), Lisa Marten (Democratic), Scot Matayoshi (Democratic), Tyson Miyake (Democratic), Dee Morikawa (Democratic), Ikaika Olds (Democratic), Amy Perruso (Democratic), Mahina Poepoe (Democratic), Sean Quinlan (Democratic), Jackson Sayama (Democratic), Gregg Takayama (Democratic), Jenna Takenouchi (Democratic), Adrian Tam (Democratic), David Tarnas (Democratic), Shirley Templo (Democratic), Chris Todd (Democratic), Justin Woodson (Democratic), Kyle Yamashita (Democratic). Most recent recorded action (June 27, 2025): Act 236, 06/27/2025 (Gov. Msg. No. 1338).
Generated automatically from the official title, sponsor list, and status record only. It does not characterize the bill’s purpose or effects. How summaries are written
Official summary
Abstract published by the legislature (via Open States). Text as published by the legislature; reproduced verbatim.
Part I: Renames the Department of Agriculture as the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity (Department) and the Board of Agriculture as the Board of Agriculture and Biosecurity. Part II: Establishes a Deputy Chairperson for Biosecurity. Part III: Authorizes and specifies conditions under which the Department may declare a biosecurity emergency, during which the Department and Governor may take certain actions to prevent the establishment or spread of pests and prohibited or restricted organisms. Broadens the objectives and general actions of the Biosecurity Program. Part IV: Authorizes the Department to establish transitional facilities. Requires the Department to certify and train biosecurity compliance auditors to inspect imported plants and animals. Requires inspection of various items transported interisland. Increases penalties for illegally transporting plants, animals, and microorganisms. Part V: Authorizes the Department to enter into government‑industry agreements for readiness and response to unwanted organisms in the State. Authorizes biosecurity and pest management plans to address, contain, or eradicate pests. Requires the Department to establish a pest dashboard by 12/1/2025. Part VI: Authorizes the Department to adopt rules to establish and enforce the Plant Care Component Program. Authorizes the Department to assess administrative penalties for the enforcement of the Plant Care Component Program. Part VII: Transfers the Hawaii Invasive Species Council from the Department of Land and Natural Resources to the Department. Part VIII: Appropriates funds. (CD1)
Sponsors
Sponsors by party (alphabetical): Democratic 38 · Republican 1
| Name | Role | Party | Chamber | District |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nadine Nakamura | Primary sponsor | Democratic | House | 15 |
| Terez Amato | Primary sponsor | Democratic | House | 11 |
| Della Belatti | Primary sponsor | Democratic | House | 26 |
| Cory Chun | Primary sponsor | Democratic | House | 35 |
| Elle Cochran | Primary sponsor | Republican | House | 14 |
| Luke Evslin | Primary sponsor | Democratic | House | 16 |
| Andrew Garrett | Primary sponsor | Democratic | House | 22 |
| Tina Grandinetti | Primary sponsor | Democratic | House | 20 |
| Mark Hashem | Primary sponsor | Democratic | House | 19 |
| HOLT | Primary sponsor | Not applicable (committee) | — | — |
| Ikaika Hussey | Primary sponsor | Democratic | House | 29 |
| Linda Ichiyama | Primary sponsor | Democratic | House | 31 |
| Greggor Ilagan | Primary sponsor | Democratic | House | 4 |
| Kim Coco Iwamoto | Primary sponsor | Democratic | House | 25 |
| Kirstin Kahaloa | Primary sponsor | Democratic | House | 6 |
| Jeanné Kapela | Primary sponsor | Democratic | House | 5 |
| Sue Lee Loy | Primary sponsor | Democratic | House | 2 |
| Darius Kila | Primary sponsor | Democratic | House | 44 |
| Lisa Kitagawa | Primary sponsor | Democratic | House | 48 |
| Matthias Kusch | Primary sponsor | Democratic | House | 1 |
| Trish La Chica | Primary sponsor | Democratic | House | 37 |
| Rachele Lamosao | Primary sponsor | Democratic | Senate | 19 |
| LEE | Primary sponsor | Not applicable (committee) | — | — |
| M. | Primary sponsor | Not applicable (committee) | — | — |
| Nicole Lowen | Primary sponsor | Democratic | House | 7 |
| Lisa Marten | Primary sponsor | Democratic | House | 51 |
| Scot Matayoshi | Primary sponsor | Democratic | House | 49 |
| Tyson Miyake | Primary sponsor | Democratic | House | 10 |
| Dee Morikawa | Primary sponsor | Democratic | House | 17 |
| Ikaika Olds | Primary sponsor | Democratic | House | 23 |
| Amy Perruso | Primary sponsor | Democratic | House | 46 |
| Mahina Poepoe | Primary sponsor | Democratic | House | 13 |
| Sean Quinlan | Primary sponsor | Democratic | House | 47 |
| Jackson Sayama | Primary sponsor | Democratic | House | 21 |
| Gregg Takayama | Primary sponsor | Democratic | House | 34 |
| Jenna Takenouchi | Primary sponsor | Democratic | House | 27 |
| Adrian Tam | Primary sponsor | Democratic | House | 24 |
| David Tarnas | Primary sponsor | Democratic | House | 8 |
| Shirley Templo | Primary sponsor | Democratic | House | 30 |
| Chris Todd | Primary sponsor | Democratic | House | 3 |
| Justin Woodson | Primary sponsor | Democratic | House | 9 |
| Kyle Yamashita | Primary sponsor | Democratic | House | 12 |
“Support” is shown only as formal sponsorship recorded by the legislature. Roll-call votes are available on the official bill page.
Recent official actions
- Act 236, 06/27/2025 (Gov. Msg. No. 1338).
- Act 236, on 06/27/2025 (Gov. Msg. No. 1338).
- Received notice of passage on Final Reading in House (Hse. Com. No. 821).
- Received notice of Final Reading (Sen. Com. No. 888).
- Transmitted to Governor.
- Passed Final Reading, as amended (CD 1). Ayes, 25; Aye(s) with reservations: none . 0 No(es): none. 0 Excused: none.
- Passed Final Reading as amended in CD 1 with Representative(s) Iwamoto, Marten voting aye with reservations; Representative(s) Alcos, Garcia, Muraoka, Pierick, Shimizu voting no (5) and Representative(s) Cochran excused (1).
- The Conference committee recommends that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes of the Senate Conference Managers were as follows: 4 Aye(s): Senator(s) Gabbard, Lee, C., Wakai, Rhoads; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 2 Excused: Senator(s) Keohokalole, Awa.
- The Conference Committee recommends that the measure be Passed, with Amendments. The votes were as follows: 4 Ayes: Representative(s) Kahaloa, Tarnas, Yamashita, Matsumoto; Ayes with reservations: none; 0 Noes: none; and 1 Excused: Representative(s) Quinlan.
- Reported from Conference Committee (Conf Com. Rep. No. 220) as amended in (CD 1).
- Forty-eight (48) hours notice Wednesday, 04-30-25.
- Reported from Conference Committee as amended CD 1 (Conf. Com. Rep. No. 220).
Showing 12 most recent of 40 actions. Full history