HONOLULU — The House Committee on Agriculture & Food Systems advanced a bundle of resolutions March 21 that would encourage new local agriculture infrastructure, nudge county biosecurity planning and seek sustained funding for island-based invasive-species work.

In a single decision-making session, committee members voted to approve measures including HCR 68/HR 61 (an animal education and training complex in Kailua Parklands), HCR 77/HR 69 (designation of a Central Oahu agricultural corridor with a prioritized infrastructure list), HCR 103/HR 99 (declarations for owners of agriculturally zoned land), HCR 25/HR 24 (changes to plant/animal declaration forms tied to Akamai Arrival educational material), HCR 200/HR 192 (the Maui Access Deer Control and Venison Initiative), HCR 42/HR 36 (encouraging county biosecurity plans) and HCR 130/HR 126 (urging increased and sustained funding to island-based invasive species committees). The committee also passed HCR 27/HR 26 asking Hawaii's congressional delegation to petition USDA on export parity for Hawaiian agricultural goods.

Why it matters: The package touches several areas that affect agricultural producers, watershed managers and communities across the state — from land-use declarations and central‑Oahu infrastructure planning to funding for invasive‑species control in forested watersheds. Committeewide action signals legislative appetite to coordinate state and county activity on both production and biosecurity.

HCR 68 / HR 61 — Animal education and training complex
Committee action: Passed as is.
What it would do: The concurrent and house resolutions request that the mayor, Honolulu City Council and the city's Department of Parks and Recreation create a dedicated animal education and training complex within Kailua Parklands.
Testimony: Chelsea Hamilton, a Hawaii Pacific University student and animal rescue volunteer, told the committee the measures would help address animal-welfare and public-safety problems tied to owner training. "This project is essential in improving the health of pets and their owners," Hamilton said.
Vote: Committee adopted the vice chair's recommendation to pass as is; the chair and vice chair voted aye; Representatives Peruso and Quinlan also voted aye; Representatives Loewen and Ward were recorded excused.

HCR 77 / HR 69 — Central Oahu agricultural corridor
Committee action: Passed with amendments.
What it would do: The resolution asks the state to designate the Kunia–Leilehua Plateau and Poamoho area as the Central Oahu agricultural corridor and to establish a prioritized list of infrastructure projects that would provide the most value to the state.
Testimony and changes: Stephanie Whalen of Kunea Village Title Holding Company urged a corridor-wide approach, noting existing water, warehousing and labor infrastructure and saying a demonstration project on Oahu could be replicated on other islands. Mark Takamura of the Agribusiness Development Corporation (ADC) testified that shifting the implementing designation from the Department of Agriculture to ADC would be appropriate; the committee amended the resolution to change the implementing agency from the Department of Agriculture to the ADC and made other technical edits for clarity.
Vote: Passed with the announced amendments; Representatives Loewen and Ward were excused.

HCR 103 / HR 99 — Declarations for agriculturally zoned land
Committee action: Passed as is.
What it would do: Urges counties to adopt local zoning ordinances requiring owners of agriculturally zoned land to execute recorded declarations acknowledging state and county agricultural land-use regulations, requirements and penalties for noncompliance.
Committee notes: The chair recommended passage as drafted and the recommendation was adopted without recorded objections.

HCR 25 / HR 24 — Plant and animal declaration form; desecration laws and educational material
Committee action: Passed with amendments.
What it would do: Requests that the Department of Agriculture include a statement on desecration laws in the plant and animal declaration form and contemplates using the Akamai Arrival program as an educational platform.
Testimony and changes: The Department of Land and Natural Resources asked that visitor and returning-resident materials also reference Hawaii's endangered species; testimony proposed folding these elements into Akamai Arrival when that program is fully implemented. The committee amended the measure to incorporate DLNR input and to link the resolution's intent to Akamai Arrival rollout language.

HCR 200 / HR 192 — Maui Access Deer Control and Venison Initiative
Committee action: Passed as is.
What it would do: Encourages programs for deer control and venison use on Maui.
Testimony: The Department of Agriculture submitted written comments; no in‑person opposition was recorded.
Vote: Passed as presented.

HCR 42 / HR 36 — County biosecurity plans
Committee action: Passed with amendments.
What it would do: Encourages each county to develop a biosecurity plan tailored to local priorities.
Testimony and changes: Stephanie Easley of the Coordinating Group on Alien Pest Species (CGAPS) urged an amendment to ask counties to consider proposed legislative changes that would help address pathways such as green‑waste management and noxious‑weed controls. The committee adopted CGAPS' recommended language and other technical edits.

HCR 130 / HR 126 — Funding for island‑based invasive species committees
Committee action: Passed with amendments.
What it would do: Urges the state, counties and other agencies to provide increased and sustained funding for island‑based invasive‑species committees within the Pacific Cooperative Studies Unit at the University of Hawaii at Manoa and related programs.
Testimony and funding details: Shaya Honovar, director of the Pacific Cooperative Studies Unit, and Chelsea Arnott of the Hawaii Invasive Species Council spoke in support. Cathy Mitchell of the Honolulu Board of Water Supply said the board provides watershed support and cited direct and indirect contributions: about $1,200,000 for fiscal 2025 and planned contributions of about $1,500,000 for fiscal 2026 to Pacific Cooperative Studies Unit work. Committee amendments added the Hawaii Ant Lab to the list of programs to be recognized and made technical edits for clarity.

HCR 27 / HR 26 — Export parity petition to USDA
Committee action: Passed as is.
What it would do: Requests Hawaii's congressional delegation petition the U.S. Department of Agriculture to address perceived parity issues in export rules that affect Hawaii and territories.

Process and next steps
All measures listed above were voted on during the committee's decision-making session after the morning public testimony portion. Where testimony suggested implementing‑agency changes or specific language (for example, changing the implementing agency to the Agribusiness Development Corporation for the Central Oahu corridor), the committee made amendments before adoption. Several measures explicitly tie future work to programs or funding streams (Akamai Arrival rollout, ADC implementation, Pacific Cooperative Studies Unit funding).

Representatives present for votes included Chair Kirsten Kahaloha and Vice Chair Matthias Kush; Representative Peruso and Representative Quinlan recorded aye votes on measures where roll-call detail was provided; Representatives Loewen and Ward were excused for portions of the decision-making session. The committee adjourned after completion of decision making.

Ending: The adopted resolutions now move to the next steps in the legislative process or to the agencies and local governments identified in each measure for implementation, study or follow-up action.