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Votes at a glance: House Agriculture committee advances multiple bills March 12, 2025
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Summary
During a marathon decision session, the House Committee on Agriculture & Food Systems advanced a package of bills across aquaculture, labeling, tax, ag enforcement, biosecurity and invasive species. Each measure was advanced with technical amendments and a placeholder effective date of July 1, 3000 used for drafting.
The House Committee on Agriculture & Food Systems held decision making for its 9 a.m. and 10 a.m. agendas and advanced the following measures. For each bill the committee recorded a motion to create a house draft (HD1), to apply technical amendments for clarity and style, and to set the drafting effective date to July 1, 3000 (a standard placeholder used in committee drafting). Appropriations or funding needs were noted in the standing committee report where agencies requested resources.
Summary of committee actions (bill → committee disposition)
- SB177 SD1 (aquaculture) → Passed with amendments; HD1 created; appropriation noted. - SB890 SC2 (poi labeling; country‑of‑origin labeling for poi/kalo) → Passed with amendments; HD1 to align language with existing macadamia/coffee labeling rules. - SB1276 SD1 (false labeling of Hawaii‑grown coffee extended to roasted coffee; $10,000 fine) → Passed with amendments; HD1 created. - SB763 SD2 (ag enforcement program, DLE) → Passed with amendments; HD1; funding/staffing noted. - SB1249 SD1 (ag crime prevention program, HDOA) → Passed with amendments; HD1; AG coordination requested. - SB1257 SD1 (agricultural crimes task force; increase penalties) → Passed with amendments; HD1; AG to rework statutory insertion of penalty increases. - SB1257 SD1 (Duke’s law package combined reference) → Passed with amendments (as above). - SB328 SC1 (tax credit for dairy→hog farm conversion) → Passed with amendments; HD1. - SB558 SD2 (value‑added products / food & product innovation network) → Passed with amendments; HD1. - SB1541 SD1 (Waiahole Water System appropriations for bond debt service and tunnel repair) → Passed with amendments; HD1; appropriation noted. - SB1657 SD2 (Agribusiness Development Corporation condemnation authority) → Passed with amendments; HD1; committee asked for deletion of language allowing condemnation of state‑owned property per testimony. - SB746 SD2 (coconut rhinoceros beetle eradication pilot) → Passed with amendments; HD1; restricted to Oahu/large populated islands and guardrails added. - SB562 SD2 (plant nursery registry) → Passed with amendments; HD1; committee accepted many suggested clarifications for island‑specific pest lists and exempting fresh fruit/veg from nursery definition per testimony. - SB252 SD2 (invasive species importation / inspection authority) → Passed with amendments; HD1; civil penalty language adjusted (fines capped at $20,000) and CGAPS language reintegrated for treatment/quarantine authority. - SB1100 SD2 (biosecurity omnibus) → Passed with amendments; HD1; committee deleted language transferring HISC to HDOA and will continue stakeholder drafting. - SP 5047 / SB1547 SPURB (Alun Kauai Farming special purpose revenue bond) → Passed with amendments to clarify dairy project purpose; HD1 created (decision‑making only agenda item).
How votes were recorded
The committee consistently used the same procedural motion: the chair’s recommendation to pass with amendments, followed by a roll call or voice indication. Where individual member votes were read into the record the transcript notes the chair, vice chair and named members voting aye or the absence of Representative Ward; the committee adopted chair recommendations on all the above measures.
What happens next
Each measure advanced with an HD1 and technical amendments will proceed to additional committees or the full House for further action. Several bills noted appropriation needs; the committee recorded those as items to include in the standing committee report and asked agencies to provide detailed requests for staffing, facilities, vessels, or equipment where applicable.
Ending
The committee completed both its 9 a.m. and 10 a.m. decision agendas and closed the session after advancing the package of bills. Stakeholders and agencies will work with committee staff on the requested technical and statutory edits before subsequent hearings and votes.
