House committee removes transfer of Hawaii Invasive Species Council from DOA proposal; omnibus biosecurity bill moves forward with revisions

The House Committee on Agriculture & Food Systems advanced SB1100 SD2, a broad biosecurity omnibus, but removed language that would have transferred administration of the Hawaii Invasive Species Council (HISC) from the Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) to the Department of Agriculture (HDOA) after widespread concern from stakeholders.

Why it matters: SB1100 contains multiple proposals to strengthen biosecurity across Hawaii—changes include updated department titles, a proposed deputy chair for biosecurity, grant and emergency response authorities, and expanded inspection powers. Several testifiers and agencies agreed the statute needs updating and more resources but urged that HISC remain outside HDOA or at least be structured to preserve multi‑agency coordination.

Key testimony and concerns

- Chelsea Arnott (Hawaii Invasive Species Council) and DLNR Deputy Director Dawn Chang both said HISC’s convening role spans natural resources, public health and transportation and that moving HISC into HDOA risks narrowing priorities. DLNR suggested alternatives such as giving HISC an independent DLNR administrative identity (similar to other commissions) and increasing HISC’s capacity instead of transferring it.

- Coordinating Group on Alien Pest Species (CGAPS) and island invasive‑species committees warned that a single‑department oversight model could place diverse non‑agriculture biosecurity interests at risk and that the bill’s wording centralizing “state” biosecurity initiatives under a deputy could be problematic. CGAPS recommended keeping HISC where it is and improving its independence and funding.

- The Hawaii Ant Lab, Big Island Invasive Species Committee, Sierra Club and others supported stronger biosecurity authorities but asked that the committee ensure the bill does not interrupt current funding and HISC‑administered grant programs and that any deputy chair position be subject to legislative confirmation and held by someone with cross‑sector expertise.

- Multiple submitters suggested tightening language on inter‑ and intra‑island regulatory authority and ensuring county and state employees are eligible for emergency response pay and liability protections rather than creating parallel non‑state responder pools.

Committee action and outcome

After hearing more than 100 written and in‑person testimonies, the committee removed the HISC transfer language from SB1100 SD2, adopted technical amendments, set the standardized drafting effective date to July 1, 3000 for bill drafting, and advanced the remainder of the bill as a house draft for further consideration.

What the record shows and limits

The transcript documents broad agreement that Hawaii needs expanded biosecurity capacity and resources. It also makes clear many implementing details require additional work: whether to create a deputy chair with cross‑agency authority; how to protect existing HISC grant programs and federal funds; how to structure interagency responsibilities and liability protections; and how to ensure county participation.

Ending

SB1100 will move forward with the HISC transfer language removed. The committee signaled it will continue the policy conversation and urged additional drafting and consultation to preserve multi‑agency coordination and existing funding streams.