Senate committees voted to advance SCR41 and SR25, measures that encourage each county in Hawaii to develop a county‑level biosecurity plan that prioritizes local needs and coordinates responses to invasive species.

Supporters said county plans would help accelerate local detection and response. Chelsea Arnott, testifying on behalf of the Hawaii Invasive Species Council, said, “having county plans is a really great way to coordinate efforts to respond to invasive species.” Stephanie Easley of the Coordinating Group on Alien Pest Species recommended a specific amendment: “We are requesting 1 small amendment on page 1 line 30 that, asked that the plans include legislative changes that the counties might like to see to increase their biosecurity.” The amendment would direct counties to identify proposals for state and county legislative changes to support biosecurity, including matters such as green‑waste handling and county authority on noxious weeds.

Committee members and officials discussed the limits of county authority to list or regulate noxious weeds. Jonathan (quarantine branch manager, Department of Agriculture) said the process to issue a quarantine “isn't, I guess, the easiest issue. There's a very clear process on how to do it,” and noted that interim rulemaking exists to allow certain restrictions. Committee members agreed the state’s regulatory authority over quarantines and lists of noxious weeds means counties cannot unilaterally add species to the state’s noxious‑weed list.

Testimony cited an existing memorandum of understanding among state agencies and the University of Hawaii that coordinates on‑the‑ground responses for pests such as little fire ant and coconut rhinoceros beetle; Arnott said county plans are already being developed under that MOU and referenced ongoing drafts for other priority pests.

The committees accepted the suggested amendment from the Coordinating Group on Alien Pest Species to add language asking counties to “identify proposals for legislative changes at the state and county level to promote the county’s biosecurity” and voted to pass SCR41 and SR25 with that amendment. Chair and committee members recorded affirmative votes and the motions were adopted.

The record shows counties were encouraged to use the plans to coordinate funding, policy, and on‑the‑ground response; the measures do not themselves create new county authority to list noxious weeds or to declare quarantines, and officials repeatedly noted those powers remain at the state level.

Votes at a glance: SCR41 / SR25 — passed with amendment to require identification of proposed legislative changes.