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Witnesses urge clearer language, broader scope as committee hears bill funding Maui biosecurity work
Summary
Supporters of HB1237 HD1 told the Senate Agriculture Committee the measure to appropriate funds for agricultural biosecurity and invasive-species prevention in Maui County needs clearer statutory language and implementation pathways; the committee postponed final action because it lacked quorum.
HB1237 HD1, a bill to appropriate funds to the Department of Agriculture for agricultural biosecurity and the prevention, detection and control of invasive species in Maui County, drew robust support and technical comments at the Senate Agriculture and Environment hearing on March 14, 2025.
Christy Martin, coordinator at the Coordinating Group on Alien Pest Species (CGAPS), told the committee that CGAPS supports the bill but recommended clarifying language so that any locally created invasive-species committee is authorized to work on a broad set of pests, not only a single species. "We do have a couple of comments and a request...the language is not clear that if a [local invasive species committee] were to be created, that they can work on things other than coqui frogs," Martin said.
Tayah Penniman, representing the Maui Invasive Species Committee, also urged broader statutory language to ensure funding could be used for species beyond the one named in the draft and cautioned that some approaches used on other islands (such as relying on private pest-control operators) are not suitable for Maui's little fire ant infestations because of the geographic and infestation patterns on the island.
Chelsea Arnott of the Hawaii Invasive Species Council said her group submitted written testimony in support and echoed the technical concerns offered by the Maui committee and CGAPS.
Witnesses suggested possible administrative changes to reduce overhead, including routing funds through the University of Hawaii rather than the Department of Agriculture to realize potential cost savings, and asked for statutory language allowing the proposed local committee to address a wider set of invasive species.
The hearing record includes many written and oral supporters; the transcript and clerk's tally show 28 in support, 0 opposed, and 1 comment recorded for the measure. The Department of Agriculture appeared with staff on the written testimony and was available for questions.
Decision making on HB1237 HD1 was postponed because the committee lacked quorum; the chair scheduled votes for Monday, March 17 at 1:02 p.m. in Room 224.
If advanced, HB1237 would appropriate state funds for expanded biosecurity capacity in Maui County; witnesses recommended statutory edits and implementation pathways to ensure funds are flexible enough to address multiple pests and to consider contracting routes that fit Maui's eradication needs.
