During a full-day set of hearings and decision-making on Feb. 5, 2025 the House Committee on Agriculture & Food Systems (and the Tourism Committee for two items) advanced multiple bills affecting agriculture, food-systems innovation, animal policy and utility wildfire liability. Key committee actions and votes follow.

HB 13 37 — Endemic plant seed bank pilot (University of Hawaii / CTAHR): The committee passed the measure with amendments and directed the University to assign Cooperative Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources (CTAHR) to steward the pilot. The committees noted that Lyon Arboretum and CTAHR already run seed- and propagation-related activities; the committee added technical edits and deferred the effective date to allow coordination. Vote: adopted (Chair and Vice Chair voted aye; Representative Lowen and Representative Peruso also recorded as voting aye; Representatives Quinlan and Ward noted as excused).

HB 11 84 — Controlled-environment agriculture research/demonstration GO bond: Committee recommendation to pass with amendments, recorded GO bond support at $6,000,000 in committee notes. Witnesses (CTAHR/dean) described a combined research-production facility (3,000–5,000 sq ft target) intended to train workers and supply regional kitchens. Vote: adopted with amendments.

HB 11 85 — Plant-based building materials working group: Committee passed with amendments and adopted the Attorney General’s recommended language identifying the measure as a “matter of statewide concern” and adding clarifying language on plant quarantine and stakeholder representation.

HB 5 30 — Macadamia nut labeling: Committee deferred the measure to allow industry-wide coordination on processing capacity and a statewide plan to expand in-state processing. Committee members emphasized support for “Hawaii-first” processing but said it is premature to impose stricter origin/processing labeling while statewide processing capacity is still being developed.

HB 5 47 — Spay/neuter special fund: Committee passed with amendments including a DOTAX suggested check-off option and direction to refine fund administration and equitable distribution to neighbor-island providers; committee asked staff to blank appropriations in the draft and to record budget and finance concerns about long-term administration and host agency. Vote: adopted with amendments.

HB 7 19 — Animal fur products ban: Committee adopted a House Draft 1 with technical amendments and deferred an implementation date to allow further drafting. Testimony was split: the Hawaii Humane Society supported a ban while industry groups including Fur Commission USA, retail trade groups and furriers opposed it. Vote: committee recommendation adopted with amendments.

HB 982 — Wildfire recovery fund & securitization (electric utilities): Committee adopted a set of HECO- and KIUC-proposed amendments and a range of technical edits to narrow securitizable costs to fund contributions, require comparison of commercial insurance options, direct the Public Utilities Commission to hire financial advisers as needed, specify reasonable financing costs, and revise timelines. The committee also lowered the initial customer-funded amount to $500 million with $505 million from shareholders in the draft; it directed in-report questions about fund termination/repayment and required more quantitative justification for initial sizing. Vote: Chair and Vice Chair voted in favor; recommendation adopted. Committee members noted many unresolved policy and oversight questions and flagged long-term implications for ratepayers.

What this means: The committee generally favored moving measures forward while preserving time for stakeholder work and technical drafting. Several bills were amended to reflect existing programs (CTAHR/Lyon Arboretum), to avoid rigid one-size-fits-all thresholds (agritourism and macadamia processing), and to require further study and interagency coordination (seed banking, spay/neuter funding, wildfire securitization). Committees repeatedly requested more quantitative justification where large dollar figures or programmatic allocations were proposed.