Senate committees weigh renewable-fuel plan, tighten pesticide reporting; multiple agriculture bills advance or are deferred

The Senate committees on Agriculture and Environment and on Energy and Intergovernmental Affairs met in room 224 on Jan. 29, 2025, to hear more than a dozen agriculture- and environment-related measures, including bills on renewable aviation fuel, electric‑vehicle battery recycling and pesticide reporting.

A single hearing produced extended debate on two policy areas: a proposed tax-credit and incentive package to promote sustainable aviation fuel (Senate Bill 995) and new reporting and buffer-zone requirements for restricted‑use pesticides (Senate Bills 351 and 352). Committees deferred decision on SB 995 after hours of testimony, advanced several other bills with committee amendments, and approved changes to a proposed electric-vehicle battery recycling commission.

Why it matters: The renewable‑fuel debate touched on land use, food security, taxpayer cost and the pace of private investment, while the pesticide measures addressed public health transparency and regulatory burden for farmers and pest-control operators. Lawmakers moved quickly through other bills on nurseries, invasive‑species placarding, agricultural water studies and workforce housing, often adopting technical amendments or deferring funding language to committee reports.

Renewable fuels (SB 995)

Representatives of growers, fuel producers and the airlines described competing concerns about whether Hawaii could produce significant quantities of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) locally and whether a state tax credit is the right way to incentivize production.

Nahelani Parsons, representing the Hawaii Renewable Fuels Coalition, said coalition members include the Hawaii Farm Bureau and Pacific Biodiesel and that the coalition supports the measure and has proposed technical amendments. Chris Bennett of Pono Pacific described pilot trials: he said trial yields “ranging from 1,000 an acre up to 2,000 an acre” (units not specified in testimony) and that camelina seed typically contains “about 30 to 40% oil from the seeds that will be processed into renewable fuel.” Bennett said the oilseed’s seed cake can be used as approved livestock feed and argued that the dual revenue streams make camelina viable for Hawaii farmers.

Alana James, managing director of sustainability initiatives at Hawaiian Airlines (testifying for Hawaiian and Alaska Airlines), said the bill “establishes critical incentives to promote the production and import of sustainable aviation fuel” and described SAF as “the most promising technology to address aviation carbon emissions.”

Par Hawaii testified that the company is already investing in its facility: Yang Lehi said Par is investing about $90,000,000 to retrofit refinery capacity and expected “by the end of this year to produce about 60,000,000 … renewable diesel fuel, as well as aviation fuel.”

Opponents and skeptical witnesses raised concerns about land, water and the distribution of benefits. Ted Metros, testifying as an independent and a former Par Hawaii employee, warned the bill’s proposed credits could amount to substantial taxpayer exposure: “This bill only proposes $80,000,000 per year, but it’s projected to go for more than 20 years, $1,600,000,000,” he said. Metros also said the mechanism in the bill may not direct benefits to local farmers and that much of the feedstock may be imported.

Committee members pressed witnesses on acreage and water. Pono Pacific’s witness said their target was to supply roughly 20% of Par’s feedstock needs and that reaching that target would require about 100,000 acres in Hawaii at full scale; witnesses noted that independent analyses referenced in testimony (HNEI) offer substantially higher acreage estimates for large statewide supply scenarios. The committee did not adopt the measure at this hearing; chairs said they would defer action on SB 995.

Pesticide reporting and buffers (SB 351 and SB 352)

Lawmakers also spent substantial time on pesticides. SB 351 would require quarterly reporting of restricted‑use pesticide (RUP) applications and add geospatial detail and consistent units; SB 352 would require consistent units and establish a one‑half‑mile buffer around schools and public parks.

Greg Takashima, pesticide program manager for the Department of Agriculture, said the department “stands on its written testimony” but noted implementation would require additional staff because there are more than 1,100 certified applicators in the state and the department must process thousands of reports. He said the department had developed a reporting app in 2021 but that vacancies and staffing limitations have constrained digitization and data processing.

Public‑health and community advocates urged more frequent and more geographically precise reporting. Anne Frederick of Hawaii Alliance for Progressive Action said that California’s square‑mile reporting enabled studies linking pesticide application to public‑health outcomes and urged similar practices here: “We are basically advocating for similar practices to California,” she said. Physician and community witnesses testified about repeated drift incidents in some communities.

Farm and industry groups said increased reporting frequency and geospatial disclosure would be burdensome and risk privacy and business harms. Janet Ashman of the Hawaii Farm Bureau said the bill would impose “redundant and burdensome requirements on farmers without a clear demonstrable benefit,” and representatives of pest‑control operators cited privacy concerns and operational burdens for companies that fumigate structures.

Committees voted to pass SB 351 “as is” and pass SB 352 with technical amendments; chairs said some members would support those bills with reservations, and the record shows committee members asked the department to continue work on implementation details.

Electric‑vehicle battery recycling (SB 103)

The committees heard brief testimony from state agencies and industry representatives on a proposed battery end‑of‑life management program. Daniel Zotos of Redwood Materials said the company — “the largest recycler of lithium‑ion batteries in North America” — supports SB 103’s intent and requested a simple amendment to add a battery‑recycling expert to the proposed commission. Committees adopted amendments to add a battery‑storage industry seat and to adjust a deadline (to 20 days prior to the 2027 session); the measure was passed out of committee with those amendments.

Other measures and committee action (Votes at a glance)

The committees took action on many other bills during the hearing. Decisions below reflect the committee record and the chairs’ recommendations announced at the end of the hearing.

- SB 103 (electric‑vehicle battery recycling): Passed with amendments (chairs’ recommendation adopted). Amendment: add battery‑storage industry representation on the commission and move the deadline to 20 days before the 2027 legislative session.

- SB 995 (renewable fuels / sustainable aviation fuel): Deferred (chairs conferred and decided to defer action for further consideration).

- SB 724 (deposit beverage container redemption / dealer obligations): Deferred decision making to Feb. 3, 2025, 1:05 p.m. (committee announced deferral).

- SB 251 (invasive‑species placard program for plant nurseries): Passed as is (chair’s recommendation to pass adopted).

- SB 562 (plant nursery registry): Passed with Department of Agriculture amendments; technical changes adopted to clarify that cut foliage, fresh fruit and vegetables and pop‑up sales are included.

- SB 506 (agriculture market study & data positions): Passed with technical amendments; appropriation language was blanked and inserted into committee report for consideration; effective date deferred to July 1, 2050, per committee technical direction.

- SB 661 (plant‑based building materials — hemp/bamboo): Passed with amendments, including an amendment (offered by Climate Protectors Hawaii / Hawaii Reef and Ocean Coalition) to add biocements to the bill’s scope; appropriation language was blanked and moved to committee report for consideration.

- SB 127 (conventional‑farming grant program): Passed with technical amendments, appropriation blanked and inserted into committee report; effective date deferred to July 1, 2050.

- SB 351 (restricted‑use pesticide reporting — quarterly, geospatial units): Passed as is (chairs’ recommendation adopted); committee members expressed implementation concerns but supported greater transparency.

- SB 352 (pesticide reporting units and 1/2‑mile buffers near schools/parks): Passed with technical amendments (chairs’ recommendation adopted); several senators reserved judgment and asked for additional departmental follow‑up.

- SB 563 (agricultural water infrastructure study): Deferred decision making to Jan. 31, 2025, 1:55 p.m.

- SB 498 (agricultural workforce housing working group): Passed with amendments (chairs’ recommendation adopted) to clarify the working group will be established within the Department of Agriculture rather than another office; technical amendment adopted.

What’s next

Committees set follow‑up and deferred decision days for measures needing more time on February 3 and January 31. Sponsors and department staff were asked to return with technical language or implementation plans where staff capacity, data systems or eligibility rules require clarification.

Sources and attribution

This account is drawn from witness testimony and committee discussion recorded at the Jan. 29, 2025 joint hearing of the Senate Committee on Agriculture and Environment and the Committee on Energy and Intergovernmental Affairs. Direct quotes and data points in the story are attributed to the speakers who made them during the hearing, and summaries are limited to arguments, motions and outcomes stated on the record.

Ending note

Because committees adopted technical edits and deferred appropriations to committee reports on multiple bills, substantive implementation steps — budgeting, rulemaking and departmental staffing — will remain subject to future committee review and floor action.