Committee advances broad biosecurity bill that renames agency, adds deputy director and emergency authority

The House Committee on Agriculture & Food Systems passed HB 427 on Jan. 29 after extended testimony and debate on a package of biosecurity changes. The measure renames the Department of Agriculture to the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity, authorizes a deputy director for biosecurity, revises the plant-and-animal declaration form name to a biosecurity declaration, and outlines conditions under which the department and governor may declare a biosecurity emergency.

Why it matters

Supporters said the changes would modernize the state’s statutory framework for preventing and responding to invasive species and other biosecurity threats. The bill would create a more visible biosecurity leadership role in the department and provide explicit emergency authorities intended to speed response to pests or prohibited organisms.

Key testimony and concerns

Chelsea Arnott of the Hawaii Invasive Species Council said HISC supports the bill but asked that the council’s role remain clearly collaborative: "the Hawaii Invasive Species Council shall report directly to the chairperson" was questioned and HISC asked removal or rewording so the council would work within the existing co-chair structure rather than be subordinated during emergencies.

The Coordinating Group on Alien Pest Species (CGAPS) and Sierra Club provided written comments and asked that the committee consider greater legislative oversight over the new deputy director, since the position would have substantial responsibilities and could be created outside civil service. CGAPS recommended advice-and-consent for the appointment; Sierra Club suggested a review mechanism for the deputy director’s work.

Technical and statutory changes

Committee amendments moved some deputy director language to align with chapter 141 appointment rules (making the position a gubernatorial appointment) and retained the department’s draft changes to use "pest" where existing statute defines that term. The committee declined an amendment that would have limited the deputy director to hiring from within Department of Agriculture staff, and did not include a 10-year contract for the position. The committee also accepted the HISC suggestion to change the council-reporting language to emphasize working with the chairperson rather than direct reporting during emergencies.

Emergency authorities and oversight

Testimony from CGAPS and Sierra Club noted that chapter 127A and existing gubernatorial emergency authority are already available for statewide emergencies and requested clarification about when and how the new biosecurity emergency authorities would be used. The committee rationale was that having explicit statutory biosecurity emergency tools would allow faster, more targeted responses at ports and other pathways while preserving broader executive emergency powers.

Outcome and next steps

The committee voted to pass HB 427 with technical and drafting amendments, blanked appropriations and FTEs for the standing committee report, and moved language to chapter 141 for appointment clarity. Opponents’ concerns about HISC independence and legislative oversight were noted in committee testimony and the committee adopted edits to address HISC coordination language.