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Water and Land committee advances several bills on invasive species, Red Hill, land use and Ag water funding
Summary
After deferring the agritourism measure, Senate committees moved multiple other measures: HB 299 (invasive species funding) passed with amendments; HB 505 (Red Hill remediation coordinator and fund) passed with amendments (one reservation); HB 778 (integrated land-use study) and HB 1220 (Kaneʻohe Bay invasive removal) passed unamended; HB 13 65 (ag water wells/EIS) passed with amendments and includes a Farm Bureau note requesting a $1.5 million ceiling for an EIS.
Following the agritourism discussion on March 19, the joint hearings of the Senate Committee on Water and Land and the Committee on Agriculture and Environment considered several additional measures and moved them to decision making.
HB 299 (House Draft 1) — Hawaii Invasive Species Council: Committees heard organizational support from the Hawaii Invasive Species Council, DOA, Department of Health and numerous conservation groups. Jonathan Ho of the DOA’s Plant Quarantine Branch described coordination work and referenced prior assessments estimating roughly $80 million for a comprehensive biosecurity plan, depending on scope. The committee adopted the chair’s recommendation to pass HB 299 with technical and non-substantive amendments; the committee recorded the recommendation as adopted with five members in favor.
HB 505 (House Draft 1) — Red Hill remediation: The bill would establish a policy coordinator for Red Hill coordination and create a Red Hill Remediation Special Fund. Multiple organizations and the Office of Hawaiian Affairs expressed support. The committee passed the bill with amendments; Senator DeCoite registered reservations about DLNR representation and the potential powers afforded to the coordinator.
HB 778 (House Draft 2) — Integrated land-use study: The bill requires the Office of Planning and Sustainable Development (OPSD) to conduct an integrated land-use study for lands in agricultural districts and submit interim and final reports to the legislature. OPSD testified in support, noting the study would help align statutory sustainability mandates (for example, local food production targets and renewable energy goals) with land availability. The committee passed HB 778 unamended.
HB 1220 (House Draft 1) — Invasive species (Kaneʻohe Bay): This measure appropriates funds for DLNR’s Division of Aquatic Resources to remove targeted invasive species from Kaneʻohe Bay. Agencies and conservation stakeholders testified in support and the committee passed the bill unamended.
HB 13 65 / HD2 (appears in the record as HP 1565/House Bill 13 65) — Nonpotable water wells pilot and EIS: Committee discussion focused on a pilot to drill nonpotable irrigation wells and to prepare an environmental impact statement for Pu'uea Ag Park and farm lots. The Hawaii Farm Bureau identified a requested ceiling of $1,500,000 to fund an EIS and drilling in the Waiakea aquifer area so farmers could access irrigation water off the county potable supply. The committee adopted the chair’s recommendation to pass with amendments; the committee report will note the Farm Bureau’s requested appropriation.
All measures on the latter part of the agenda were acted on in decision making and the joint hearing adjourned after the committee votes.
