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SB252Introduced in the Senate

Relating To Invasive Species.

EngrossedHouse Finance

Introduced by Jarrett Keohokalole, District 24

What does this bill do?

Plain-English breakdown

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Official description

Clarifies that the importation of any pest or material infested or infected with an insect or other animal, disease, or pest is prohibited. Authorizes the Department of Agriculture to administratively inspect any article imported or moved into the State from the continental United States or between the Hawaiian Islands. Prohibits the sale, barter, or donation of items or material that is a pest, is infested or infected with a pest, or prohibited from being sold. Authorizes the Department of Agriculture to compel the quarantine, treatment, or destruction of certain materials. Clarifies penalties for various quarantine and import law violations, based in part on whether violations were knowingly committed. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

Where it stands

Carried over to 2026 Regular Session.

December 8, 2025

How did lawmakers vote?

SenateStage: Senate Judiciary: Passed, With Amendments · February 26, 2025

5

Yes

0

No

0

Absent or Not Voting

5 senators recorded in this Senate vote. Colors show vote categories only, not whether a vote was good or bad.

What do people think?

Citizen Voice

How would you vote on this bill?

An unofficial public opinion poll. It does not affect the bill or the official vote.

One response per device. Location is self-reported and not verified. Results are informal and not a scientific survey.

See how each senator voted

SenatorDistrictVote
Joy San Buenaventura2Yes
Stanley Chang9Yes
Karl Rhoads13Yes
Mike Gabbard21Yes
Brenton Awa23Yes

Bill history

  1. Pending Introduction.

  2. Introduced and passed First Reading.

  3. Referred to AEN/CPN, JDC/WAM.

  4. The committee(s) on AEN/CPN has scheduled a public hearing on 01-29-25 9:30AM; Conference Room 229 & Videoconference.

  5. The committee(s) on AEN recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in AEN were as follows: 3 Aye(s): Senator(s) Gabbard, Rhoads; Aye(s) with reservations: Senator(s) DeCoite ; 0 No(es): none; and 2 Excused: Senator(s) Richards, Awa.

  6. The committee(s) on CPN recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in CPN were as follows: 3 Aye(s): Senator(s) Keohokalole, Fukunaga, McKelvey; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 2 Excused: Senator(s) Richards, Awa.

  7. Reported from AEN/CPN (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 162) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to JDC/WAM.

  8. Report adopted; Passed Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referred to JDC/WAM.

  9. The committee(s) on JDC/WAM will hold a public decision making on 02-26-25 10:05AM; Conference Room 211 & Videoconference.

  10. The committee(s) on JDC recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in JDC were as follows: 5 Aye(s): Senator(s) Rhoads, Gabbard, Chang, San Buenaventura, Awa; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 0 Excused: none.

  11. The committee(s) on WAM recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in WAM were as follows: 13 Aye(s): Senator(s) Dela Cruz, Moriwaki, Aquino, DeCoite, Elefante, Hashimoto, Inouye, Kanuha, Kidani, Kim, Lee, C., Wakai, Fevella; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 0 Excused: none.

  12. Reported from JDC/WAM (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 987) with recommendation of passage on Third Reading, as amended (SD 2).

  13. 48 Hrs. Notice 03-04-25.

  14. Report Adopted; Passed Third Reading, as amended (SD 2). Ayes, 24; Aye(s) with reservations: Senator(s) DeCoite. Noes, 0 (none). Excused, 1 (Senator(s) Lee, C.). Transmitted to House.

  15. Received from Senate (Sen. Com. No. 114) in amended form (SD 2).

  16. Pass First Reading

  17. Referred to AGR, JHA, FIN, referral sheet 19

  18. Bill scheduled to be heard by AGR on Wednesday, 03-12-25 9:00AM in House conference room 325 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.

  19. The committee on AGR recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 5 Ayes: Representative(s) Kahaloa, Kusch, Lowen, Perruso, Quinlan; Ayes with reservations: none; 0 Noes: none; and 1 Excused: Representative(s) Ward.

  20. Reported from AGR (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1227) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to JHA.

  21. Passed Second Reading as amended in HD 1 and referred to the committee(s) on JHA with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Cochran, Holt, Iwamoto, Ward excused (4).

  22. Bill scheduled to be heard by JHA on Tuesday, 03-18-25 2:15PM in House conference room 325 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.

  23. The committee on JHA recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 10 Ayes: Representative(s) Tarnas, Poepoe, Belatti, Hashem, Kahaloa, Perruso, Takayama, Todd, Garcia, Shimizu; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and 1 Excused: Representative(s) Cochran.

  24. Reported from JHA (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1456) as amended in HD 2, recommending referral to FIN.

  25. Report adopted; referred to the committee(s) on FIN as amended in HD 2 with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Cochran, Garrett, Kapela, Kitagawa, Ward excused (5).

  26. Carried over to 2026 Regular Session.

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