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HCR 27

COASTAL RES/COASTAL ZONE: Urges and requests enhancement of the state's participation in the Gulf of America Hypoxia Action Plan and Task Force

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Jerome Zeringue

HCR 27 urges Hawaii's delegation to push USDA to equalize quarantine rules for Hawaii with other states, boosting exports to the continental U.S. (non-binding).

Taken by the Clerk of the House and presented to the Secretary of State in accordance with the Rules of the House.
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Bill Summary · HCR 27

Summary — HCR 27 (Concurrent Resolution)

Status: Concurrent resolution introduced Nov 14, 2024; passed both chambers in spring 2025; enrolled and transmitted to the Secretary of State (taken by the Clerk of the House and presented to the Secretary of State on June 13, 2025).

Main purpose

HCR 27 urges and requests Hawaii’s congressional delegation to petition the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to remedy a lack of parity in federal quarantine and interstate-movement rules that treat Hawaii comparably to U.S. territories and significantly restrict the State’s ability to export certain agricultural commodities to the continental United States.

Background / intent

  • Federal rule cited: 7 C.F.R. part 318 allows the Secretary of Agriculture to prohibit or restrict interstate movement of plants and plant products from Hawaii and U.S. territories to the continental U.S. to prevent pest introductions.
  • Under current USDA determinations, many Hawaii-grown items — including cut flowers, fruits, vegetables, and plants — are barred from interstate shipment unless specifically listed as allowed.
  • To add commodities to the allowed list, Hawaii must submit petitions to USDA and wait for a pest risk analysis. The resolution asserts that Hawaii is placed in the same processing queue as foreign countries, whose petitions are frequently prioritized, producing long delays (sometimes years or decades).
  • USDA quarantine, inspection, and treatment requirements have, according to the resolution, severely limited Hawaii’s exports and negatively impacted the State’s agricultural sector.

Key provisions / actions requested

  • The resolution requests Hawaii’s congressional delegation to petition the USDA to address the lack of parity between Hawaii and other states/territories with respect to export/interstate-movement restrictions on agricultural goods.
  • It directs that certified copies of the resolution be transmitted to each member of Hawaii’s congressional delegation and to the Chairperson of the Hawaii Board of Agriculture.

Who is affected

  • Primary: Hawaii growers and exporters of cut flowers, fruits, vegetables, and live plants whose ability to ship to the continental U.S. is constrained.
  • Secondary: Hawaii’s agricultural economy, the Hawaii Department of Agriculture, and USDA/Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) procedures and workload.

Legal effect and limits

  • HCR 27 is a non‑binding concurrent resolution — it does not change federal law or USDA regulations. Its sole substantive effect is to request and encourage congressional action (petitioning USDA) and to publicize the State’s position.
  • Any regulatory change would require USDA rulemaking, petition approvals, and potential pest risk analyses.

Legislative timeline (high-level)

  • Filed: Nov 14, 2024
  • House adoption and transmittal to Senate: March–April 2025 (committee referrals and amendments; SD1 adopted)
  • Enrolled and returned to House / signed by legislative officers: June 11, 2025
  • Delivered to Secretary of State: June 13, 2025

(Report title/keywords in bill: USDA; HDOA; Exports; Quarantine; Restrictions.)

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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