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GM 1290

Informing the Legislature that on June 6, 2025, the Governor signed the following bill into law: SB330 SD1 HD2 CD1 (ACT 190).

2025 Regular Session

Act 190 authorizes Hawaii to enforce federal quarantines, seize or treat articles, and require proof of origin for interstate shipments to protect crops from invasive pests.

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Bill Summary · GM 1290

Summary of GM 1290 / Act 190 (SB 330, SD1, HD2, CD1)

GM 1290 is a proclamation informing the legislature that SB 330, SD1, HD2, CD1 was signed into law as Act 190 on June 6, 2025. Act 190 strengthens Hawaii’s biosecurity by enabling the Hawaii Department of Agriculture (HDOA) to enforce federal quarantines and to regulate interstate movement of regulated agricultural articles to prevent invasive pests and diseases, with a focus on protecting citrus crops.

Purpose and intent

  • Protect and promote Hawaii’s agricultural sector, with particular emphasis on citrus crops, from invasive pests and diseases (e.g., citrus greening, citrus canker, citrus black spot, fruit flies).
  • Close gaps between federal quarantine authority and state enforcement by authorizing HDOA to enforce federal quarantines within Hawaii and to cooperate with federal and local agencies.

Key provisions

  • Establishment of new enforcement authority under Hawaii Revised Statutes Chapter 150A:

    • New section: Federal and state quarantines; enforcement; cooperative agreements.
    • HDOA may enter into cooperative agreements with the USDA, APHIS, and other federal, state, or county agencies to enforce federal quarantines.
    • HDOA may seize, destroy, or require treatment of articles moved from a federally regulated area if the movement violated federal quarantine rules or if the articles are found to be infested.

  • Interstate movement and entry controls:

    • Regulated or restricted articles shall not enter Hawaii if prohibited from interstate movement under a federal quarantine.
    • Owners or carriers of regulated or restricted articles originating from nonregulated areas of a quarantined state must provide proof of origin (via a waybill or other shipping document) unless otherwise required by federal regulations (7 CFR Part 301).

  • Definitions:

    • Federal quarantine: Regulatory action by the federal government (USDA/APHIS) to prevent pests’ spread.
    • Quarantined state: Any state or portion designated as quarantined under federal regulation.
    • Regulated or restricted article: Articles identified as regulated by USDA/APHIS.
    • State: Includes the United States and its territories and possessions for purposes of quarantine.

  • Effective date:

    • The Act takes effect upon approval (June 6, 2025).

  • Non-retroactivity:

    • The Act does not affect rights, duties, penalties, or proceedings that matured or began before its effective date.

Affected parties

  • Hawaii Department of Agriculture (primary enforcer and coordinator)
  • United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and APHIS (federal partner)
  • Other federal, state, or county agencies involved in quarantine enforcement
  • Importers, shippers, and carriers of regulated or restricted agricultural articles
  • Agricultural producers, particularly citrus growers, and the broader public concerned with biosecurity

Practical impact

  • Strengthened protection against entry and spread of invasive pests/diseases via the enforcement of federal quarantines in Hawaii.
  • Expanded tools for quarantine enforcement (seizure, destruction, or treatment of quarantined articles).
  • Enhanced documentation requirements for interstate shipments entering Hawaii, aiding traceability and compliance with federal standards.

This Act is now in force and applies to enforce federal quarantines within Hawaii to shield agricultural resources from invasive pests and diseases.

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

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