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HCR 130

URGING CONGRESS, THE COUNTIES OF THE STATE, AND OTHER RELEVANT AGENCIES TO PROVIDE INCREASED AND SUSTAINED FUNDING TO THE INVASIVE SPECIES COMMITTEES AND HAWAI‘I ANT LAB WITHIN THE PACIFIC COOPERATIVE STUDIES UNIT OF THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAI‘I AT MĀNOA.

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Mahina Poepoe

Urges sustained funding from federal, state, and counties to support Hawaiʻi’s invasive-species programs, research, outreach, and coordination via ISCs and Hawaiʻi Ant Lab.

House agrees to Senate amendment(s).
#biosecurity #funding #hawaiiantlab #invasivespeciescommittees
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Bill Summary · HCR 130

Summary — HCR 130 (2025)

Title: Urging Congress, the counties, and other relevant agencies to provide increased and sustained funding to the Invasive Species Committees and Hawai‘i Ant Lab (Pacific Cooperative Studies Unit, UH Mānoa)

Purpose / Intent

HCR 130 is a concurrent resolution urging increased and sustained funding from Congress, the State, counties, and relevant agencies (including the Department of Agriculture and Department of Land and Natural Resources) to support Hawai‘i’s regional Invasive Species Committees (ISCs) and the Hawai‘i Ant Lab housed in the Pacific Cooperative Studies Unit (PCSU) at the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa. The resolution frames invasive species as a major ecological and economic threat to Hawaii’s unique ecosystems, agriculture, and tourism.

Key provisions / Requested actions

  • Urges Congress, the counties, the State, and relevant agencies to provide increased and sustained funding to the ISCs and Hawai‘i Ant Lab (PCSU, UH Mānoa).
  • Encourages counties, ISCs, and Hawai‘i Ant Lab to pursue federal grants to support invasive-species work.
  • Requests that funding be directed to:
    • Expand control programs targeting priority invasive species;
    • Increase research and monitoring for early detection of new invasions;
    • Enhance public outreach and education to prevent spread;
    • Support interagency and community coordination, resource-sharing, and response capacity;
    • Provide treatment options for residents and farmers (including grants for control efforts and purchase of treatment supplies).
  • Directs that certified copies of the resolution be transmitted to federal leaders, Hawaii’s congressional delegation, State agency chairs, PCSU director, and county mayors.

Who is affected

  • Primary beneficiaries: Big Island ISC, Maui ISC, Molokai–Maui ISC, Oʻahu ISC, Kauaʻi ISC, and Hawaiʻi Ant Lab (PCSU, UH Mānoa).
  • Secondary: County and State natural resource and agriculture agencies, farmers, residents impacted by invasive species, tourism and agriculture sectors, and communities relying on ecosystem services.

Procedural / Timeline highlights

  • Introduced: April 8, 2025 (offered by Representative Poepoe).
  • Committee referrals and amendments occurred April–May 2025 (amended to SD1).
  • Adopted by the Legislature: House agreed to Senate amendments; final adoption and enrollment occurred in late May 2025.
  • Sent to Governor: May 28, 2025.
  • Signed by the Governor: June 20, 2025.
  • Related companion: HR 126.

Practical effect and limitations

  • HCR 130 is a concurrent resolution expressing the Legislature’s policy priorities and urging funding actions by federal, county, and State entities. It does not itself appropriate funds or create binding spending obligations. Its practical effect is advocacy: signaling legislative support for sustained investment in invasive-species prevention, control, research, outreach, and assistance programs.

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

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