Funding For Landmark Biosecurity Bill Slashed In Half

Hawaiʻi Public Radio | By Mark Ladao

Published July 11, 2024 at 3:28 PM HST

Hawaiʻi Department of Agriculture

The coconut rhinoceros beetle is invasive to Hawaiʻi.

Gov. Josh Green has cut what was once a $20 million biosecurity bill in half, raising some concerns about invasive species management in the state.

Green this week line-item vetoed House Bill 2619, reducing funding to $10 million for the state Department of Agriculture. The cut was meant to compensate for a costly income tax break measure that also passed this year.

But the so-called “landmark” biosecurity bill was supposed to show that the state was serious about slowing the spread of pests like little fire ants, coconut rhinoceros beetles and coqui frogs.

That meant, in part, funding the woefully underfunded and understaffed agriculture department, which spearheads the state’s invasive species efforts.