Hawaii legislation · 2026 Regular Session
Hawaii HB1832: Relating to Aquaculture.
Status: In committee, March 24, 2026
Requires establishment of a biological aquatic risk-based framework for assessment and approval of aquatic livestock importation and movement. Authorizes the Division of Animal Industry of the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity to adopt rules implementing species risk categorization, tiered biocontainment standards, per-arrival disease testing, and interagency coordination procedures. Establishes an interagency working group. Requires development of species-specific risk matrices, interagency working group coordination with automatic permit approval timelines, and performance accountability. Establishes an implementation timeline. Appropriates moneys.
What the bill says
A bill foran act relating to aquaculture.
From the engrossed text:
A BILL FORAN ACT RELATING TO AQUACULTURE. SECTION 1. The legislature finds that Hawaii's aquaculture industry serves critical functions for food security, rural economic development, and environmental stewardship. Restorative aquaculture practices, such as seaweed cultivation, bivalve restoration, and integrated multi-trophic systems, also provide measurable benefits to the State, including improved water quality, carbon sequestration, and the recovery of native species. The legislature further finds that the importation and movement of aquatic livestock within the State pose documented biosecurity risks, including the potential establishment of feral populations, the introduction of novel pathogens affecting endemic species, and disease transmission to wild stocks and adjacent aquaculture operations. Current regulatory frameworks for aquatic livestock assessment are fragmented across multiple agencies with overlapping and sometimes conflicting 2026-1782 HB1832 SDl SMA.docx Page H.B. NO. jurisdictions, resulting in permitting delays, regulatory ambiguity, and insufficient risk-based prioritization. The legislature acknowledges that international best practices and federal standards employ biological aquatic risk based frameworks that categorize species by the probability and consequences of establishment, which enables efficient permitting while maintaining biosecurity safeguards. The legislature believes that a similar coordinated, science-based framework for aquatic livestock assessment that incorporates risk-based categorization, biocontainment standards, pre-arrival disease testing, and interagency coordination will help accelerate responsible aquaculture expansion while protecting Hawaii's unique endemic species and wild populations. The legislature also finds that Act 151, …
Sponsors
- Cory Chun (D, 35) · primary sponsor
- Terez Amato (D, 11)
- Luke Evslin (D, 16)
- Greggor Ilagan (D, 4)
- Kirstin Kahaloa (D, 6)
- Darius Kila (D, 44)
- Sam Kong (D, HD-033)
- Matthias Kusch (D, 1)
- Lisa Marten (D, 51)
- Scot Matayoshi (D, 49)
- Tyson Miyake (D, 10)
- Ikaika Olds (D, 23)
Latest actions
- : Report adopted; Passed Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referred to WAM.
- : Reported from AEN (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 3152) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to WAM.
- : The committee(s) on AEN recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in AEN were as follows: 5 Aye(s): Senator(s) Gabbard, Richards, DeCoite, Rhoads, Awa; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 0 Excused: none.
- : The committee(s) on AEN has scheduled a public hearing on 03-18-26 3:30PM; Conference Room 224 & Videoconference.
- : Referred to AEN, WAM.
- : Passed First Reading.
- : Received from House (Hse. Com. No. 294).
- : Passed Third Reading as amended in HD 2 with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Kong, Pierick excused (2). Transmitted to Senate.
- : Forty-eight (48) hours notice Tuesday, 03-10-26.
- : Reported from FIN (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1028-26) as amended in HD 2, recommending passage on Third Reading.
Votes
- AEN: recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS (March 18, 2026): 5 yea, 0 nay, passed
- Third Reading as amended in HD 2 with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Kong, Pierick excused (2) (March 10, 2026): 49 yea, 0 nay, passed
- FIN: recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS (February 23, 2026): 16 yea, 0 nay, passed
- Second Reading as amended in HD 1 and referred to the committee(s) on FIN with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and none excused (0) (February 18, 2026): 51 yea, 0 nay, passed
- AGR: recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS (February 11, 2026): 5 yea, 0 nay, passed
Subjects: Report, Aquaculture, Appropriations, Working Group, Rules, Counties, DLNR, DOH
Common questions
- What is HB1832?
- HB1832 is a bill in the Hawaii Legislature (2026 Regular Session): Relating to Aquaculture.
- What does HB1832 do?
- In its own words: A bill foran act relating to aquaculture.
- What is the status of HB1832?
- In committee as of March 24, 2026. Latest action: Report adopted; Passed Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referred to WAM. (March 24, 2026).
- Who sponsored HB1832?
- Cory Chun (D, 35), with 11 co-sponsors.
- Where is the official record for HB1832?
- On the Hawaii Legislature website: https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/measure_indiv.aspx?billtype=HB&billnumber=1832&year=2026
Source: official Hawaii record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.