Sponsors (2)
The bill strengthens Hawaii-focused coordination, research, and assistance to combat Rapid ʻŌhiʻa Death, but its narrow scope and lack of dedicated funding or detailed implementation requirements risk uneven effectiveness, shifted costs to states, and limits on long-term flexibility.
Hawaii state and local land managers get a clear statutory definition of 'Rapid ʻŌhiʻa Death,' enabling more targeted response, plant-health planning, and reduced jurisdictional ambiguity about the law's application to Hawaii.
Federal and state land managers gain a required, coordinated federal–state response capacity to combat Rapid ʻŌhiʻa Death, encouraging joint action across agencies that can improve protection of forests and native ecosystems on public lands.
Provides financial assistance to prevent disease spread and restore native forests, supporting local economies, tourism, and communities that rely on forest resources.
No dedicated federal funding or clear timeline means states and land managers may shoulder significant costs to implement prevention, control, and restoration activities.
Requirements for coordination risk being ineffective or slow without statutory authority, detailed implementation guidance, or resources—potentially producing limited on‑the‑ground action and diverting Interior and Agriculture staff time from other priorities.
Federal spending on research and financial assistance increases taxpayer costs and may not guarantee eradication or full control of the disease.
Based on analysis of 4 sections of legislative text.
Directs Interior and Agriculture to continue and coordinate research, management, and restoration actions to address Rapid ʻŌhiʻa Death in Hawaii and to work with the State.
Directs the Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of Agriculture to continue and coordinate research, management, and restoration activities to address Rapid ʻŌhiʻa Death in Hawaiʻi and to collaborate with the State of Hawaii. It defines the disease and the term “State,” requires interagency/state partnership, and specifies continued research, ungulate-management partnerships, and financial and staffing support for Pacific Islands forestry research. The measure does not appropriate new funds, set deadlines, or change other statutes; it instructs federal agencies to maintain and coordinate existing or continuing activities to prevent spread and restore native forests affected by Rapid ʻŌhiʻa Death.
Introduced January 13, 2025 by Jill Tokuda · Last progress February 14, 2025