Hawaii Invasive Species Protection Act

This bill aims to protect Hawaii from harmful pests and plant diseases by requiring pre-travel inspections for anyone and anything going to or from the islands. The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s APHIS will lead visual, x-ray, and dog screenings of people, baggage, cargo, and mail at airports, seaports, and certain postal sorting centers before items travel directly to or from Hawaii. High‑risk items found can be seized and disposed of. A list of what must be checked will be created with the State of Hawaii and published within 180 days after the law takes effect. Fees will be charged to cover the full cost of these inspections.

Key points

• Who is affected: Travelers to or from Hawaii, airlines and shippers, and mail moving through certain postal facilities.
• What changes: Mandatory “preclearance” inspections using visual, x‑ray, and canine checks; risky items can be seized; user fees will fund the program.
• Where inspections happen: Departure and connection airports, ports, and destination postal sorting centers.
• When: The inspection list must be published within 180 days after the law is enacted; inspections follow that plan.