SB 652 Summary

• Appropriates unspecified funds to the Department of Agriculture for fiscal years 2023-2024 and 2024-2025 to mitigate and control two-lined spittlebug infestations and undertake recovery efforts for damaged pastureland.

• Authorizes the Department of Agriculture to use insecticides, weed management, and reseeding to reduce two-lined spittlebug populations, which have infested over 278 square miles on the island of Hawaii since 2016.

• Establishes a five-year pilot program to control feral chickens, roosters, and pigs by providing traps free-of-charge to the public, collecting traps with captured animals, and returning empty traps to participants.

• Requires interim reports to the Legislature by 2024 and 2026 on two-lined spittlebug mitigation efforts, and interim and final reports by 2026 and 2028 on the feral animal pilot program.

• Takes effect July 1, 2050.