Bill > SB351

This bill aims to improve pesticide use reporting in Hawaii by requiring more frequent and detailed documentation of restricted use pesticides, which are chemicals deemed to have high potential to cause harm to communities, farm workers, and the environment. Specifically, the bill changes reporting requirements from annual to quarterly, mandates that reports include more precise geospatial data (up to one square mile), and requires users to provide more detailed information about the type and quantity of pesticides applied, such as the pounds and percentage of active ingredients. The Department of Agriculture will be required to develop an online reporting tool to facilitate this process and will also produce public summary reports for each county that include the total quantities of restricted use pesticides, broken down by product and active ingredient, along with the geographic areas where these pesticides were applied. The legislation is motivated by the need for more comprehensive data to assess potential environmental and public health risks associated with pesticide use, drawing inspiration from California's more rigorous reporting practices. The bill seeks to enable policymakers and public health experts to make more evidence-based decisions about pesticide regulation by providing more granular and frequent information about pesticide applications across the state.

Agriculture and Natural Resources, Business and Industry

https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session/measure_indiv.aspx?billtype=SB&billnumber=351&year=2026