---
type: "Bill"
title: "RELATING TO INVASIVE SPECIES."
description: "Allows for the use of fine meshed nets for the protection of plants against invasive species, under certain conditions. (CD1)"
jurisdiction: "us/states/hi"
legislature: "Hawaii Legislature"
session: "2024"
identifier: "HB 2546"
citation: "Hawaii HB 2546 (2024)"
classification: ["bill"]
subjects: ["Fine Meshed Nets", "Invasive Species", "Permissible", "Rules"]
status: "enacted"
primary_sponsors: ["AMATO", "GATES", "KAHALOA", "KITAGAWA", "MARTEN", "MARTINEZ", "MATAYOSHI", "MIYAKE", "MORIKAWA", "NAKAMURA", "TAM"]
version_count: 4
action_count: 50
vote_count: 6
first_action: "2024-01-23"
last_action: "2024-07-03"
source: "openstates"
source_identifier: "ocd-bill/29bdd4f5-fdfc-4df4-ac5e-985ad7981ef8"
source_url: "https://capitol.hawaii.gov/session/archives/measure_indiv_Archives.aspx?billtype=HB&billnumber=2546&year=2024"
source_hash: "b72f67faec195fd0f1fa93ac88b889829686e7bc3aa5e2cc6d067a4335f1a01b"
vintage: "2026-07-01"
source_snapshot: "https://data.openstates.org/daily/2026-07-01/public.pgdump"
retrieved_at: "2026-07-06"
confidence: "reported"
tags: ["legislation", "bill", "us-hi"]
---

# Hawaii HB 2546 (2024) — RELATING TO INVASIVE SPECIES.

Allows for the use of fine meshed nets for the protection of plants against invasive species, under certain conditions. (CD1)

## Version chain

The bill's text revisions, in order — the diff chain from filing to enrollment.

1. **HB2546** (committee substitute) — [source](https://capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2024/bills/HB2546_.HTM)
2. **HB2546_CD1** (committee substitute) — [source](https://capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2024/bills/HB2546_CD1_.HTM)
3. **HB2546_HD1** (committee substitute) — [source](https://capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2024/bills/HB2546_HD1_.HTM)
4. **HB2546_SD1** (committee substitute) — [source](https://capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2024/bills/HB2546_SD1_.HTM)

## Votes

- The committee(s) on AEN recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. — **5–0** (pass) · upper
- The Conference committee recommends that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. — **3–0** (pass) · upper
- The committee on FIN recommend that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. — **14–0** (pass) · lower
- The committee(s) on JDC recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. — **4–0** (pass) · upper
- The committee on AGR recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. — **6–0** (pass) · lower
- The Conference Committee recommends that the measure be Passed, with Amendments. — **4–0** (pass) · lower

## Sponsors

- AMATO — primary (person)
- GATES — primary (person)
- KAHALOA — primary (person)
- KITAGAWA — primary (person)
- MARTEN — primary (person)
- MARTINEZ — primary (person)
- MATAYOSHI — primary (person)
- MIYAKE — primary (person)
- MORIKAWA — primary (person)
- NAKAMURA — primary (person)
- TAM — primary (person)
- Chun — cosponsor (person)
- Ganaden — cosponsor (person)

## Timeline

The legislative action history — every referral, reading, and vote.

- **2024-07-03** Act 184, 07/03/2024 (Gov. Msg. No. 1285). `became-law`
- **2024-07-03** Act 184, on 07/03/2024 (Gov. Msg. No. 1285). `became-law`
- **2024-05-02** Transmitted to Governor.
- **2024-05-03** Received notice of passage on Final Reading in House (Hse. Com. No. 830). `receipt`
- **2024-05-01** Received notice of Final Reading (Sen. Com. No. 798). `receipt`
- **2024-05-01** Passed Final Reading as amended in CD 1 with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Ganaden, Martinez, Nakashima excused (3). `passage`
- **2024-05-01** Passed Final Reading, as amended (CD 1). Ayes, 25; Aye(s) with reservations: none . 0 No(es): none. 0 Excused: none. `passage`
- **2024-04-26** 48 Hrs. Notice (as amended CD 1) 05-01-24
- **2024-04-26** Reported from Conference Committee as amended CD 1 (Conf. Com. Rep. No. 108-24).
- **2024-04-26** Forty-eight (48) hours notice Wednesday 05-01-24.
- **2024-04-26** Reported from Conference Committee (Conf Com. Rep. No. 108-24) as amended in (CD 1).
- **2024-04-26** The Conference committee recommends that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes of the Senate Conference Managers were as follows: 3 Aye(s): Senator(s) Gabbard, Rhoads, Richards; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 0 Excused: none. `committee-passage-favorable`
- **2024-04-26** The Conference Committee recommends that the measure be Passed, with Amendments. The votes were as follows: 4 Ayes: Representative(s) Gates, Kahaloa, Cochran, Ward; Ayes with reservations: none; 0 Noes: none; and 0 Excused: none.
- **2024-04-26** Conference Committee Meeting will reconvene on Friday 04-26-24 3:30PM in conference room 325.
- **2024-04-25** Conference Committee Meeting will reconvene on Friday 04-26-24 9:15AM in conference room 325.
- **2024-04-24** Conference Committee Meeting will reconvene on Thursday 04-25-24 9:00AM in conference room 325.
- **2024-04-23** Conference Committee Meeting will reconvene on Wednesday 04-24-24 11:05AM in conference room 325.
- **2024-04-22** Conference Committee Meeting will reconvene on Tuesday 04-23-24 9:00AM in conference room 325.
- **2024-04-19** Conference Committee Meeting will reconvene on Monday 04-22-24 11:05AM in conference room 325.
- **2024-04-18** Received notice of appointment of House conferees (Hse. Com. No. 760). `receipt`
- **2024-04-17** Bill scheduled for Conference Committee Meeting on Friday, 04-19-24 11:05AM in conference room 325.
- **2024-04-17** Received notice of Senate conferees (Sen. Com. No. 685). `receipt`
- **2024-04-17** Senate Conferees Appointed: Gabbard Chair; Rhoads Co-Chair; Richards.
- **2024-04-17** House Conferees Appointed: Gates, Kahaloa Co-Chairs; Cochran, Ward.
- **2024-04-12** Received notice of disagreement (Hse. Com. No. 731). `receipt`
- **2024-04-11** House disagrees with Senate amendment (s). `amendment-failure`
- **2024-04-09** Returned from Senate (Sen. Com. No. 643) in amended form (SD 1).
- **2024-04-09** Report adopted; Passed Third Reading, as amended (SD 1). Ayes, 24; Aye(s) with reservations: none . Noes, 0 (none). Excused, 1 (Senator(s) Ihara). Transmitted to House. `passage`
- **2024-04-05** 48 Hrs. Notice 04-09-24.
- **2024-04-05** Reported from JDC (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 3722) with recommendation of passage on Third Reading, as amended (SD 1).
- **2024-04-04** The committee(s) on JDC recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in JDC were as follows: 4 Aye(s): Senator(s) Rhoads, Gabbard, Elefante, San Buenaventura; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 1 Excused: Senator(s) Awa. `committee-passage-favorable`
- **2024-03-27** The committee(s) on JDC will hold a public decision making on 04-04-24 10:00AM; Conference Room 016 & Videoconference.
- **2024-03-13** Report adopted; Passed Second Reading and referred to JDC. `reading-2, referral-committee`
- **2024-03-13** Reported from AEN (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 3067) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading and referral to JDC.
- **2024-03-11** The committee(s) on AEN recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. 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. `committee-passage-favorable`
- **2024-03-08** The committee(s) on AEN has scheduled a public hearing on 03-11-24 1:00PM; Conference Room 224 & Videoconference.
- **2024-03-07** Referred to AEN, JDC. `referral-committee`
- **2024-03-07** Passed First Reading. `reading-1`
- **2024-03-07** Received from House (Hse. Com. No. 409). `introduction, receipt`
- **2024-03-05** Passed Third Reading with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Cochran, Martinez, Woodson excused (3). Transmitted to Senate. `passage`
- **2024-03-01** Reported from FIN (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 923-24), recommending passage on Third Reading.
- **2024-02-22** The committee on FIN recommend that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes were as follows: 14 Ayes: Representative(s) Yamashita, Kitagawa, Aiu, Chun, Garrett, Kahaloa, Kila, Kobayashi, Lamosao, Morikawa, Nishimoto, Poepoe, Takenouchi, Ward; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and 2 Excused: Representative(s) Cochran, Alcos. `committee-passage-favorable`
- **2024-02-20** Bill scheduled to be heard by FIN on Thursday, 02-22-24 1:00PM in House conference room 308 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
- **2024-02-15** 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 Representative(s) Garrett, Matayoshi, Perruso, Sayama, Takayama excused (5). `reading-2, referral-committee`
- **2024-02-15** Reported from AGR (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 447-24) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to FIN.
- **2024-02-12** The committee on AGR recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 6 Ayes: Representative(s) Gates, Kahaloa, Cochran, Perruso, Woodson, Ward; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and 1 Excused: Representative(s) Lowen. `committee-passage-favorable`
- **2024-02-09** Bill scheduled to be heard by AGR on Monday, 02-12-24 2:00PM in House conference room 312 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
- **2024-01-26** Referred to AGR, FIN, referral sheet 3 `referral-committee`
- **2024-01-24** Introduced and Pass First Reading. `introduction, reading-1`
- **2024-01-23** Pending introduction.

## Source

OpenStates / OpenCivicData bulk snapshot [2026-07-01](https://data.openstates.org/daily/2026-07-01/public.pgdump); origin `ocd-bill/29bdd4f5-fdfc-4df4-ac5e-985ad7981ef8`. Confidence: reported (aggregated from official Hawaii legislature records).