Continued Rapid Ohia Death Response Act of 2025

Senate Bill

S. 85

119th Congress

Continued Rapid Ohia Death Response Act of 2025

In Committee

Introduced:Jan 14, 2025

Primary Sponsor

Josh Hawley

Senator

Republican

MO

Cosponsors

1

Quick Stats

Policy Area

Animals

Summary

This bill requires federal agencies to research and combat Rapid Ohia Death, a fungal disease that has killed over a million native ohia trees in Hawaii. It mandates partnerships with state agencies, continued research on disease transmission, ungulate management in affected areas, and funding for forest restoration.

Latest Action

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.

SponsorJosh Hawley (R-MO)

Introduced1/14/2025

StatusRead twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.

ChamberSenate

Data from Congress.gov

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Vote Prediction

Continued Rapid Ohia Death Response Act of 2025

This bill requires federal agencies to research and combat Rapid Ohia Death, a fungal disease that has killed over a million native ohia trees in Hawaii. It mandates partnerships with state agencies, continued research on disease transmission, ungulate managem

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This bill requires federal agencies to research and combat Rapid Ohia Death, a fungal disease that has killed over a million native ohia trees in Hawaii. It mandates partnerships with state agencies, continued research on disease transmission, ungulate management in affected areas, and funding for forest restoration.

Bill Number: 85
Sponsor: Josh Hawley (R-MO)
Introduced: 1/14/2025
Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
Policy Area: Animals

Data from Congress.gov

AI-generated summary

Fact Sheet

Title: Continued Rapid Ohia Death Response Act of 2025
Bill Number: 85
Sponsor: Josh Hawley (R-MO)
Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
Introduced: 1/14/2025
Summary: This bill requires federal agencies to research and combat Rapid Ohia Death, a fungal disease that has killed over a million native ohia trees in Hawaii. It mandates partnerships with state agencies, continued research on disease transmission, ungulate management in affected areas, and funding for f

Data from Congress.gov

AI Summary

Plain-English explanation of this bill

This bill requires federal agencies to research and combat Rapid Ohia Death, a fungal disease that has killed over a million native ohia trees in Hawaii. It mandates partnerships with state agencies, continued research on disease transmission, ungulate management in affected areas, and funding for forest restoration.

Last updated: 1/6/2026

Official Summary

Congressional Research Service summary

Continued Rapid Ohia Death Response Act of 2025This bill establishes requirements to research and control the fungus Ceratocystis, known as Rapid Ohia Death, which has killed more than a million native trees in Hawaii.Specifically, the Department of the Interior must partner with the Department of Agriculture and Hawaii to control and address the fungus.In addition, the U.S. Geological Survey must continue to research Rapid Ohia Death vectors and transmission.The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service must continue to partner with Hawaii and local stakeholders to manage ungulates (e.g., certain mammals such as deer) in Rapid Ohia Death control areas on federal, state, and private land.Finally, the Forest Service must continue to provide (1) financial assistance to prevent the spread of the fungus and to restore the native forests of Hawaii, and (2) staff and necessary infrastructure funding to the Institute of Pacific Islands Forestry to research the fungus.

Key Points

Main provisions of the bill

Addresses Rapid Ohia Death fungus killing Hawaii native trees
Requires Interior and Agriculture partnership with Hawaii
Mandates continued research on disease vectors and transmission
Funds ungulate management in affected forest areas
Supports forest restoration and Institute of Pacific Islands Forestry

How This Impacts Americans

Potential effects on citizens and communities

Hawaii native forests would receive coordinated federal support to combat the devastating Rapid Ohia Death disease. Research into stopping the fungal spread would continue, and funding for forest restoration would help recover affected ecosystems.

Policy Areas

Primary Policy Area

Animals

Scope & Jurisdiction

Jurisdiction Level

federal

Congressional Session

119th Congress

Citation Reference

85, 119th Congress (2025). "Continued Rapid Ohia Death Response Act of 2025". Source: Voter's Right Platform. https://votersright.org/bills/118-s-85

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