S 85119th CongressIn Committee

Continued Rapid Ohia Death Response Act of 2025

Introduced: Jan 14, 2025

Standard Summary

Comprehensive overview in 1-2 paragraphs

The Continued Rapid Ohia Death Response Act of 2025 would require federal cooperation to continue and strengthen the federal-state partnership addressing Rapid Ohia Death (ROD) in Hawaii. The bill directs the Secretary of the Interior to partner with the Secretary of Agriculture and the State of Hawaii to tackle ROD, a fungal disease that has killed a large portion of native Ohia trees. It builds on existing federal programs led by USDA Forest Service and ARS, maintaining funding and research aimed at detection, prevention of spread, identification of resistant Ohia trees, and propagation of resistant stock to restore native forests. The act also codifies ongoing research into disease vectors and transmission, and adds a focus on ungulate management in ROD control areas. It authorizes a steady federal funding stream for 2026–2036. In short, the bill seeks to formalize and extend a collaborative, interagency effort to monitor, prevent, and mitigate ROD in Hawaii, leveraging interagency funding, science, and restoration programs with an emphasis on coordination among federal entities, state authorities, and local stakeholders.

Key Points

1Requires the Secretary of the Interior to partner and collaborate with the Secretary of Agriculture and the State of Hawaii to address Rapid Ohia Death.
2Establishes ongoing interagency work, including continued USGS research on transmission and vectors of ROD and continued ungulate management in ROD control areas through US Fish and Wildlife Service in partnership with Hawaii and local stakeholders.
3Keeps in place the Agriculture/Forest Service role to provide financial assistance (including support to the Interior) to prevent spread and restore native forests, and to fund research via the Institute of Pacific Islands Forestry on ROD.
4Defines Rapid Ohia Death and Hawaii for the purposes of the Act, and clarifies that Hawaii is the State involved.
5Authorizes appropriations of $5,000,000 for each fiscal year from 2026 through 2036 to carry out the Act, including activities by the Interior, Agriculture, or both.

Impact Areas

Primary group/area affected: Native Ohia forests and ecosystems in Hawaii, including land managed by Federal, State, and private entities, and the communities that rely on these forests.Secondary group/area affected: Federal agencies (Secretary of the Interior, Secretary of Agriculture, USGS, USFWS, Forest Service), the Institute of Pacific Islands Forestry, Hawaii state government, and local stakeholders involved in forest management and restoration.Additional impacts: Strengthened interagency coordination and sustained research on ROD transmission and vectors; ongoing ungulate (e.g., deer/feral ungulate) management in ROD areas to protect restoration efforts; a defined and predictable funding path ($5 million/year 2026–2036) to support detection, prevention, restoration, and related research activities.

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