Hawaii SB2333 Would Restrict Neonicotinoid Pesticides From 2027

Hawaii lawmakers have introduced Senate Bill 2333 (SB2333), a proposal that would restrict neonicotinoid pesticides statewide. The bill would prohibit the sale, possession, or use of pesticides containing one or more neonicotinoid active ingredients beginning 1 January 2027, while carving out limited exemptions and requiring multi-year evaluations by the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity.

If enacted, the measure would add a statutory definition of “neonicotinoid pesticide”, explicitly listing acetamiprid, clothianidin, dinotefuran, imidacloprid, and thiamethoxam, and allowing the department to designate additional chemicals in the class.

What SB2333 Would Change

The core policy change is a proposed restriction on neonicotinoid pesticide products starting in 2027. The bill describes exemptions for certain professional or government uses, including use and possession by certified pesticide applicators, sale by licensed pest control operators, and use by the department or other authorised state agencies when conducting “rapid response” efforts to control invasive or destructive species.

The bill also defines “rapid response” as immediate action to prevent, contain, or eradicate invasive or destructive species that pose a significant threat to agriculture, natural resources, or public health.

Evaluation Timelines And Departmental Duties

Beyond the 2027 restriction, SB2333 would require the department to evaluate the potential impacts of authorised neonicotinoid use on pollinating insects, native migratory and resident birds, aquatic organisms, and human health, including exposure routes such as ingestion of neonicotinoid-treated seeds.

The bill sets out a staged timeline extending into the next decade, including draft and final human health risk assessments (with specific milestones for imidacloprid and other listed actives), an evaluation of impacts on aquatic organisms, a broader reevaluation with a determination by 2030, and potential adoption of control measures by 2032. It also directs the department to consider cumulative and synergistic impacts of exposure to multiple neonicotinoids.

What This Means For Manufacturers And Users

For companies that manufacture, distribute, sell, or apply pesticide products in Hawaii, SB2333 signals potential near-term compliance risk tied to product composition and use patterns. In practice, organisations may need to identify where neonicotinoids appear in their portfolios, assess whether exemptions are relevant to their customer base, and prepare for the possibility of restricted market access from 2027.

The department’s evaluations could also influence future controls on remaining authorised uses, creating additional compliance obligations over time.