Pesticide oversight, buffer zone bills advance out of committee
The Senate Agriculture and Environment Committee today approved two measures that provide more oversight over pesticide use by Hawaii's seed industry.
One bill calls for an expanded oversight committee that would establish statewide standards for long-term, low-level exposure to pesticides, as well as creating policies for buffer zones from spraying.
"It's important to continue this conversation. As you can see, so many people testified," said state Sen. Mike Gabbard, who chairs the committee. "There was a lot of community interest in this bill."