Continued Rapid Ohia Death Response Act of 2025
Continued Rapid Ohia Death Response Act of 2025
Plain Language Summary
# Summary of the Continued Rapid Ohia Death Response Act of 2025 **What the bill does:** This legislation addresses Rapid Ohia Death, a fungal disease that kills ohia trees—native Hawaiian trees that are ecologically and culturally important. The bill requires federal agencies (Interior Department, U.S. Geological Survey, Forest Service, and Fish and Wildlife Service) to work together with the USDA and Hawaii state officials to research the disease, control its spread, and restore affected forests. The bill also authorizes financial assistance to prevent the fungus from spreading and to help native forests recover. **Who it affects and key provisions:** The bill primarily affects Hawaii's forests and ecosystems.
It includes managing animal populations like deer that may help spread the disease in affected areas (with permission from private landowners). Federal agencies must continue researching how the disease spreads and find ways to control it. The bill directs resources toward both immediate disease management and long-term forest restoration efforts on federal, state, and private lands. **Current status:** The bill has passed the House of Representatives and is moving through the legislative process toward the Senate.
CRS Official Summary
Continued Rapid Ohia Death Response Act of 2025This bill establishes requirements to research and control Rapid Ohia Death, which is the disease caused by the fungal pathogen known as Ceratocystis fimbriata that affects the tree of the species Metrosideros polymorpha.Specifically, the Department of the Interior must partner with the Department of Agriculture (USDA) and Hawaii to control and address Rapid Ohia Death.In addition, the U.S. Geological Survey and the Forest Service Institute of Pacific Islands Forestry must continue to research Rapid Ohia Death vectors and transmission.The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service must continue to partner with USDA, 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, with the consent of private landowners.Finally, the Forest Service must 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.
Latest Action
Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.