S. 85: Continued Rapid Ohia Death Response Act of 2025
A Senate bill (S.) in the 119th U.S. Congress.
Overview
| Congress | 119th U.S. Congress (2025–2026) |
|---|---|
| Type | Senate bill (S.) |
| Originating chamber | Senate |
| Introduced | 2025-01-14 |
| Sponsor | Sen. Hirono, Mazie K. [D-HI] |
| Policy area | Animals |
| Cosponsors | 1 |
| Latest action | 2025-01-14 — Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry. |
| Last updated | 2025-04-15 |
Summary
Official summary (Introduced in Senate, 2025-01-14):
Continued Rapid Ohia Death Response Act of 2025
This 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.
Cosponsors (1)
| Name | Party / state |
|---|---|
| Brian Schatz | D HI 2025-03-04 |
Full text & official record
The official bill text, section-by-section summary, amendments, committee reports, and the complete legislative timeline for S. 85 are published by Congress on congress.gov.
Frequently asked questions
What is S. 85?
S. 85 is a Senate bill (S.) introduced in the 119th U.S. Congress, originating in the Senate. Official title: Continued Rapid Ohia Death Response Act of 2025.
Where can I read the full bill text?
The full text, cosponsors, amendments, and legislative status for S. 85 are available on congress.gov.
Bill data: congress.gov API (official congressional records).