STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3795

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.B. No. 2152

H.D. 2

S.D. 2

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2026

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Judiciary, to which was referred H.B. No. 2152, H.D. 2, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO DOG ATTACKS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to clarify owner liability and increase penalties and enforcement mechanisms for dog attacks on livestock occurring on land or premises within the agricultural district.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawaiʻi Farm Bureau; Hawaii Cattlemen's Council, Inc.; and eleven individuals.

Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Hawaii Sheep and Goat Association.

Your Committee finds that ranchers frequently encounter dogs harassing livestock, which not only has a negative impact the rancher's business but also poses a safety threat. Incidents with dogs have been reported in which the dogs are aggressive to both humans and livestock and have been known to kill dozens of animals in a single incident, not for food, but for sport. This measure will clarify dog owner liability to motivate dog owners to take more initiative in securing their dogs and preventing damage.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Specifying that the owner of any livestock, the owner's agent, or the owner's family member, rather than any person, is authorized to destroy a dog if:

(A) The dog is found in the act of injuring, destroying, or persistently pursuing or harassing the owner's livestock under certain conditions; or

(B) Following any incident described in subparagraph (A), the owner of the dog neglects or refuses to confine or destroy the dog and the dog subsequently causes further damage to the livestock owner or property of another;

(2) Replacing language that would have established a specific process for filing a complaint in the district court of the circuit in which the loss or damage occurred with language that authorizes an owner of any livestock that is injured, destroyed, or harassed, to file a complaint with the appropriate district court, and grants the judge discretion to order the dog be humanely euthanized;

(3) Deleting language that would have established a specific process for a judge to issue a summons to an owner of a dog identified in a complaint for any loss or damage to livestock;

(4) Deleting language that would have required a judge to order the owner or person responsible for a dog that caused loss or damage to livestock to surrender the dog within twenty-four hours to an animal control officer for humane euthanasia;

(5) Deleting language that would have established joint and several liability for two or more owners or persons responsible for two or more dogs that injure or destroy any livestock at the same time; and

(6) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity and consistency.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Judiciary that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2152, H.D. 2, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2152, H.D. 2, S.D. 2.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Judiciary,

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KARL RHOADS, Chair