STAND. COM. REP. NO. 173-26

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2026

RE: H.B. No. 2561

H.D. 1

Honorable Nadine K. Nakamura

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2026

State of Hawaii

Madame:

Your Committee on Agriculture & Food Systems, to which was referred H.B. No. 2561 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO FERAL ANIMALS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to strengthen and complement existing local rules related to feral chickens in cities with a population of three hundred thousand or more by:

(1) Classifying feral chickens on public lands as a controllable pest for purposes of public health and nuisance prevention;

(2) Prohibiting the intentional keeping, maintaining, or supporting of feral chickens on state or city lands;

(3) Prohibiting the abandonment or dumping of chickens on public lands or on private property without consent;

(4) Authorize private property owners to humanely control feral chickens on their own property, consistent with state animal protection laws and city requirements; and

(5) Establishing fines.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Health; Department of Customer Services of the City and County of Honolulu; Hawaiʻi Farm Bureau; Hawaiʻi Farmers Union United; and six individuals. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from Animal Rights Hawaiʻi; Trooper's Chicken Rescue; Animal Law Section of the Hawaii State Bar Association; and numerous individuals. Your Committee received comments on this measure from three individuals.

Your Committee finds that although existing animal nuisance provisions prohibit nuisance behavior by animals, including poultry, increases in feral chicken activity on public lands may contribute to public nuisance conditions, sanitation concerns, and impacts to public facilities and neighboring properties. This measure establishes a framework for the management of feral chickens on public lands that protects agriculture, communities, and the environment.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Exempting any of the prohibited acts if performed for research or rescue purposes and if approved by the State or city before it was performed;

(2) Deleting language that would have authorized private property owners to humanely control feral chickens on their own property;

(3) Appropriating an unspecified amount of funds to the City and County of Honolulu to facilitate the collection of feral chickens that have already been caught;

(4) Changing the effective date to July 1, 3000; and

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

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Agriculture & Food Systems that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2561, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2561, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Water & Land.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Agriculture & Food Systems,

____________________________

CORY CHUN, Chair