STAND. COM. REP. NO. 935-26

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2026

RE: H.B. No. 1736

H.D. 2

Honorable Nadine K. Nakamura

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2026

State of Hawaii

Madame:

Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred H.B. No. 1736, H.D. 2, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO ANIMAL CONTROL,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to:

(1) Establish the Spay and Neuter Special Fund to reduce pet overpopulation, including the free-roaming cat population, and authorize an income tax designation to provide revenues for the Special Fund;

(2) Require cats over the age of five months to be surgically sterilized, unless covered by an intact cat declaration, and condition the importation of intact cats on state and county declaration requirements, with certain exceptions; and

(3) Appropriate funds into and out of the Spay and Neuter Special Fund to reduce pet overpopulation.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources; Hawaiian Humane Society; Big Island Invasive Species Committee; Animal Legal Defense Fund; Bird and Bee Hawaii Animal Sanctuary; American Bird Conservancy; The Wildlife Society Hawaiʻi Chapter; Friends of Kauai Wildlife Refuge; Hawaiʻi Audubon Society; Hawaii Reef and Ocean Coalition; Animal Interfaith Alliance in Britain; Kauai Albatross Network; Hanalei Watershed Hui; Maui Humane Society; Friends of Kauaʻi Wildlife Refuges; and numerous individuals. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from the Cat Fanciers of Hawaii Cat Club; Animal Rights Hawaii; Cat Fanciers Association; Pacific Pet Alliance; Kauai Community Cat Project; Hawaii SPCA; Cat Friends; Kohala Animal Relocation and Education Service; Jungle Cat Ladies Sanctuary Volcano, HI; Kaiju Kitties Cattery; and numerous individuals. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Taxation; Department of Budget and Finance; Humane World for Animals; and four individuals.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Finance that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1736, H.D. 2, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

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

____________________________

CHRIS TODD, Chair