STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2648

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 2710

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2026

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Commerce and Consumer Protection, to which was referred S.B. No. 2710 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO ANIMALS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to:

(1) Define a "dog breeder" as any person who owns, possesses, controls, or otherwise has charge or custody of more than ten dogs over the age of twelve months with intact sexual organs, and who sells, barters, or otherwise transfers more than three litters and more than twenty-five dogs per calendar year;

(2) Require dog breeders to meet minimum standards of care and not place certain types of dogs in the same enclosure to ensure the proper treatment and care of dogs and the dogs' offspring;

(3) Prohibit any person from owning or having custody of more than thirty dogs over one year with intact sexual organs;

(4) Require dog breeders to maintain specific written records for each dog for a specified period;

(5) Authorize each county to assess, implement, and enforce its own licensing system for dog breeders;

(6) Require persons convicted of animal cruelty to register with the Department of the Attorney General;

(7) Require animal shelters, animal breeders, and pet stores to check whether an individual has been convicted of animal abuse when the individual applies to work or volunteer, or purchases or adopts an animal;

(8) Prevent persons convicted of animal cruelty from possessing, owning, or working in close proximity to animals;

(9) Establish the offense of animal hoarding;

(10) Establish civil and criminal penalties for violations;

(11) Increase criminal penalties for cruelty to animals in the first and second degree; and

(12) Allow for increased penalties for persons convicted of cruelty to animals in the first and second degree in certain situations.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawaiian Humane Society, Maui Humane Society, and twenty‑six individuals.

Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from the Office of the Public Defender, American Kennel Club, and twelve individuals.

Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Judiciary, Department of the Attorney General, Department of Customer Services of the City and County of Honolulu, and CARES.

Your Committee finds that breeding of dogs is currently unregulated in the State. Your Committee also finds that instances of animal cruelty can be difficult to detect and prosecute. This measure would improve the health and welfare of pet animals in the State, particularly dogs kept in breeding settings, and deter animal cruelty.

Your Committee finds that, while this measure is intended to improve animal welfare in the State, your Committee notes the concerns raised in testimony, including the questions regarding the animal abuse registration provisions, hoarding provisions, and increased criminal penalties proposed by this measure, and the significant practical and legal challenges in enforcing such provisions.

Accordingly, your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Inserting a blank dog breeder license fee amount;

(2) Deleting language that would have required persons convicted of animal cruelty to register with the Department of the Attorney General;

(3) Deleting language that would have required animal shelters, animal breeders, and pet stores to check whether an individual has been convicted of animal abuse when the individual applies to work or volunteer, or purchases or adopts an animal;

(4) Deleting language that would have prevented persons convicted of animal cruelty from possessing, owning, or working in close proximity to animals;

(5) Deleting language that would have established the offense of animal hoarding;

(6) Deleting language that would have increased criminal penalties for cruelty to animals in the first and second degree;

(7) Inserting an effective date of July 1, 2050, to encourage further discussion; and

(8) 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 Commerce and Consumer Protection that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2710, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2710, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committees on Judiciary and Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Commerce and Consumer Protection,

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JARRETT KEOHOKALOLE, Chair