STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2495

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 3012

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 Agriculture and Environment, to which was referred S.B. No. 3012 entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to require:

(1) As a condition of entry into the State, documentation verifying that any dog or cat imported into the State has been surgically sterilized, subject to certain exemptions; and

(2) The Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity to establish a breeder registry and adopt rules.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources, Animal Rights Hawaiʻi, Hawaiian Humane Society, American Bird Conservancy, Nene Research and Conservation, Animal Interfaith Alliance in Britain, Hawaiʻi Audubon Society, Neighborhood Cats, and thirty-five individuals.

Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity, Pacific Pet Alliance, American Kennel Club, Cat Fanciers of Hawaii Cat Club, Kaiju Kitties Cattery, Hawaiian Hound Association, Hawaii Cane Corso Association, and eighty-one individuals.

Your Committee finds that the State is facing significant challenges associated with overcrowding at animal shelters and the adverse impacts of stray animals on animal welfare, community well-being, and native ecosystems. In fact, Hawaii is one of just a handful of states that does not regulate pet animal breeders. Your Committee further finds that while the State has an existing animal quarantine process, it does not require preemptive measures that would decrease the potential for further pet overpopulation. Requiring proof of sterilization for imported dogs and cats will help reduce strain on public infrastructure and lessen negative impacts on the State's fragile environment.

Your Committee acknowledges the concerns raised in testimony by the Hawaiian Humane Society that county animal control agencies or contractors may be more appropriate to maintain records of intact animal importation. Therefore, amendments to this measure are necessary to address this concern.

Accordingly, your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Clarifying that an owner or importer who declares with the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity the intent to import an intact animal for breeding or show purposes shall be exempt from the sterilization documentation requirements;

(2) Deleting language that would have required the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity to establish and maintain a breeder registry for individuals or entities importing intact dogs or cats;

(3) Specifying that the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity shall forward declarations to the appropriate county animal control agency or contractor;

(4) Specifying the information required on the breeder declarations;

(5) Inserting an effective date of July 1, 2050, to encourage further discussion; 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 Agriculture and Environment that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 3012, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 3012, 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 Agriculture and Environment,

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MIKE GABBARD, Chair