STAND. COM. REP. NO. 385

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2025

RE: H.B. No. 667

H.D. 1

Honorable Nadine K. Nakamura

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2025

State of Hawaii

Madame:

Your Committee on Transportation, to which was referred H.B. No. 667 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO TRANSPORTATION,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to require the Department of Transportation or appropriate county department when disposing of a deceased cat or dog from a public roadway to scan the animal for a microchip, record certain information, and report that information to the appropriate county animal services or animal service contractors.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Transportation; Hawaiian Humane Society; Pacific Pet Alliance; and numerous individuals.

Your Committee finds that, despite mandatory microchipping for cats and dogs in Hawaii, state and county agencies do not routinely scan deceased animals collected from public roadways, leaving pet owners unaware if their lost pets have been deceased. This measure will provide concerned pet owners with closure if their missing pet is found deceased by state and county agencies.

Your Committee notes that the Department of Transportation has already acquired the microchip scanners that would have been required under this measure and thus no longer would require an appropriation for such purchase.

Accordingly, your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Naming the measure the "Mila Microchip Identification Act";

(2) Amending the purpose section;

(3) Requiring certain county agencies to collaborate with the Department of Transportation in utilizing the Department's microchip scanners;

(4) Deleting the unspecified appropriation for the purchase of microchip scanners;

(5) Changing the effective date to July 1, 3000, to encourage further discussion; and

(6) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for clarity, consistency, and style.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Transportation that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 667, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 667, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Finance.

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

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DARIUS KILA, Chair