STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1174

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2025

RE: S.B. No. 1023

S.D. 1

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 Agriculture & Food Systems, to which was referred S.B. No. 1023, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE SPAYING AND NEUTERING OF ANIMALS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to:

(1) Establish and appropriate funds into and out of a Spay and Neuter Special Fund to reduce pet overpopulation and the reproduction of free-roaming cats; and

(2) Establish various revenue and fundraising sources for the Special Fund.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawaiian Humane Society; Hawai‘i Reef and Ocean Coalition; Neighborhood Cats; Animal Interfaith Alliance in Britain; Maui Humane Society Board of Directors; Humane World For Animals; Fur-Angel Foundation; Animal Rights Hawai‘i; Hui Pono Holoholona; and numerous individuals.

Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from the American Bird Conservancy; Hawai‘i Audubon Society; Hui Hoomalu i ka Aina; and numerous individuals.

Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Budget and Finance; Department of Taxation; Department of the Attorney General; Department of Land and Natural Resources; Tax Foundation of Hawaii; Big Island Invasive Species Committee; and one individual.

Your Committee finds that spaying and neutering are effective strategies for managing pet populations and reducing the number of free-roaming cats, yet the State lacks dedicated funding for these efforts. This measure establishes a Spay and Neuter Special Fund, supported by various revenue sources, to address pet overpopulation and promote humane population control.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Specifying that the appropriated funds to reduce pet overpopulation and the reproduction of free-roaming cats be allocated directly to the counties as a grant-in-aid, rather than expended by the Department of Budget and Finance;

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

(3) 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 S.B. No. 1023, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 1023, S.D. 1, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Culture & Arts.

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

____________________________

KIRSTIN KAHALOA, Chair