STAND. COM. REP. NO. 934

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 1493

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2025

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Judiciary and Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 1493, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO SERVICE ANIMALS,"

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to:

(1) Require sellers or providers of emotional support animals, as well as those issuing verifications of a disability related need for an emotional support animal, to provide written notice to the buyer or recipient containing certain information;

(2) Require persons or businesses that sell or provide certificates, vests, or identification tags that identify an animal as an emotional support animal to provide written notice to the buyer or recipient containing certain information; and

(3) Establish penalties.

Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Agriculture, Hawaiʻi Civil Rights Commission, and three individuals.

Your Committees received testimony in opposition to this measure from one individual.

Your Committees received comments on this measure from the Department of Human Services, Department of the Attorney General, and Hawaiʻi REALTORS.

Your Committees find that it is a civil violation to knowingly misrepresent an unqualified animal as a service animal. However, much confusion exists regarding the statutory requirements for an animal to qualify as a service animal and how that status differs from an emotional support animal. This often leads to the misuse of identification vests and certificates, which may signal the legal status of an animal. The misrepresentation of unqualified animals as service animals threatens public safety and erodes the protections afforded to service animals. This measure will reduce the misrepresentation of emotional support animals as service animals by requiring certain disclosures and verifications upon the sale of emotional support animals and relevant equipment and establishing penalties.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Judiciary and Ways and Means that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 1493, S.D. 1, and recommend that it pass Third Reading.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Judiciary and Ways and Means,

________________________________ DONOVAN M. DELA CRUZ, Chair

________________________________ KARL RHOADS, Chair