STAND. COM. REP. NO. 680

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2025

RE: H.B. No. 547

H.D. 2

Honorable Nadine K. Nakamura

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2025

State of Hawaii

Madame:

Your Committee on Culture & Arts, to which was referred H.B. No. 547, H.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 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 Spay and Neuter Special Fund.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawaiian Humane Society; Neighborhood Cats; Animal Interfaith Alliance in Britain; Hawaiʻi Reef and Ocean Coalition; Humane Society of the United States; Cat Friends; Big Island Invasive Species Committee; and numerous individuals. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from one individual. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Taxation; Department of the Attorney General; Department of Land and Natural Resources; Department of Budget and Finance; and Tax Foundation of Hawaii.

Your Committee finds that the spaying and neutering of free-roaming animals is a popular method used to reduce the free-roaming animal population. Your Committee recognizes that this measure provides a useful strategy to preserve the State's unique biodiversity and protect its wildlife.

Your Committee respectfully requests your Committee on Finance, should it deliberate on this measure, to consider which department would be the most appropriate to administer the Spay and Neuter Special Fund and lead the efforts of the Advisory Committee in establishing eligibility criteria and procedures for disbursements from the special fund.

Your Committee has amended this measure by 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 Culture & Arts that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 547, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it be referred to your Committee on Finance in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 547, H.D. 2.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Culture & Arts,

____________________________

JEANNE KAPELA, Chair