HB 980 Hawaii House · 2025 Regular Session

RELATING TO ANIMALS.

Summary

Amends the law authorizing the killing of mongoose by clarifying the circumstances under which mongoose may be killed and authorizing feral chickens to be killed under certain circumstances. (HD1)

Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2025

Committee Review

Mar 2025

House Passage

Mar 2025

Senate Passage

Governor

Introduced Jan 21, 2025 Last action Mar 17, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

HB980 → HB980_HD1 · 4 edits

MODERATE

This bill authorizes the killing of feral chickens on private land with the landowner's permission, addressing concerns about nuisance behavior and avian influenza risks. It also clarifies and expands protections against animal cruelty while maintaining exceptions for pest control and vermin management.

Scope change

The bill expands legal authority to kill feral chickens on private property (previously not explicitly authorized) and updates definitions to clarify what constitutes 'feral chickens' and 'private land'.

ELIGIBILITY

Explicitly permits killing feral chickens on private land with landowner permission, including humane euthanasia methods following veterinary guidelines.

DEFINITION

Clarifies that 'feral chickens' are a subset of wild birds and defines 'private land' to exclude state, county, and federal lands.

ENFORCEMENT

Updates animal cruelty statutes to maintain exceptions for pest control activities and explicitly prohibits animal fighting, torture, and inhumane treatment.

REQUIREMENT

Requires killing methods to adhere to standard veterinary guidelines and American Veterinary Medical Association euthanasia standards.

Floor votes

How they voted

This bill passed the House by voice vote (no roll call recorded).

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Mar 11, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on AEN has scheduled a public hearing on 03-14-25 1:00PM; Conference Room 224 & Videoconference.

upper

Mar 6, 2025

Committee

Referred to AEN, JDC.

upper

Mar 6, 2025

Introduced

Received from House (Hse. Com. No. 311).

upper

Mar 4, 2025

Lower · Passed

Passed Third Reading with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Pierick, Ward excused (2). Transmitted to Senate.

lower

Feb 20, 2025

Lower · Passed

The committee on JHA recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 10 Ayes: Representative(s) Tarnas, Poepoe, Belatti, Hashem, Kahaloa, Perruso, Takayama, Todd, Garcia, Shimizu; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and 1 Excused: Representative(s) Cochran.

lower

Jan 23, 2025

Committee

Referred to JHA, referral sheet 3

lower

Jan 23, 2025

Introduced

Introduced and Pass First Reading.

lower

Jan 21, 2025

Introduced

Pending introduction.

lower

11 primary · 2 co-sponsors