SB 1022 Hawaii Senate · 2025 Regular Session

RELATING TO ANIMAL ENDANGERMENT.

Summary

Allows animal control officers, law enforcement officers, and firefighters to enter an unattended vehicle to protect the health, safety, or well-being of a pet animal that is endangered by being left or confined in an unattended vehicle. Allows private citizens to retrieve a pet animal that has been left in an unattended vehicle, under certain circumstances. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2025

Committee Review

Mar 2025

Senate Passage

Mar 2025

House Passage

Governor

Introduced Jan 17, 2025 Last action Mar 19, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 3 comparisons

What changed between versions

SB1022_SD1 → SB1022_SD2 · 5 edits

MODERATE

This bill expands protections for pets left in dangerous vehicles by clarifying immunity for rescuers, adding specific requirements for private citizens who rescue animals, and defining key terms like 'heat' and 'cold' to ensure consistent application. The changes strengthen legal protections for both official rescuers and private citizens while preventing abuse of the rescue provision.

Scope change

The bill now explicitly includes private citizens (not just law enforcement) who rescue pets from dangerous vehicles, provided they meet specific conditions like calling 911 first and not using excessive force.

ELIGIBILITY

Added explicit immunity for private citizens who rescue pets from dangerous vehicles, provided they call 911 first and follow specific procedures.

DEFINITION

Added clear definitions for 'heat', 'cold', 'pet animal', and 'vehicle' to ensure consistent interpretation of dangerous conditions.

REQUIREMENT

Added specific requirements for private citizens including calling 911, using only necessary force, and remaining with the animal until help arrives.

ADDED

Added requirement that vehicle owners must pay all accrued charges for maintenance, care, and medical treatment before retrieving rescued animals.

ENFORCEMENT

Clarified that rescuers cannot search vehicles or seize items unless otherwise permitted by law.

Floor votes

How they voted

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

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Mar 19, 2025

Committee

Reported from AGR (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1364) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to JHA.

lower

Mar 14, 2025

Lower · Passed

The committee on AGR recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 4 Ayes: Representative(s) Kahaloa, Kusch, Lowen, Perruso; Ayes with reservations: none; 0 Noes: none; and 2 Excused: Representative(s) Quinlan, Ward.

lower

Mar 6, 2025

Committee

Referred to AGR, JHA, referral sheet 19

lower

Mar 4, 2025

Introduced

Received from Senate (Sen. Com. No. 238) in amended form (SD 2).

lower

Mar 4, 2025

Upper · Passed

Report Adopted; Passed Third Reading, as amended (SD 2). Ayes, 23; Aye(s) with reservations: none. Noes, 2 (Senator(s) Awa, DeCorte). Excused, 0 (none). Transmitted to House.

upper

Feb 21, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on JDC recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in JDC were as follows: 3 Aye(s): Senator(s) Rhoads, Chang, San Buenaventura; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 1 No(es): Senator(s) Awa; and 1 Excused: Senator(s) Gabbard.

upper

Feb 18, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on JDC will hold a public decision making on 02-21-25 10:20AM; Conference Room 016 & Videoconference.

upper

Feb 13, 2025

Committee

Reported from AEN/PSM (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 456) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to JDC.

upper

Feb 7, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on PSM recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in PSM were as follows: 2 Aye(s): Senator(s) Elefante, Rhoads; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 1 No(es): Senator(s) DeCorte; and 2 Excused: Senator(s) Wakai, Fukunaga.

upper

Feb 7, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on AEN recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in AEN were as follows: 4 Aye(s): Senator(s) Gabbard, Richards, DeCoite, Rhoads; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 1 No(es): Senator(s) Awa; and 0 Excused: none.

upper

Feb 4, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on AEN/PSM has scheduled a public hearing on 02-07-25 1:00PM; Conference Room 224 & Videoconference.

upper

Jan 23, 2025

Committee

Referred to AEN/PSM, JDC.

upper

Jan 17, 2025

Introduced

Introduced.

upper

5 primary · 2 co-sponsors