HB 980 Hawaii House · 2026 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 Dec 8, 2025

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What changed between versions

HB980 → HB980_HD1 · 3 edits

MINOR

This bill update clarifies that feral chickens can only be killed on private land with the landowner's express written permission, replacing vague language about 'permission' with a stricter requirement. It also updates the list of acceptable killing methods to mandate adherence to standard veterinary euthanasia guidelines, removing specific examples like poisoning and drowning that could be considered inhumane. Additionally, the bill's findings section was updated with more recent statistics regarding avian influenza cases in the United States.

Scope change

The scope of permissible killing methods was narrowed by removing specific, potentially inhumane examples (poisoning, decapitation, drowning) and replacing them with a requirement to follow professional veterinary euthanasia standards.

REQUIREMENT

Changed the requirement for killing feral chickens from general 'permission' to 'express written permission' from the landowner.

Replaced specific examples of killing methods (poisoning, decapitation, drowning) with a mandate to use methods consistent with American Veterinary Medical Association guidelines.

DEFINITION

Updated the legislative findings to reflect current statistics on avian influenza infections and deaths as of February 2025.

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

12 primary · 2 co-sponsors