SB 2710 Hawaii Senate · 2026 Regular Session

RELATING TO ANIMALS.

Summary

Defines a "dog breeder" as any person who owns, possesses, controls, or otherwise has charge or custody of more than ten dogs over the age of twelve months with intact sexual organs, and who sells, barters, or otherwise transfers more than three litters and more than twenty-five dogs per calendar year. Requires dog breeders to meet minimum standards of care and not place certain types of dogs in the same enclosure to ensure the proper treatment and care of dogs and the dogs' offspring. Prohibits any person from owning or having custody of more than thirty dogs over one year with intact sexual organs. Requires dog breeders to maintain specific written records for each dog for a specified period. Authorizes each county to assess, implement, and enforce its own licensing system for dog breeders. Establishes civil penalties for violations. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2026

Committee Review

Feb 2026

Senate Passage

Feb 2026

House Passage

Governor

Introduced Jan 23, 2026 Last action Feb 20, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

SB2710 → SB2710_SD1 · 5 edits

MODERATE

The bill was significantly streamlined by removing an entire section dedicated to registering animal abusers and establishing a new crime of animal hoarding. The remaining text focuses exclusively on regulating commercial dog breeders, including stricter record-keeping, enclosure rules, and a fixed biennial license fee. The effective date was pushed back to July 1, 2050, and the bill title was shortened to reflect the removal of the abuser registration and hoarding provisions.

Scope change

The bill's scope was narrowed from regulating dog breeders, registering convicted animal abusers, and criminalizing animal hoarding to only regulating dog breeders and updating existing animal cruelty penalties.

SCOPE

Removed all provisions for a mandatory registration system for persons convicted of animal abuse.

Removed the creation of a new misdemeanor offense specifically for animal hoarding.

REQUIREMENT

Modified the dog breeder license fee section to remove the specific dollar amount, leaving it blank for counties to set.

TIMELINE

Changed the effective date from immediate approval to July 1, 2050.

TECHNICAL

Shortened the bill title and summary to reflect the removal of the abuser registration and hoarding sections.

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

Feb 20, 2026

Upper · Passed

Report adopted; Passed Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referred to JDC/WAM.

upper

Feb 20, 2026

Committee

Reported from CPN (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 2648) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to JDC/WAM.

upper

Feb 18, 2026

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on CPN recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in CPN were as follows: 4 Aye(s): Senator(s) Keohokalole, Fukunaga, Lamosao, Awa; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 1 Excused: Senator(s) McKelvey.

upper

Feb 13, 2026

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on CPN has scheduled a public hearing on 02-18-26 9:30AM; Conference Room 229 & Videoconference.

upper

Jan 28, 2026

Committee

Referred to CPN, JDC/WAM.

upper

Jan 23, 2026

Introduced

Introduced.

upper

3 primary · 1 co-sponsor