SB 593 Hawaii Senate · 2026 Regular Session

RELATING TO COMMERCIAL DOG BREEDERS.

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. Establishes civil and criminal penalties for violations. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)
Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2025
Committee Review
Feb 2025
Senate Passage
Feb 2025
House Passage
Governor
Introduced Jan 17, 2025 Last action Dec 8, 2025
Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

SB593 SB593_SD1 · 4 edits
MODERATE
This bill version updates the definition of a 'dog breeder' to require meeting both thresholds (three litters AND twenty-five dogs) rather than either one, clarifies the effective date to July 1, 2050, and refines the report title to specify 'Commercial Dog Breeders' and 'Regulations' instead of 'Licensing'.
Scope change
The definition of a regulated dog breeder was narrowed to require meeting both volume thresholds simultaneously, while the bill's title now explicitly focuses on commercial breeders and regulatory standards.
DEFINITION

Changed the dog breeder definition from 'more than three litters OR more than twenty-five dogs' to 'more than three litters AND more than twenty-five dogs', meaning a person must exceed both limits to be regulated.

TIMELINE

Updated the effective date of the Act from 'upon approval' to a fixed date of July 1, 2050.

SCOPE

Modified the Report Title to change 'Licensing' to 'Regulations' and add 'Commercial' before 'Dog Breeders' to better reflect the bill's content.

TECHNICAL

Corrected a hyphenation error in the text regarding the 'eighteen-month period' and adjusted line breaks in the contract disposition clause.

Floor votes

How they voted

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

Actions timeline

Total actions
9
Key actions
3
Committee
5
Feb 14, 2025
Upper · Passed
Report adopted; Passed Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referred to JDC/WAM.
upper
Feb 14, 2025
Committee
Reported from CPN (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 511) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to JDC/WAM.
upper
Feb 10, 2025
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, McKelvey; Aye(s) with reservations: Senator(s) Richards ; 1 No(es): Senator(s) Awa; and 0 Excused: none.
upper
Feb 6, 2025
Upper · Passed
The committee(s) on CPN has scheduled a public hearing on 02-10-25 9:35AM; Conference Room 229 & Videoconference.
upper
Jan 28, 2025
Committee
Re-Referred to CPN, JDC/WAM.
upper
Jan 23, 2025
Committee
Referred to CPN/EIG, JDC/WAM.
upper
Jan 17, 2025
Introduced
Introduced.
upper
4 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors