RELATING TO ANIMAL CONTROL.

Budget Taxes

Active

The official status still shows this bill as active or still awaiting another formal step.

Sponsor: EVSLIN, GRANDINETTI, HOLT, ILAGAN, KAHALOA, KEOHOKAPU-LEE LOY, KILA, KUSCH, LEE, M., MARTEN, MATSUMOTO, MORIKAWA, OLDS, PERRUSO, POEPOE, REYES ODA, SHIMIZU, SOUZA, TARNAS, Amato
Last action: 2026-03-25
Official status: The committee on AEN deferred the measure.
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The bill does not specify exact amounts for appropriations or funding distribution among counties.

Rules to Control Animal Populations

This bill establishes a Spay and Neuter Special Fund, requires cats over five months old to be sterilized unless exempted by an intact cat declaration, and restricts the importation of non-sterilized cats into Hawaii.

What This Bill Does

Establishes the Spay and Neuter Special Fund in the state treasury to help reduce pet overpopulation.
Requires cats older than five months to be surgically sterilized unless exempted by an intact cat declaration from a licensed veterinarian.
Limits bringing non-sterilized cats into Hawaii except for specific reasons like participating in shows.

Who It Names or Affects

Cat owners who have cats over five months old
People bringing cats into Hawaii

Terms To Know

Spay and Neuter Special Fund: A fund created to help reduce the number of unwanted pets by funding spaying and neutering programs.
Intact Cat Declaration: An official statement from a vet that says a cat cannot be sterilized due to health or age reasons, allowing it to remain unsterilized for up to one year.

Limits and Unknowns

The bill does not specify the exact amount of money allocated to the Spay and Neuter Special Fund.
It is unclear how much funding each county will receive from the special fund until further details are provided.

Amendments

These notes stay tied to the official amendment files and metadata from the legislature.

HD1

Hawaii published version HD1

Plain English: This amendment establishes a spay and neuter special fund, requires cats over five months old to be sterilized unless exempted by certain conditions, and allows individuals to donate their state income tax refunds to the spay and neuter fund.

Establishes a new 'spay and neuter special fund' in the state treasury to receive donations and legislative appropriations for reducing pet overpopulation through spaying and neutering surgeries.
Makes it illegal to own or bring into Hawaii an unsterilized cat over five months old, with exceptions for health reasons, cats approved by breed registries, and those sterilized within 60 days of ownership.
Allows individuals to designate $5 from their state income tax refunds to the spay and neuter special fund.

The amendment text is extensive and includes multiple sections that are not fully provided here, so some details about other changes may be incomplete or unclear.

HD2

Hawaii published version HD2

Plain English: This amendment establishes a spay and neuter special fund, requires cats over five months old to be sterilized or declared intact with local authorities, and allows individuals to donate their state income tax refunds to this new fund.

Establishes the Spay and Neuter Special Fund in the state treasury to collect donations and legislative appropriations for reducing pet overpopulation through spaying and neutering surgeries.
Makes it illegal to own or bring into Hawaii a cat over five months old unless it is sterilized or covered by an intact cat declaration with local authorities.
Allows individuals to donate their state income tax refunds of $2 or more to the Spay and Neuter Special Fund.

The amendment text does not specify how funds will be allocated for cats that cannot be sterilized due to health reasons, leaving some details unclear.
It is unclear from the provided text what happens if a person fails to declare an intact cat within fourteen days of importation.

Bill History

2026-03-25 S
The committee on AEN deferred the measure.
2026-03-24 S
The committee on EIG deferred the measure.
2026-03-18 S
The committee(s) on EIG deferred the measure until 03-24-26 3:02PM; Conference Room 224 & Videoconference.
2026-03-18 S
The committee(s) on AEN deferred the measure until 03-25-26 3:05PM; Conference Room 224 & Videoconference.
2026-03-13 S
The committee(s) on AEN/EIG has scheduled a public hearing on 03-18-26 3:10PM; Conference Room 224 & Videoconference.
2026-03-10 S
Referred to AEN/EIG, WAM.
2026-03-10 S
Passed First Reading.
2026-03-10 S
Received from House (Hse. Com. No. 152).
2026-03-06 H
Passed Third Reading with Representative(s) Alcos, Muraoka, Shimizu voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Perruso, Sayama excused (2). Transmitted to Senate.
2026-03-06 H
Reported from FIN (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 935-26), recommending passage on Third Reading.
2026-03-04 H
The committee on FIN recommend that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes were as follows: 16 Ayes: Representative(s) Todd, Takenouchi, Hussey, Keohokapu-Lee Loy, Kitagawa, Kusch, Lee, M., Miyake, Morikawa, Perruso, Templo, Yamashita, Gedeon, Reyes Oda; Ayes with reservations: Representative(s) Hartsfield, Alcos; Noes: none; and Excused: none.
2026-03-02 H
Bill scheduled to be heard by FIN on Wednesday, 03-04-26 10:00AM in House conference room 308 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
2026-02-20 H
Report adopted; referred to the committee(s) on FIN as amended in HD 2 with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Quinlan excused (1).
2026-02-20 H
Reported from JHA (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 747-26) as amended in HD 2, recommending referral to FIN.
2026-02-13 H
The committee on JHA recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 8 Ayes: Representative(s) Tarnas, Poepoe, Belatti, Hashem, Kahaloa, Sayama, Garcia; Ayes with reservations: Representative(s) Shimizu; Noes: none; and 2 Excused: Representative(s) Cochran, Takayama.
2026-02-11 H
Bill scheduled for decision making on Friday, 02-13-26 2:00PM in conference room 325 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
2026-02-10 H
The committee(s) on JHA recommend(s) that the measure be deferred until 02-13-26.
2026-02-06 H
Bill scheduled to be heard by JHA on Tuesday, 02-10-26 2:00PM in House conference room 325 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
2026-02-06 H
Passed Second Reading as amended in HD 1 and referred to the committee(s) on JHA with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and none excused (0).
2026-02-06 H
Reported from AGR (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 41-26) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to JHA.
2026-02-04 H
The committee on AGR recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 7 Ayes: Representative(s) Chun, Kusch, Kahaloa, Lowen, Perruso, Quinlan, Matsumoto; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and Excused: none.
2026-02-02 H
Bill scheduled to be heard by AGR on Wednesday, 02-04-26 9:00AM in House conference room 325 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
2026-01-26 H
Referred to AGR, JHA, FIN, referral sheet 1
2026-01-21 H
Introduced and Pass First Reading.
2026-01-20 H
Prefiled.

Official Summary Text

RELATING TO ANIMAL CONTROL.
Spay and Neuter Special Fund; Cat Sterilization; Counties; Animal Control; Income Check-off; Appropriation ($)
Establishes the Spay and Neuter Special Fund to reduce pet overpopulation, including the free-roaming cat population, and authorizes an income tax designation to provide revenues into the special fund. Requires cats over five months of age to be surgically sterilized unless covered by an intact cat declaration, and conditions the importation of intact cats on state and county declaration requirements, with certain exceptions. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

HB1736

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

1736

THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026

STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

relating
to animal control
.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

����
SECTION
1.
�
Chapter 36, Hawaii Revised Statutes,
is amended by adding a new section to part I to be appropriately designated and
to read as follows:

����
"
�36-
�
Spay and neuter special fund.
�
(a)
�
There is established
in the state treasury the spay and neuter special fund to be administered by
the department of budget and finance.
�

Moneys received by the department of budget
and finance from:

����
(1)
�
State
income tax refund designations to the special fund pursuant to section
235- ; and

����
(2)
�
Legislative
appropriations, private gifts or donations, and other sources,

shall be deposited into the special fund.
�
All
interest earned or accrued on moneys deposited into the special fund shall
become part of the special fund.

����
(b)
�

The director of finance shall disburse moneys from the special fund
quarterly to the counties.
�
The amount
disbursed shall be prorated based on each county's share of the state
population.
�
The counties shall expend
funds to reduce pet overpopulation, including the free-roaming cat population,
by providing spaying and neutering surgery and associated veterinary care;
provided that spayed or neutered animals are not re-released into the
environment.
"

����
SECTION
2.
�
Chapter 143, Hawaii Revised Statutes,
is amended by adding a new section to be appropriately designated and to read
as follows:

����
"
�143-
�
Cat sterilization.
�
(a)
�
It shall be unlawful for any person to:

����
(1)
�
Own a cat over the age of five months,
unless the cat is surgically sterilized; or

����
(2)
�
Bring a cat that is not surgically
sterilized into the State.

����
(b)
�

A cat may be exempted from the sterilization requirement under
subsection (a) if:

����
(1)
�
A duly licensed veterinarian certifies in
writing that the cat is not suitable for sterilization due to health or age
considerations; provided that the certification shall be applicable for a
period of up to one year, as specified in writing by the veterinarian, and
contain the veterinarian's license number;

����
(2)
�
Arrangements have been made to sterilize
the cat within sixty days after the date the person assumes ownership of the
cat and the cat is sterilized within that sixty-day period; or

����
(3)
�
The owner of the cat can provide verifiable
proof upon request by the applicable county animal control authority that the
cat:

���������
(A)
�
Is approved by and registered with a
national or international breed registry or association that, at minimum,
requires verification of:

�������������
(i)
�
Breed;

������������
(ii)
�
Date of birth;

�����������
(iii)
�
Name of the registered sire and dam;

������������
(iv)
�
Name of the breeder; and

�������������
(v)
�
Other information related to breeding,
transfer or ownership, and death; and

���������
(B)
�
Has competed in at least one show or
sporting competition hosted or staged by, or under the approval of, a national
association; provided that this subparagraph shall not apply to cats that do
not meet minimum age requirements for participation in shows or sporting
competitions.

����
(c)
�
Any person violating this section shall be
fined no less than $500 and no more than $1,000 per violation per cat.

����
(d)
�
This section shall not apply to cats brought
into the State exclusively for the purpose of entering them in a cat show or
exhibition and not allowed to run at large.
"

����
SECTION
3.
�
Chapter 235, Hawaii Revised Statutes,
is amended by adding a new section to be appropriately designated and to read
as follows:

����
"
�235-
�
Income check-off

authorized; spaying and neutering of animals.
�
Notwithstanding any law to the contrary,
any individual whose state income tax refund for any taxable year is $5 or more
may designate $5 of the refund to be deposited into the spay and neuter special
fund established by section 143- , when submitting a state
income tax return to the department.
�
In
the case of a joint return of a married couple having a state income tax refund
of $10 or more, each spouse may designate that $5 be deposited into the special
fund.
�
The director of taxation shall
revise the individual state income tax form to allow the designation of
contributions to the fund on the face of the tax return and immediately above
the signature lines.
�
If no designation
was made on the original tax return when filed, a designation may be made by
the individual on an amended return filed within twenty months and ten days
after the due date for the original return for that taxable year.
�
A designation once made, whether by an original
or amended return, shall not be revoked.
"

����
SECTION
4.
�
There is appropriated out of the
general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of
$ or so much
thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2026-2027 to be deposited into the
spay and neuter special fund established by section 36- ,
Hawaii Revised Statutes.

����
SECTION
5.
�
There is appropriated out of the spay
and neuter special fund established by section 36- , Hawaii
Revised Statutes, the sum of
$ or so much
thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2026-2027 to reduce pet
overpopulation, including the free-roaming cat population, by providing spaying
and neutering surgery and associated veterinary care; provided that the sum
shall be expended as follows:

����
(1)
�
$
for the city and county of Honolulu;

����
(2)
�
$
for the county of Maui;

����
(3)
�
$
for the county of Kauai; and

����
(4)
�
$
for the county of Hawaii.

����
The sum

appropriated shall be expended by the counties
for the purposes of this Act.

����
SECTION
6.
�
New statutory material is
underscored.

����
SECTION 7.
�
This Act shall take effect upon its approval;
provided that:

����
(1)
�
Section 3 of this Act shall apply to taxable
years beginning after December 31, 2026; and

����
(2)
�
Sections 4 and 5 of this Act shall take effect
on July 1, 2026.

INTRODUCED BY:

_____________________________

Report Title:

Spay and
Neuter Special Fund; Cat Sterilization; Counties; Animal Control; Income
Check-off; Appropriation

Description:

Establishes
the Spay and Neuter Special Fund to reduce pet overpopulation, including the
free-roaming cat population,

and
authorizes an income tax designation to provide revenues into the special
fund.
�
Requires cats over the age of five
months to be surgically sterilized and prohibits cats that are not surgically
sterilized from being brought into the State, with certain exceptions.
�
Appropriates funds.

The summary description
of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is
not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.