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HB2011 • 2026

RELATING TO PET ANIMALS.

RELATING TO PET ANIMALS.

Active

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

Sponsor
TEMPLO, AMATO, BELATTI, GARRETT, ILAGAN, LEE, M., MARTEN, PIERICK, REYES ODA, SOUZA, TAM
Last action
2026-01-28
Official status
Referred to HSG, CPC, referral sheet 3
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The bill's scope and applicability are clearly defined, but it does not cover all types of insurance policies.

Pet Animals: Insurance Protections

This bill stops insurance companies from refusing to sell, renew, cancel, restrict, terminate, or charge higher rates on certain types of insurance policies based on the breed of dogs kept at home.

What This Bill Does

  • Prohibits insurers from denying commercial general liability insurance based on dog breeds.
  • Stops insurers from not issuing homeowners insurance due to specific dog breeds.
  • Forbids insurers from refusing renters insurance because of certain dog breeds.
  • Prohibits insurers from canceling or charging higher rates for dwelling fire policies based on dog breed.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Pet owners who need commercial general liability insurance.
  • Homeowners with dogs and seeking homeowners insurance.
  • Renters with dogs looking for renters insurance.
  • People needing dwelling fire policies for homes with dogs.

Terms To Know

Commercial General Liability Insurance
Insurance that protects businesses from legal claims related to property damage or bodily injury.
Vicious Dog
A dog declared dangerous by law enforcement, which can affect insurance policies.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill does not cover all types of insurance policies.
  • It only applies to dogs kept on insured premises and does not address other animals.
  • Insurance companies can still refuse coverage if a dog is declared vicious by law enforcement.

Bill History

  1. 2026-01-28 H

    Referred to HSG, CPC, referral sheet 3

  2. 2026-01-26 H

    Introduced and Pass First Reading.

  3. 2026-01-23 H

    Pending introduction.

Official Summary Text

RELATING TO PET ANIMALS.
Pet Animals; Commercial General Liability Insurance Policies; Homeowners Insurance Policies; Renters Insurance Policies; Dwelling Fire Policies; Breed Restrictions
Prohibits insurers from refusing to issue or renew, canceling, restricting, otherwise terminating, or charging higher rates for a commercial general liability insurance policy, homeowners insurance policy, renters insurance policy, or dwelling fire policy based on the breed of any dog that is kept on the insured premises.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
HB2011

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

2011

THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026

STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

relating
to pet animals
.

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

����
SECTION 1.
�
The legislature finds that pet ownership can
complicate a pet owner's search for housing.
�

Pet owners may encounter barriers when trying to buy or rent a home due
to various factors, such as difficulties obtaining homeowners insurance and
breed restrictions in insurance policies.
�

The legislature recognizes that these housing difficulties can lead to
some pet owners surrendering or rehoming their pet animals, which can have a
detrimental impact on the owner and the pet animal and can strain the resources
of animal rescue organizations.
�
Barriers
to housing access and discrimination against certain breeds of dogs also
prevent would-be adopters from giving animals in need a loving home.
�
A recent survey of households on Oahu found
that thirty per cent of respondents were forced to surrender a pet in the past
five years and that the lack of pet friendly housing was the number one reason
cited for why the pet was surrendered.

����
Accordingly, the purpose of this Act
is to provide protections for pet owners and pet animals by prohibiting
insurers from refusing to issue or renew, canceling, restricting, otherwise
terminating, or charging higher rates for a commercial general liability
insurance policy, homeowners insurance policy, renters insurance policy, or
dwelling fire policy based on the breed or appearance of any dog that is kept
on the insured premises.

����
SECTION 2.
�
Chapter 431, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is
amended by adding a new part to article 10 to be appropriately designated and
to read as follows:

"
Part .
�
MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS

����
�
431:10-
�
Breed restrictions; prohibited.
�
(a)
�
No insurer shall deny or refuse to accept an
application for insurance, refuse to insure, refuse to renew, cancel, restrict,
or otherwise terminate a commercial general liability insurance policy or
charge a different rate for the same coverage, on the basis of the breed or
appearance of any dog that is kept on the insured premises.

����
(b)
�

Notwithstanding subsection (a), an insurer may refuse to insure, refuse
to renew, cancel, restrict, or otherwise terminate a commercial general
liability insurance policy or charge a different rate for the same coverage, if
a dog being kept on the insured premises has been declared a vicious or
dangerous dog by a county law enforcement agency."

����
SECTION 3.
�
Chapter 431, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is
amended by adding a new part to article 10E to be appropriately designated and
to read as follows:

"
Part .
�
MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS

����
�
431:10E-
�
Breed restrictions; prohibited.
�
(a)
�
No insurer shall deny or refuse to accept an
application for insurance, refuse to insure, refuse to renew, cancel, restrict,
or otherwise terminate a homeowners insurance policy, renters insurance policy,
or dwelling fire policy, or charge a different rate for the same coverage, on
the basis of the breed or appearance of any dog that is kept on the insured
premises.

����
(b)
�

Notwithstanding subsection (a), an insurer may refuse to insure, refuse
to renew, cancel, restrict, or otherwise terminate a homeowners insurance
policy, renters insurance policy, or dwelling fire policy, or charge a
different rate for the same coverage, if a dog being kept on the insured
premises has been declared a vicious or dangerous dog by a county law
enforcement agency."

����
SECTION 4.
�
This Act shall take effect upon its approval
and shall apply to all commercial general liability insurance policies,
homeowners insurance policies, renters insurance policies, and dwelling fire
policies offered, delivered, issued, or renewed on or after the effective date
of this Act.

INTRODUCED BY:

_____________________________

Report Title:

Pet
Animals; Commercial General Liability Insurance Policies; Homeowners Insurance
Policies; Renters Insurance Policies; Dwelling Fire Policies; Breed
Restrictions

Description:

Prohibits
insurers from refusing to issue or renew, canceling, restricting, otherwise
terminating, or charging higher rates for a commercial general liability
insurance policy, homeowners insurance policy, renters insurance policy, or
dwelling fire policy based on the breed of any dog that is kept on the insured
premises.

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