RELATING TO FERAL PIGS.

SB315

THE SENATE

S.B. NO.

315

THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2025

STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

relating
to feral pigs
.

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

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SECTION 1.
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The
legislature finds that the State's residents, especially those living in rural
areas, should be allowed to protect their persons and property from dangerous wildlife.
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Feral pigs can be destructive and pose a
threat to human safety, agricultural crops, indigenous plants, and other
animals.

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The legislature recognizes that it can be
cumbersome and time-consuming to obtain a permit to eradicate feral pigs on
privately owned land.

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Accordingly,
the purpose of this Act is to create
an expedited permitting
process to authorize the destruction or control of feral pigs on privately
owned land, under certain circumstances.

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SECTION

2
.
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Section
183D-61, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:

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"
�183D-61
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Permits to take wild birds, game birds, and game mammals.
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(a)
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Notwithstanding
subsection (b) and
the
other
provisions
contained in this chapter, the department may adopt rules pursuant to chapter
91:

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(1)
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Authorizing the taking and collecting
of wild birds, game birds, and game mammals for scientific and educational
purposes, or for the purpose of distributing wild birds to different localities
in the State pursuant to this title;

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(2)
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Authorizing the keeping of wild birds
in captivity for the protection, treatment for injury or disease, propagation,
and other similar purposes consistent with the preservation, protection, and
conservation of wild birds;

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(3)
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Authorizing the taking and destruction
of those wild birds, game birds, and game mammals the department may have found
after investigation to be destructive to crops or to other game birds and game
mammals or otherwise harmful to agriculture or aquaculture, or to constitute a
nuisance or a health hazard; or

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(4)
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Authorizing
without
requiring permits or reports, the destruction within a district of wild birds,
game birds, and game mammals
, including feral pigs,
which are generally
destructive to crops or otherwise harmful to agriculture or aquaculture, or
constitute a nuisance or a health hazard within the district.

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(b)
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The department shall issue a permit for the
destruction or control of feral pigs on privately owned land if the feral pigs
have caused or are likely to cause substantial damage to agricultural or
aquacultural crops, indigenous plants or wildlife, or human health and safety;
provided that:

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(1)
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An authorized agent of the
department shall investigate a complaint filed by a private landowner regarding
feral pigs on the owner's land that have caused or are likely to cause
substantial damage.
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If the authorized
agent is satisfied that substantial damage has occurred or is likely to occur, the
permit shall be granted;

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(2)
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No more than ninety days after a
complaint is received by the department, an authorized agent of the department
shall:

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(A)
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Investigate the complaint; and

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(B)
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Issue the permit; or

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(C)
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Inform the applicant in writing why
the permit was denied;

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(3)
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The applicant may appeal the
decision of the authorized agent to the department if the permit is denied or
is otherwise not issued within ninety days;

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(4)
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The permit shall state:

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(A)
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The species to be destroyed or
controlled;

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(B)
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The approximate number of animals to
be destroyed or controlled;

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(C)
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The authorized method or methods of
destruction or control; and

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(D)
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Any other conditions the department
deems necessary;

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(5)
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Nothing in this subsection shall be
construed to limit the department's authority, pursuant to subsection (a)(4),
to authorize without requiring permits or reports the destruction of feral pigs
within certain districts; and

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(6)
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Nothing in this subsection shall be
deemed to apply to persons who are otherwise in compliance with the State's
laws and department's rules regarding game mammals and hunting.

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[
(b)
]

(c)
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Except as provided in
subsection (a)(4), the rules shall require the person or persons seeking
authority to apply for and obtain a written permit from the department.
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The permits may prescribe terms and
conditions the department deems necessary to prevent abuse of the authority
granted thereby, and may be canceled by the department, after notice and
hearing, for the violation of any term or condition."

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SECTION
3.
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Statutory material to be repealed is
bracketed and stricken.
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New statutory
material is underscored.

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SECTION
4.
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This Act shall take effect upon its
approval.

INTRODUCED BY:

_____________________________

Report Title:

Department
of Land and Natural Resources; Feral Pigs; Permitting Process; Expedited

Description:

Creates
an expedited permitting process to authorize the destruction or control of
feral pigs on privately owned land, if the feral pigs have caused or are likely
to cause substantial damage to agricultural or aquacultural crops, indigenous
plants or wildlife, or pose a threat to human health and safety.

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