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Hawaii News & Legislation

Current Animal Rights Legislation in HI RAOA Opposes.

Please remember to call your Representative and oppose these bill numbers under the opposed section of this page.

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 You can also submit written testimony opposing these bills through the link provided under each bill.

HB1580

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Measure Title: RELATING TO ANIMAL CRUELTY.

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Report Title: Animal Cruelty; Penalties

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Description: Amends the criminal penalties for various animal cruelty offenses by increasing the category of offense.

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Current Referral: JDC

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Introducer(s):KILA, AIU, AMATO, CHUN, EVSLIN, GARRETT, KAHALOA, LAMOSAO, LOWEN, MARTEN, MARTINEZ, MIYAKE, MORIKAWA, NAKASHIMA, NISHIMOTO, POEPOE, TAKENOUCHI, TAM, WOODSON

Bill Status

3/8/2024SThe committee(s) on JDC has scheduled a public hearing on 03-14-24 9:30AM; Conference Room 016 & Videoconference.

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3/7/2024SReferred to JDC.

3/7/2024SPassed First Reading.

3/7/2024SReceived from House (Hse. Com. No. 186).

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3/5/2024HPassed Third Reading with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Cochran, Woodson excused (2). Transmitted to Senate.

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2/29/2024HPassed Second Reading as amended in HD 1; placed on the calendar for Third Reading with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Aiu, Cochran, Garrett, Holt, Kahaloa, Lowen, Nishimoto, Quinlan, Todd excused (9).

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2/29/2024HReported from JHA (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 652-24) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and placement on the calendar for Third Reading.

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2/21/2024HThe committee on JHA recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 10 Ayes: Representative(s) Tarnas, Takayama, Evslin, Holt, Ichiyama, Ilagan, Kong, Miyake; Ayes with reservations: Representative(s) Ganaden, Souza; Noes: none; and Excused: none.

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2/16/2024HBill scheduled to be heard by JHA on Wednesday, 02-21-24 2:00PM in House conference room 325 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.

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1/24/2024HReferred to JHA, referral sheet 1

1/17/2024HIntroduced and Pass First Reading.

1/16/2024HPrefiled.

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Please call you Representatives and oppose this legislation.

Let them Know This could cause a world of collateral damage for people due to the vague wording with no clear definitions attached. (1. Example Recklessly who determines if this was reckless or not this bill if passed will allow you to be prosecuted based on another person's personal opinions and not facts.           2. The AR groups have stated Milking a cow is a form of molesting an animal so are we or our minor children going to be charges for sexual Assault on our cattle if we hand milk them according to this bill 100%, they can try and charge you with Section 8.

Every section in this Bill will make is either a CLASS A, B or C felony along with fines, imprisonment and loss of ownership of an animal for 5 years with the exception of section 7 That will be a misdemeanor.

There will also be a direct link to the whole written bill language.

The link below is to written testimony as to why this legislation needs to pass.

Link to Testimony For passing this Bill 

Link to Full Bill Text

HB1980

Measure Title: RELATING TO ANIMAL CRUELTY.

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Report Title: Animal Cruelty; Penalties; Felony; Illegal Animal Fighting; Birds

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Description: Creates penalties relating to the fighting of birds.

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Companion: SB2684

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Current Referral: JDC

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Introducer(s): TARNAS, BELATTI, EVSLIN, GARRETT, LOWEN, MARTEN, PIERICK, SAYAMA, TAKAYAMA, TAM

Bill Status

3/8/2024SThe committee(s) on JDC has scheduled a public hearing on 03-14-24 9:30AM; Conference Room 016 & Videoconference.

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3/7/2024SReferred to JDC.

3/7/2024SPassed First Reading.

3/7/2024SReceived from House (Hse. Com. No. 275).

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3/5/2024HPassed Third Reading with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Cochran, Woodson excused (2). Transmitted to Senate.

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2/29/2024HPassed Second Reading as amended in HD 1; placed on the calendar for Third Reading with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Aiu, Cochran, Garrett, Holt, Kahaloa, Lowen, Nishimoto, Quinlan, Todd excused (9).

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2/29/2024HReported from JHA (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 654-24) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and placement on the calendar for Third Reading.

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2/21/2024HThe committee on JHA recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 10 Ayes: Representative(s) Tarnas, Takayama, Evslin, Ganaden, Holt, Ichiyama, Ilagan, Kong, Miyake, Souza; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and Excused: none.

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2/16/2024HBill scheduled to be heard by JHA on Wednesday, 02-21-24 2:00PM in House conference room 325 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.

1/24/2024HReferred to JHA, referral sheet 1

1/22/2024HIntroduced and Pass First Reading.

1/19/2024HPending introduction.

They are trying to use 1 instance that happened in April 2023 to fuel this legislation 100%.

THIS BILL ALSO HAS A MIRROR IMAGE SISTER BILL IN THE SENATE SB2684 

Please call you Representatives and oppose this legislation.

Let them Know This could cause a world of collateral damage for people due to the vague wording with no clear definitions attached. (1. Example Knowingly, Recklessly who determines this language. If this bill passed will allow you to be prosecuted based on another person's personal options and not facts. 

Section 2

A. Knowingly 

1. Owns, trains, transports, possesses, buys, sells, transfers, or equips any bird with the intent that the bird be engaged in a fight between other birds; or Allows any minor to be present at or attend a fight between birds. 

Again, who determines this the human society, Animal Task force that is also made up from AR groups people based on their options? Minor has no age listed. This section could very Easly eradicate Gamefowl if the wrong people's opinions are used in determining cruelty because they can say all birds you own are for fighting and you have the Intent to use them for that purpose so there forth no ownership.

B. Recklessly

1. Allows a fight between birds to occur on any property owned or controlled by the person; or (ii) Allows any bird intended to be used for a fight between birds to be kept, trained on, or transported in any property owned or controlled by the person.

This part could be very bad in collateral damage being that if 2 birds get out and begin fighting and someone sees turns you in you would be charged with recklessly fighting your birds again all based on an opinion of the judge even if had no knowledge of the occurrence.

Also, under section 2 #5 there is a cost of care part that means any animal confiscated for a violation of this bill will subject you to paying a fee for care for each individual animal most of the time it between $25 to $50 each a day.

Line 4 page 5 of this bill states (c) Possesses any device intended to enhance a bird's fighting ability. (2) For the purposes of this section: "Device" means any object, including but not limited to a slasher, gaff, knife, or muff, that is designed to be attached in place of or to the natural spur of a bird.

Object, including but limited to, being the main wording here they could also say any scissors for trimming, vitamins, medications could also be objects.

Section 3

Bad wording again Intent, knowingly recklessly

A. Overdrives, Overloads so with wording if you are working your animal and someone thinks it to rough or lengthy then you could be convicted of this section, working dog working cattle for to long can convict someone under this section.

E. , F. and G. Carries or causes to be carried, in or upon any vehicle or other conveyance, any animal in a cruel or inhumane manner; (f) Confines or causes to be confined, in a kennel or cage, any pet animal in a cruel or inhumane manner; (g) Tethers, fastens, ties, or restrains a dog to a doghouse, tree, fence, or any other stationary object.

With this section if you are on your way to a poultry show and get pulled over and they think you fowl is in a inhumane caring box you can be charged under this section. If your animal is tethered or caged in anyway according to their opinion you can be charged under this section.

There is no definitions on any of this section as to Items that is acceptable in their opinions or on the word confines.

Every section in this Bill will make is either a CLASS A, B or C felony along with fines, imprisonment and loss of ownership of an animal for 5 years with the exception of #(2) on page 5 states $1000 fine or imprisonment or both. unless u get 2 convictions of this violation in years then it becomes a felony 

There will also be a direct link to the whole written bill language.

The link below is to written testimony as to why this legislation needs to pass.

Link to Testimony For passing this Bill 

Link to Full Bill Text

SB2684

Measure Title: RELATING TO ANIMAL CRUELTY.

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Report Title: Animal Cruelty; Penalties; Felony; Illegal Animal Fighting; Birds

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Description: Creates penalties relating to the fighting of birds.

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Companion: HB1980

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Current Referral: JDC

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Introducer(s):RHOADS, FUKUNAGA, GABBARD, LEE, Elefante, Ihara, Inouye, Wakai

Bill Status

2/21/2024SRe-Referred to JDC.

1/24/2024SReferred to AEN, JDC.

1/22/2024SPassed First Reading.

1/19/2024SIntroduced.

This bill is identical to HB1980 so all information and breakdown in that section will also pertain to this legislation on the senate side.

There will be direct links to bill and testimony below on this one as well

This Bill has no Testimony on it as of 2/26/24

Link to Full Bill Text

Current Legislation in HI RAOA Supports

Updates Coming Soon

Link to Hawaii Main legislation page and find my Representative/Senator Page Below. 

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