REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH TO ADOPT RULES OR OTHERWISE PERMIT RESTAURANTS TO ALLOW DOGS IN DESIGNATED AREAS OF THEIR ESTABLISHMENTS WHILE ADHERING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY REGULATIONS.

This Senate Resolution (SR 140) requests Hawaii's Department of Health to adopt rules permitting restaurants to allow dogs in designated areas while following health and safety regulations. It specifically proposes requiring dogs to remain leashed, prohibiting employee-dog interactions, and mandating strict hygiene compliance to prevent health risks. The resolution directly affects restaurants (which could choose to implement this) and dog-owning customers seeking pet-friendly dining. It emphasizes this would not override existing ADA protections for service animals and references studies showing no health risks when proper sanitation is maintained. Note: This is a non-binding request to the Department of Health, not an enacted law.