SB 1023 Hawaii Senate · 2026 Regular Session

RELATING TO THE SPAYING AND NEUTERING OF ANIMALS.

Summary

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)

Bill status passed both 4 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2025

Committee Review

Mar 2026

Senate Passage

Feb 2025

House Passage

Mar 2026

Governor

Introduced Jan 17, 2025 Last action Mar 30, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 3 comparisons

What changed between versions

SB1023_HD2 → SB1023_SD1 · 6 edits

MODERATE

This bill was revised to shift focus from mandatory cat sterilization and import restrictions to a voluntary funding model. The new version removes the requirement that cats over five months old must be sterilized and eliminates the ban on importing intact cats. Instead, it establishes a special fund financed by income tax refund designations and a new voluntary 'spay/neuter' license plate program.

Scope change

The bill's scope changed from a regulatory mandate requiring cat sterilization and import declarations to a voluntary funding initiative that relies on taxpayer designations and special license plates.

REQUIREMENT

Deleted the requirement that owners of cats over five months old must surgically sterilize them or file an intact cat declaration.

Removed the prohibition on bringing intact cats into the state and the requirement to file import declarations for them.

FISCAL

Added a new revenue source: a special number plate program where owners can pay a fundraising fee to support the spay/neuter fund.

Changed the income tax refund designation amount from $5 to $2 per refund, and adjusted the joint return threshold from $10 to $4.

Replaced the specific county-by-county appropriation language with a general appropriation to the Department of Budget and Finance.

TIMELINE

Updated the effective date of the Act to July 1, 2050, and the application date for tax designations to taxable years beginning after December 31, 2024.

Floor votes

How they voted

This bill passed the Senate by voice vote (no roll call recorded).

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Mar 30, 2026

Lower · Passed

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) Cochran, Lowen, Perruso, Quinlan excused (4).

lower

Mar 30, 2026

Committee

Reported from CAA (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1512-26) as amended in HD 2, recommending referral to FIN.

lower

Mar 25, 2026

Lower · Passed

The committee on CAA recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 4 Ayes: Representative(s) Kapela, Kong, Garrett, Sayama; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and 2 Excused: Representative(s) Lee, M., Reyes Oda.

lower

Mar 11, 2025

Committee

Reported from AGR (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1174) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to CAA.

lower

Mar 7, 2025

Lower · Passed

The committee on AGR recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 4 Ayes: Representative(s) Kahaloa, Lowen, Perruso, Quinlan; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and 2 Excused: Representative(s) Kusch, Ward.

lower

Mar 4, 2025

Committee

Referred to AGR, CAA, FIN, referral sheet 18

lower

Feb 28, 2025

Introduced

Received from Senate (Sen. Com. No. 49) in amended form (SD 1).

lower

Feb 28, 2025

Upper · Passed

Report Adopted; Passed Third Reading. Ayes, 23; Aye(s) with reservations: Senator(s) DeCoite, Keohokalole, Richards. Noes, 0 (none). Excused, 2 (Senator(s) Fukunaga, Kidani). Transmitted to House.

upper

Feb 18, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on WAM recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes in WAM were as follows: 12 Aye(s): Senator(s) Dela Cruz, Moriwaki, Aquino, Elefante, Hashimoto, Inouye, Kanuha, Kidani, Kim, Lee, C., Wakai, Fevella; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 1 Excused: Senator(s) DeCoite.

upper

Feb 14, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on WAM will hold a public decision making on 02-18-25 10:01AM; Conference Room 211 & Videoconference.

upper

Feb 12, 2025

Upper · Passed

Report adopted; Passed Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referred to WAM.

upper

Feb 12, 2025

Committee

Reported from AEN/TCA/EIG (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 303) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to WAM.

upper

Feb 5, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on EIG recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in EIG were as follows: 4 Aye(s): Senator(s) Wakai, Chang, DeCoite; Aye(s) with reservations: Senator(s) Richards ; 0 No(es): none; and 1 Excused: Senator(s) Fevella.

upper

Feb 5, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on TCA recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in TCA were as follows: 4 Aye(s): Senator(s) Lee, C., Elefante, Kanuha, DeCorte; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 1 Excused: Senator(s) Inouye.

upper

Feb 5, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on AEN recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in AEN were as follows: 5 Aye(s): Senator(s) Gabbard, DeCoite, Rhoads, Awa; Aye(s) with reservations: Senator(s) Richards ; 0 No(es): none; and 0 Excused: none.

upper

Jan 31, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on AEN/TCA/EIG has scheduled a public hearing on 02-05-25 1:00PM; Conference Room 224 & Videoconference.

upper

Jan 23, 2025

Committee

Referred to AEN/TCA/EIG, WAM.

upper

Jan 17, 2025

Introduced

Introduced.

upper

2 primary · 0 co-sponsors