SB 1230: Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity; Department of Health; Food Donation; Charitable, Religious, or Nonprofit Organizations; Wild Game; Axis Deer

A BILL FOR AN ACT

RELATING TO MEAT DONATION.

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

     SECTION 1.  Chapter 159, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

     "§159-     Further exemptions; food donations; wild game.  (a)  This chapter shall not apply to the slaughtering of wild game or the preparation and transportation of wild game at establishments conducting these operations if the articles are wild game exclusively to be donated by a hunter for the use or distribution by a charitable, religious, or nonprofit organization to needy persons pursuant to chapter 145D; provided that the wild game shall not be combined with a meat food product regulated under the Federal Meat Inspection Act, title 21 United States Code section 601 et seq., or a poultry product regulated under the federal Poultry Products Inspection Act, title 21 United States Code section 451 et seq.; provided further that the transportation of wild game shall be limited to moving the wild game to and from the premises where the hunter killed the wild game, the processing establishment, and the charitable, religious, or nonprofit organization.

     (b)  For the purposes of this section, "wild game" means a member of a species of game not indigenous to the State, including axis deer.  "Wild game" includes carcasses, parts thereof, and meat or meat products derived from wild game."

     SECTION 2.  Section 145D-5, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:

     "[[]§145D-5[]]  Reserving the State's authority to regulate, inspect, or ban the use of donated food.  [Nothing] Notwithstanding section 159-  , nothing in this chapter is intended to restrict the authority of the department of health or the department of agriculture and biosecurity to regulate, inspect, or ban the use of [such] donated foods for human consumption."

     SECTION 3.  Section 159-3, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending the definition of "meat or meat products" to read as follows:

     ""Meat or meat products" means any product capable of use as human food which is made wholly or in part from any meat or other portions of the carcass of any cattle, sheep, swine, or goats, excepting products which contain meat or other portions of the carcasses only in a relatively small proportion or historically have not been considered by consumers as products of the meat food industry, and which are exempted from the definition as meat products by the board under the conditions as it may prescribe to assure that the meat or other portions of the carcasses contained in the products are not adulterated and that the products are not represented as meat products.  [This term] "Meat or meat products", as applied to food products of equines or wild game, shall have a meaning comparable to that provided in this definition with respect to cattle, sheep, swine, and goats."

     SECTION 4.  Section 159-29, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsection (c) to read as follows:

     "(c)  The transportation by commercial carrier of carcasses, parts thereof, or meat or meat products produced without inspection under subsection (a) [is] shall be prohibited, except under permit issued by the board[.] and under section 159-   ."

     SECTION 5.  Section 159-34, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsection (a) to read as follows:

     "(a)  [The] Notwithstanding section 159-   , the preparation, sale, offering for sale, or transportation or receipt for transportation in intrastate commerce of meat and meat products derived from exotic animals, unless inspected and passed as provided for under this part, [is] shall be prohibited.  Violators shall be subject to all requirements and penalties of this chapter."

     SECTION 6.  Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken.  New statutory material is underscored.

     SECTION 7.  This Act shall take effect on July 1, 3000.

Report Title:

Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity; Department of Health; Food Donation; Charitable, Religious, or Nonprofit Organizations; Wild Game; Axis Deer

Description:

Exempts the donation of wild game meat, including axis deer, by a hunter for the use or distribution by a charitable, religious, or nonprofit organization to needy persons from certain laws regarding the inspection and transportation of meat.  Effective 7/1/3000.  (HD1)

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

A BILL FOR AN ACT

RELATING TO MEAT DONATION.

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

     SECTION 1.  Chapter 159, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

     "§159-    Further exemptions; food donations; wild game.  (a)  This chapter shall not apply to the slaughtering of wild game or the preparation and transportation of the carcasses, parts thereof, and meat or meat products at establishments conducting these operations if the articles are wild game exclusively to be donated by a hunter for the use or distribution by a charitable, religious, or nonprofit organization to needy persons pursuant to chapter 145D; provided that the wild game shall not be combined with a meat food product regulated under the Federal Meat Inspection Act, title 21 United States Code section 601 et seq., or a poultry product regulated under the federal Poultry Products Inspection Act, title 21 United States Code section 451 et seq.; provided further that the transportation of wild game is limited to moving the wild game to and from the premises where the hunter killed the wild game, the processing establishment, and the charitable, religious, or nonprofit organization.

     (b)  For the purposes of this section, "wild game" means a member of a species of game not indigenous to the State, including axis deer.  "Wild game" includes carcasses, parts thereof, and meat or meat products derived from wild game."

     SECTION 2.  Section 145D-5, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:

     "[[]§145D-5[]]  Reserving the State's authority to regulate, inspect, or ban the use of donated food.  [Nothing] Notwithstanding section 159-  , nothing in this chapter is intended to restrict the authority of the department of health or the department of agriculture to regulate, inspect, or ban the use of [such] donated foods for human consumption."

     SECTION 3.  Section 159-29, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsection (c) to read as follows:

     "(c)  The transportation by commercial carrier of carcasses, parts thereof, or meat or meat products produced without inspection under subsection (a) is prohibited, except under permit issued by the board[.] and under section 159-  ."

     SECTION 4.  Section 159-34, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsection (a) to read as follows:

     "(a)  [The] Notwithstanding section 159-  , the preparation, sale, offering for sale, or transportation or receipt for transportation in intrastate commerce of meat and meat products derived from exotic animals, unless inspected and passed as provided for under this part, is prohibited.  Violators shall be subject to all requirements and penalties of this chapter."

     SECTION 5.  Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken.  New statutory material is underscored.

     SECTION 6.  This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2050.

Report Title:

Department of Agriculture; Department of Health; Food Donation; Charitable, Religious, or Nonprofit Organizations; Wild Game; Axis Deer

Description:

Exempts the donation of wild game meat, including axis deer, by a hunter for the use or distribution by a charitable, religious, or nonprofit organization to needy persons from certain laws regarding the inspection and transportation of meat.  Effective 7/1/2050.  (SD2)

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

A BILL FOR AN ACT

RELATING TO MEAT DONATION.

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

     SECTION 1.  Chapter 159, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

     "§159-    Further exemptions; food donations; wild game.  (a)  This chapter shall not apply to the slaughtering of wild game or the preparation and transportation of the carcasses, parts thereof, and meat or meat products at establishments conducting these operations if the articles are wild game exclusively to be donated by a hunter for the use or distribution by a charitable, religious, or nonprofit organization to needy persons pursuant to chapter 145; provided that the wild game shall not be combined with a meat food product regulated under the Federal Meat Inspection Act, title 21 United States Code section 601 et seq., or a poultry product regulated under the federal Poultry Products Inspection Act, title 21 United States Code section 451 et seq.; provided further that the transportation of wild game is limited to moving the wild game to and from the premises where the hunter killed the wild game, the processing establishment, and the charitable, religious, or nonprofit organization.

     (b)  For the purposes of this section, "wild game" means a member of a species of game not indigenous to the State, including axis deer.  "Wild game" includes the carcasses, parts thereof, and meat or meat products derived from wild game."

     SECTION 2.  Section 145D-5, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:

     "[[]§145D-5[]]  Reserving the State's authority to regulate, inspect, or ban the use of donated food.  [Nothing] Notwithstanding section 159-  , nothing in this chapter is intended to restrict the authority of the department of health or the department of agriculture to regulate, inspect, or ban the use of [such] donated foods for human consumption."

     SECTION 3.  Section 159-29, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsection (c) to read as follows:

     "(c)  The transportation by commercial carrier of carcasses, parts thereof, or meat or meat products produced without inspection under subsection (a) is prohibited, except under permit issued by the board[.] and under section 159-  ."

     SECTION 4.  Section 159-34, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsection (a) to read as follows:

     "(a)  [The] Notwithstanding section 159-  , the preparation, sale, offering for sale, or transportation or receipt for transportation in intrastate commerce of meat and meat products derived from exotic animals, unless inspected and passed as provided for under this part, is prohibited.  Violators shall be subject to all requirements and penalties of this chapter."

     SECTION 5.  Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken.  New statutory material is underscored.

     SECTION 6.  This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

Report Title:

Department of Agriculture; Department of Health; Food Donation; Charitable, Religious, or Nonprofit Organizations; Wild Game; Axis Deer

Description:

Exempts the donation of wild game meat, including axis deer, by a hunter for the use or distribution by a charitable, religious, or nonprofit organization to needy persons from certain laws regarding the inspection and transportation of meat.  (SD1)

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

A BILL FOR AN ACT

RELATING TO MEAT DONATION.

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

     SECTION 1.  Chapter 159, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

     "§159-    Further exemptions; food donations; wild game.  (a)  This chapter shall not apply to the slaughtering of wild game or the preparation and transportation of the carcasses, parts thereof, and meat or meat products at establishments conducting these operations if the articles are wild game exclusively to be donated by a hunter for the use or distribution by a charitable, religious, or nonprofit organization to needy persons pursuant to chapter 145; provided that the wild game shall not be combined with a meat food product regulated under the Federal Meat Inspection Act, title 21 United States Code, section 601 et seq., or a poultry product regulated under the federal Poultry Products Inspection Act, title 21 United States Code section 451 et seq.; provided further that the transportation of wild game is limited to moving the wild game to and from the premises where the hunter killed the wild game, the processing establishment, and the charitable, religious, or nonprofit organization.

     (b)  For the purposes of this section, "wild game" means a member of a species of game not indigenous to the State, including axis deer.  "Wild game" includes the carcasses, parts thereof, and meat or meat products derived from wild game."

     SECTION 2.  Section 145D-5, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:

     "[[]§145D-5[]]  Reserving the State's authority to regulate, inspect, or ban the use of donated food.  [Nothing] Notwithstanding section 159-  , nothing in this chapter is intended to restrict the authority of the department of health or the department of agriculture to regulate, inspect, or ban the use of [such] donated foods for human consumption."

     SECTION 3.  Section 159-29, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsection (c) to read as follows:

     "(c)  The transportation by commercial carrier of carcasses, parts thereof, or meat or meat products produced without inspection under subsection (a) is prohibited, except under permit issued by the board[.] and under section 159-  ."

     SECTION 4.  Section 159-34, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsection (a) to read as follows:

     "(a)  [The] Notwithstanding section 159-  , the preparation, sale, offering for sale, or transportation or receipt for transportation in intrastate commerce of meat and meat products derived from exotic animals, unless inspected and passed as provided for under this part, is prohibited.  Violators shall be subject to all requirements and penalties of this chapter."

     SECTION 5.  Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken.  New statutory material is underscored.

     SECTION 6.  This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

Report Title:

Department of Agriculture; Department of Health; Food Donation; Charitable, Religious, or Nonprofit Organizations; Wild Game; Axis Deer

Description:

Exempts the donation of wild game meat, including axis deer, to a charitable, religious, or nonprofit organization to needy persons from certain laws regarding the inspection and transportation of meat.

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

STAND. COM. REP. NO. 742

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 1230

       S.D. 2

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2025

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Commerce and Consumer Protection, to which was referred S.B. No. 1230, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO MEAT DONATION,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to exempt the donation of wild game meat, including axis deer, by a hunter for the use or distribution by a charitable, religious, or nonprofit organization to needy persons from certain laws regarding the inspection and transportation of meat.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources, Department of Agriculture, Office of the Mayor of the County of Maui, one member of the Maui County Council, Hawaii Food Industry Association, Maui Food Bank, Maui Wild Game Management, Pūlama Lānaʻi, Hawaiʻi Farm Bureau, Malama Kauaʻi, Maui Adaptation Project, Maui Chamber of Commerce, Maui Food Bank, and fifteen individuals.

     Your Committee finds that many local families are struggling to access adequate nutrition.  While food insecurity has remained a pressing issue in the State, the overpopulation of axis deer, especially on Maui, has caused significant damage to watersheds, ecosystems, and agricultural lands, all of which contribute to economic losses for farmers and landowners.  This measure provides a solution to both issues by exempting the donation of wild game meat, including axis deer, to charitable, religious, or nonprofit organizations from certain inspection and transportation laws.  This measure removes certain barriers to meat donation, while enabling hunters and landowners to help control the invasive deer population and providing an additional food source for those in need.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Inserting an effective date of July 1, 2050, to encourage further discussion; and

     (2)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity and consistency.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Commerce and Consumer Protection that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 1230, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 1230, S.D. 2.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Commerce and Consumer Protection,

STAND. COM. REP. NO. 273

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 1230

       S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2025

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Health and Human Services, to which was referred S.B. No. 1230 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO MEAT DONATION,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to exempt the donation of wild game meat, including axis deer, by a hunter for the use or distribution by a charitable, religious, or nonprofit organization to needy persons from certain laws regarding the inspection and transportation of meat.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources; Department of Agriculture; one member of the Maui County Council; Maui Chamber of Commerce; Maui Wild Game Management to Feed the Hungry; Hawai‘i Farm Bureau; Hawaii Food Bank; Hawaii Food Industry Association; Maui Adaptation Project, Inc.; Hawaii Cattlemen's Council, Inc.; Maui Food Bank, Inc.; and six individuals.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by making a technical, nonsubstantive amendment for the purposes of clarity and consistency.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Health and Human Services that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 1230, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 1230, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Commerce and Consumer Protection.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Health and Human Services,