SB 387: RELATING TO SERVICE ANIMALS.
- Session Year: 2025-2026
- House: Senate
- Latest Version Date: 2025-02-03
Current Status:
Failed
(2025-12-08: Carried over to 2026 Regular Session.)
Introduced
In Committee
First Chamber
In Committee
Second Chamber
Final Decking
Enacted
Requires the Department of Agriculture to be responsible for all neighbor island inspection permit fees for service animals that are located in the State and are being transported for release at Kona, Kahului, or Lihue airports. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)
Requires the Department of Agriculture to be responsible for all neighbor island inspection permit fees for service animals that are located in the State and are being transported for release at Kona, Kahului, or Lihue airports. Appropriates funds.
|
THE SENATE |
S.B. NO. |
387 |
|
THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2025 |
S.D. 1 |
|
|
STATE OF HAWAII |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
|
|
||
A BILL FOR AN ACT
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:
SECTION 1. The legislature finds that the Daniel K. Inouye International Airport is the only port of entry for dogs and cats entering Hawaii unless a valid neighbor island inspection permit has been issued by the department of agriculture. This requirement encompasses all dogs and cats, including service animals. The legislature further finds that because the airport animal quarantine holding facility is located on Oahu, the animal inspection fee for service animals is waived for those who arrive at the Daniel K. Inouye International Airport. Residents and visitors who arrive at any other port of entry in the State with a service animal are burdened with having to pay the inspection permit fee.
The purpose of this Act is to provide equality and fairness to all persons with disabilities traveling with a service animal by requiring the department of agriculture to be responsible for all neighbor island inspection fees for service animals located in the State and being transported for release at Ellison Onizuka Kona International Airport at Keahole, Kahului Airport, or Lihue Airport.
SECTION 2. Chapter 142, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:
"§142- Service animals; interisland quarantine; permit fees. The department of agriculture shall be responsible for all neighbor island inspection permit fees for a service animal, as defined in section 347-2.5, that is located in the State and is being transported for release at Ellison Onizuka Kona International Airport, Kahului Airport, or Lihue Airport."
SECTION 3. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $ or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2025-2026 and the same sum or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2026-2027 to cover the costs of implementing section 142- , Hawaii Revised Statutes, pursuant to this Act.
The sums appropriated shall be expended by the department of agriculture for the purposes of this Act.
SECTION 4. New statutory material is underscored.
Report Title:
DOA; Service Animal; Neighbor Island Inspection Permit Fees; Appropriations
Description:
Requires the Department of Agriculture to be responsible for all neighbor island inspection permit fees for service animals that are located in the State and are being transported for release at Kona, Kahului, or Lihue airports. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)
The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.
|
THE SENATE |
S.B. NO. |
387 |
|
THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2025 |
|
|
|
STATE OF HAWAII |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
|
|
||
A BILL FOR AN ACT
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:
SECTION 1. The legislature finds that the Daniel K. Inouye International Airport is the only port of entry for all dogs and cats entering Hawaii unless a valid neighbor island inspection permit has been issued by the Hawaii department of agriculture. This requirement encompasses all dogs and cats, including service animals. The legislature further finds that because the airport animal quarantine holding facility is located on Oahu, the animal inspection fee for service animals is waived for those who arrive at the Daniel K. Inouye International Airport. Residents and visitors who arrive at any other port of entry in the State with a service animal are burdened with having to pay the inspection permit fee.
The purpose of this Act is to provide equality and fairness to all persons with disabilities traveling with a service animal by requiring the department of agriculture to be responsible for all neighbor island inspection fees for service animals located in the State and being transported for release at Ellison Onizuka Kona International Airport at Keahole, Kahului Airport, or Lihue Airport.
SECTION 2. Chapter 142, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:
"§142- Service animals; interisland quarantine; permit fees. The department of agriculture shall be responsible for all neighbor island inspection permit fees for a service animal, as defined in section 347-2.5, that is located in the State and is being transported for release at Ellison Onizuka Kona International Airport, Kahului Airport, or Lihue Airport."
SECTION 3. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $ or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2025-2026 and the same sum or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2026-2027 to cover the costs of implementing section 142- , Hawaii Revised Statutes, pursuant to this Act.
The sums appropriated shall be expended by the department of agriculture for the purposes of this Act.
SECTION 4. New statutory material is underscored.
SECTION 5. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2025.
|
INTRODUCED BY: |
_____________________________ |
|
|
|
Report Title:
DOA; Service Animal; Neighbor Island Inspection Permit Fees; Appropriations
Description:
Requires the Department of Agriculture to be responsible for all neighbor island inspection permit fees for service animals that are located in the State and are being transported for release at Kona, Kahului, or Lihue airports. Appropriates funds.
The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.
|
Date
|
Status
|
|---|---|
| Dec 8, 2025 | Carried over to 2026 Regular Session. |
| Feb 4, 2025 | Report adopted; Passed Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referred to WAM. |
| Feb 4, 2025 | Reported from AEN (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 13) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to WAM. |
| Feb 3, 2025 | 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, Rhoads, Awa; Aye(s) with reservations: Senator(s) Richards, DeCoite ; 0 No(es): none; and 0 Excused: none. |
| Jan 24, 2025 | The committee(s) on AEN has scheduled a public hearing on 01-27-25 1:00PM; Conference Room 224 & Videoconference. |
| Jan 21, 2025 | Referred to AEN, WAM. |
| Jan 15, 2025 | Introduced and passed First Reading. |
| Jan 14, 2025 | Pending Introduction. |
|
Date
|
Description
|
Location
|
Votes
|
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 3, 2025 | The committee(s) on AEN recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS | Senate Standing Committee on Agriculture and Environment |
Passed |
This list shows positions taken on this bill by organizations on the date displayed, which is linked to the original source.
Positions by individuals are not included.
|
Organization
|
Position
|
Date
|
|---|---|---|
| Board of Agriculture | *** Against | Jan 27, 2025 |
| Department of Agriculture | *** Against | Jan 27, 2025 |
STAND. COM. REP. NO. 13
Honolulu, Hawaii
RE: S.B. No. 387
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 Agriculture and Environment, to which was referred S.B. No. 387 entitled:
"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO SERVICE ANIMALS,"
begs leave to report as follows:
The purpose and intent of this measure is to require the Department of Agriculture to be responsible for all neighbor island inspection permit fees for service animals that are located in the State and are being transported for release at Kona, Kahului, or Lihue airports, and to appropriate funds accordingly.
Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Agriculture.
Your Committee finds that the Daniel K. Inouye International Airport on Oahu is the only port of entry for dogs and cats entering the State, unless a valid neighbor island inspection permit (NIIP) has been issued by the Department of Agriculture. This is because the Department's Animal Quarantine Program only has staff on Oahu, and as a result, the Department authorizes certain private veterinary facilities to conduct entry inspections for qualified dogs and cats at specific neighbor island airports. While the Department does not charge a fee for a NIIP for a service animal, private veterinary facilities establish and collect their own fees to conduct the necessary inspections to obtain the NIIPs due to a lack of Department facilities at neighbor island airports. Accordingly, to ensure that individuals with disabilities are treated equitably across the State, it is the intent of this measure that the Department of Agriculture cover any costs associated with conducting the necessary inspections to obtain an NIIP for service animals being released at certain neighbor island airports.
Your Committee notes the testimony of the Department of Agriculture requesting permanent, dedicated funding on an annual basis to cover the costs associated with inspections of service animals pursuant to this measure. Your Committee respectfully requests that this issue be examined further by subsequent committees who may choose to deliberate on this measure as it moves through the legislative process.
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.
Your Committee has heard the testimony of the Department of Agriculture requesting permanent dedicated funding for the purposes of this measure on an annual basis and requests that this request be further examined as this measure moves forward in the legislative process.
As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Agriculture and Environment that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 387, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 387, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.
Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Agriculture and Environment,
|
|
|
________________________________ MIKE GABBARD, Chair |
|
|
|
|
|
Date
|
Testimony PDF
|
|---|---|
| Jan 27, 2025 | SB387_TESTIMONY_AEN_01-27-25_.PDF |
Bill Author
