Bill > SB570

This bill addresses the growing population of goats on Hawaii island by modifying existing wildlife management regulations. Specifically, the bill prohibits the Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) from establishing or implementing bag limits (restrictions on the number of goats that can be hunted) in public hunting areas. The legislature recognizes that goats are becoming a nuisance in neighborhoods, causing safety issues on roadways, and potentially damaging local ecosystems, as they are non-native animals without natural predators. By removing bag limits, the bill aims to encourage hunting as a method of population control and conservation. The amendment specifically modifies Section 183D-4 of the Hawaii Revised Statutes, adding language that explicitly prevents the DLNR from setting bag limits on goats in public hunting areas, while maintaining the department's broader responsibilities for wildlife management and conservation. The bill will take effect immediately upon approval.

Agriculture and Natural Resources

https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session/measure_indiv.aspx?billtype=SB&billnumber=570&year=2025