Bill > HB698

This bill increases criminal penalties for animal cruelty offenses in Hawaii, specifically targeting cases involving pet animals and service or law enforcement animals. The legislation upgrades the criminal classification for certain animal cruelty actions: first-degree cruelty to animals involving a pet animal will now be a class B felony instead of a class C felony, and second-degree cruelty to animals will become a class B felony if it involves ten or more pet animals or results in a pet animal's death. The bill also increases penalties for repeat offenses involving service or law enforcement animals, making a second offense a class B felony instead of a class C felony. Additionally, persons convicted of these offenses will be prohibited from owning or possessing animals for a minimum of five years. The bill is based on research showing a correlation between animal abuse and other violent crimes, and responds to a perceived increase in animal cruelty cases in Hawaii, with the Honolulu Police Department reporting 73 animal cruelty crimes in 2023 compared to 58 in 2018. The legislation aims to deter animal cruelty and ensure more appropriate consequences for offenders by implementing stricter legal penalties.

Agriculture and Natural Resources, Justice

https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session/measure_indiv.aspx?billtype=HB&billnumber=698&year=2026