Bill > HB547

This bill establishes a Spay and Neuter Special Fund to address animal overpopulation in Hawaii by creating multiple funding mechanisms and an advisory committee to manage the fund. The fund will be administered by the Department of Budget and Finance and can receive money from three primary sources: state income tax refund designations (where taxpayers can choose to donate $5 from their refund), revenue from special number plates with an animal-related design, and legislative appropriations, private gifts, or other donations. An advisory committee consisting of five members from various animal welfare and veterinary organizations will help establish eligibility criteria for fund expenditures, which will focus on providing spaying and neutering surgeries and associated veterinary care to reduce pet overpopulation and free-roaming cat reproduction. The bill requires the advisory committee to submit an annual report detailing fund disbursements and allows committee members to be reimbursed for expenses but not paid for their service. Additionally, the bill authorizes the creation of special number plates that will generate fundraising fees for the fund, with specific design requirements to ensure the plates are informative and appropriate.

Agriculture and Natural Resources, Budget and Finance, Business and Industry

https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session/measure_indiv.aspx?billtype=HB&billnumber=547&year=2026