Bill > HCR200

This joint resolution urges the State Department of Agriculture and the Maui County Department of Agriculture to take meaningful action to address the axis deer overpopulation problem in Hawaii. The resolution highlights the challenges of deer overpopulation, including overgrazing of native plants and limited meat processing options, and proposes several key actions. Specifically, it calls for implementing policies to make USDA-certified meat inspections and processing facilities more accessible and affordable for local hunters, increasing the number of in-state USDA-certified meat inspectors for game mammals, and establishing a joint task force to develop plans for processing locally-hunted axis deer meat and distributing venison to the community. The resolution also requests that the task force submit a report with its findings and recommendations to the Legislature by November 30, 2025, and directs certified copies of the resolution to be sent to various government officials and agencies, including the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture, the Governor of Hawaii, and the Mayor of Maui County.

Agriculture and Natural Resources, Budget and Finance

https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session/measure_indiv.aspx?billtype=HCR&billnumber=200&year=2025