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Public health, animal-welfare groups urge deferral of bill allowing private killing of mongoose and feral chickens
Summary
Witnesses including animal-welfare and public-health advocates told the Senate Committee on Agriculture and Environment they oppose HB980 HD1, which would clarify when mongoose and some feral birds may be killed and permit private disposal; the committee deferred decision making to March 17 because it lacked quorum.
A Senate Committee on Agriculture and Environment hearing on March 14, 2025 featured strong opposition from animal-welfare and public-health witnesses to HB980 HD1, a bill that would amend state law authorizing the killing of mongoose and clarify circumstances under which feral chickens and other birds may be killed and disposed of by private parties.
The bill drew concerns from public-health and animal-welfare organizations that said permitting untrained private individuals to kill and dispose of birds could worsen disease spread during an ongoing avian influenza outbreak.
Inga Gibson, executive director of Pono Advocacy, told…
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