Finance committee advances feral-chicken bill despite strong public opposition and reservations

The House Committee on Finance advanced HB2561 HD2, a measure aimed at addressing feral chickens on public land, after a lengthy public record that included rescue-group opposition, cultural concerns and some municipal support.

Brian Byrne of Trooper's Chicken Rescue testified in opposition, arguing the bill emphasizes enforcement and post-capture response without measurable population-reduction benchmarks and without funding for prevention or rescue infrastructure. "Designation alone does not reduce population," Byrne said and urged the committee to prioritize root-cause solutions and partnerships with rescue organizations (SEG 2011-2019).

Multiple community members testified against the bill as written, citing legal and cultural concerns and warning of disproportionate enforcement impacts. John Itanaga and Greg Mesakian urged the committee to delay and to work further with stakeholders; Mesakian also raised concerns about potential cruelty and steep fines for residents who feed birds (SEG 2086-2154).

Other testifiers, including county officials and some residents, supported the measure and described feral chickens as a public-health nuisance that has caused property owner costs and quality-of-life impacts. Christine Andrews (on Zoom) urged the committee to remove chickens from public spaces and said local boards had lacked effective remedies (SEG 2223-2249).

During decision making the committee adopted the recommendation to pass HB2561 HD2. The clerk recorded reservations from multiple representatives and a no vote from Representative Alcos; the chair noted the bill contains a defective date and that further conversations will occur in the Senate. The committee directed staff to note stakeholder concerns in the committee report (SEG 2679-2723).

Lawmakers and witnesses emphasized that the bill will require follow-up discussions on enforcement resources, measures to protect cultural practices, and whether funding should prioritize rescue and long-term population management.