Committee backs pet-friendly public housing bill amid cost questions

The House Housing Committee advanced SB 3011, which seeks to expand pet-friendly policies in public housing, after testimony from Hawaii Public Housing Authority and multiple humane societies and an extended round of questions about costs and operations.

Stephanie Kendrick of the Hawaiian Humane Society said the measure "would open up hundreds of new units for low income pet owners," and the Honolulu area's humane organizations filed support testimony. HPHA stood on its testimony and answered committee questions about cost and implementation.

HPHA representatives said the bill asks for $10,000,000 and several staff positions to implement pet-friendly accommodations, and described plans to study which properties can safely accommodate pets, develop ADA-accessible dog parks at an initial phase of roughly 50 sites, and budget personnel and remediation support. HPHA said its federal public housing pet policy includes a $75 pet deposit and a nominal cleanup fee of about $5 per month for some sites.

Committee members questioned whether the funding ask and proposed infrastructure (dog parks and ADA upgrades) were the state's responsibility or whether pet owners and local governments should share costs. The committee recommended the bill move forward in HD1 with amendments that prohibit animals at large on public housing property and clarify standards; the motion passed with recorded reservations from some members.

Next steps: SB 3011 was recommended with amendments and will go to the Finance Committee for funding decisions.