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SCR 94

URGING THE HAWAII DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE OF THE COUNTY OF MAUI TO TAKE FURTHER MEANINGFUL ACTION TO ADDRESS THE AXIS DEER OVERPOPULATION.

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Henry Aquino and 9 co-sponsors

Urges HDOA and Maui to expand in-state deer meat inspection/processing, form a joint task force, and report by Nov 30, 2025 to reduce axis deer impacts and boost venison access.

Received from House (Hse. Com. No. 722).
#axisdeeroverpopulation #departmentofagriculture #jointtaskforce #mauicounty #report
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Bill Summary · SCR 94

Summary — SCR 94 (2025)

Title: Urging the Hawaii Department of Agriculture and Department of Agriculture of the County of Maui to take further meaningful action to address the axis deer overpopulation
Classification: Concurrent resolution (non‑binding)
Status (as provided): Received from House (Hse. Com. No. 722). Introduced: June 10, 2025.
Related: HCR 200, SR 77 (companions)

Purpose / Intent

SCR 94 urges state and county agricultural authorities to take coordinated, meaningful steps to address an overpopulation of axis deer on Maui. The resolution frames axis deer as both an ecological problem (overgrazing native plants, increasing erosion and fire/flood vulnerability) and a potential local food resource (venison). It encourages actions that would make processing and distribution of locally‑hunted deer meat more feasible and affordable, thereby reducing deer numbers while increasing community access to local protein.

Key provisions

  • Urges the Hawaii Department of Agriculture (HDOA) and the Department of Agriculture of the County of Maui to:
    1. Implement policies to make in‑state USDA‑certified inspectors, certified inspections, and certified processing facilities more accessible, capable, and affordable for local hunters who wish to sell or gift venison.
    2. Implement policies to increase the number of in‑state meat inspectors certified by the U.S. Department of Agriculture for game mammals.
  • Requests the HDOA and Maui County Department of Agriculture to convene a joint task force to design and oversee a County of Maui program that, in coordination with USDA‑certified processing facilities, will investigate and develop plans to make processing and distribution of locally‑hunted axis deer meat affordable.
  • Requests the joint task force to submit a report to the Legislature by November 30, 2025. The report should describe accomplishments and barriers, include findings and recommendations, and may include proposed legislation.
  • Directs that certified copies of the resolution be transmitted to the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture, FSIS Administrator, Deputy Director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Governor, state Board of Agriculture and Board of Land and Natural Resources chairs, Maui County Mayor, all Maui County Council members, and the Maui County Department of Agriculture director.

Who would be affected

  • State and county agriculture agencies (HDOA; Maui County Department of Agriculture) — asked to act and to convene a task force.
  • USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) — implicated because changes discussed involve USDA‑certified inspection and processing requirements and the number of certified inspectors.
  • Local hunters and hunters’ groups — potential beneficiaries if processing/inspection becomes more accessible and affordable.
  • Local meat processors — may see changes in demand or regulatory interactions.
  • Maui residents and community food programs — could receive increased venison donations or local sales, improving food access and potentially lowering deer impacts on ecosystems.
  • Natural resources/native vegetation — intended benefit from reduced deer pressure.

Practical effect and limitations

  • SCR 94 is a concurrent resolution — it expresses legislative intent and urges action but does not itself create binding law or appropriate funds. Actual changes to inspection capacity, processing economics, or USDA certification depend on agency action and federal (USDA/FSIS) rules.
  • The requested November 30, 2025 report is intended to produce actionable recommendations, including potential statutory changes that could be pursued later.

Timeline / Procedural notes

  • Introduced (per provided metadata): June 10, 2025.
  • Joint task force report requested by: November 30, 2025.
  • Related committee activity and amendments are reflected in the bill record (SD1 amendment language clarifies references to “in‑state inspectors certified by the U.S. Department of Agriculture,” etc.).

This resolution is designed to build a coordinated, administrative pathway toward (a) reducing axis deer impacts on Maui ecosystems and (b) expanding safe, local use of venison as a community food resource, while seeking agency study and recommendations for next steps.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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