Earlier this month, New Jersey became the first American state to ban the use of any wild animals from being used in circus performances. Just a week later, Hawaiians passed a similar piece of legislation, making them the second.

While there is already legislation in 145 US localities that offer certain limitations and restrictions on animal performances, New Jersey and Hawaii's trail-blazing measures ban the use of any wild animal species, including elephants, tigers, lions, bears, and primates, in circuses and traveling shows.

New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy signed "Nosey's Law" into effect in mid-December after it was unanimously approved by the Senate in June.

Hawaii Governor David Ige approved his state's groundbreaking piece of reform after he signed a proposal to amend Chapter 4-71, Hawaii Administrative Rules, entitled "Plant and Non-Domestic Animal Quarantine Non-Domestic Animal Import Rules."

The proposal was previously approved in September by the Executive Board of the Hawaii Board of Agriculture with a vote of 6 to 3 in response to a legal petition that was filed by the Humane Society of the United States in 2014.

"These reforms in Hawaii and New Jersey have been a long time coming," said Kitty Block, acting president and CEO of the Humane Society. "Thank you to Hawaii Governor Ige and New Jersey Governor Murphy for ending the year with these sweeping measures."

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