STAND. COM. REP. NO. 775

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2025

RE: H.B. No. 1494

H.D. 2

Honorable Nadine K. Nakamura

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2025

State of Hawaii

Madame:

Your Committee on Higher Education, to which was referred H.B. No. 1494, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO SPORTS FACILITIES,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to:

(1) Lapse appropriations of general obligation bond funds previously authorized for the planning, design, and construction of a stadium in Halawa by the Stadium Authority;

(2) Authorize the issuance of general obligation bonds for a new or upgraded stadium;

(3) Rename the Stadium Authority and Stadium Development District as the Halawa Redevelopment Authority and Halawa Redevelopment District, respectively;

(4) Authorize the Halawa Development Authority to sell the naming rights to a stadium located within the Halawa Development District and operated by the Authority; and

(5) Permit the display of the name of an entity that has purchased naming rights to a stadium operated by the Halawa Redevelopment Authority on the exterior of the stadium.

Prior to the hearing on this measure, your Committee posted and made available for public review a proposed H.D. 2, which reverts to the contents of this measure as it was introduced. The proposed H.D. 2:

(1) Lapses appropriations of general obligation bond funds previously authorized for the planning, design, and construction of a stadium in Halawa by the Stadium Authority;

(2) Authorizes the issuance of general obligation bonds for the upgrade of the stadium on the University of Hawaii at Manoa campus; and

(3) Renames the Stadium Authority and Stadium Development District as the Halawa Redevelopment Authority and Halawa Redevelopment District, respectively.

Your Committee received testimony in support of the proposed H.D. 2 from one individual. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to the proposed H.D. 2 from the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism; Stadium Authority; and General Contractors Association of Hawaii. Your Committee received comments on the proposed H.D. 2 from the University of Hawaiʻi System.

Your Committee finds that the proposed H.D. 2 will allow for the upgrade of the stadium located at the University of Hawaii Manoa campus, in the event that the New Aloha Stadium and Entertainment District project is not able to be completed. Your Committee further finds that the proposed H.D. 2 protects the interests of the University of Hawaii's football program in its quest to remain compliant with NCAA stadium seating requirements.

Your Committee has amended this measure by adopting the proposed H.D. 2.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Higher Education that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1494, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it be referred to your Committee on Finance in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1494, H.D. 2.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Higher Education,

____________________________

ANDREW TAKUYA GARRETT, Chair