STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1495

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2025

RE: S.B. No. 1641

S.D. 2

H.D. 1

Honorable Nadine K. Nakamura

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2025

State of Hawaii

Madame:

Your Committee on Economic Development & Technology, to which was referred S.B. No. 1641, S.D. 2, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE STATE OF HAWAII FILM COMMISSION,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to:

(1) Establish the State of Hawaii Film Commission and transfer the rights, powers, functions, and duties of the Hawaii Film Office to the Commission;

(2) Establish the State of Hawaii Film Commission Board within the State of Hawaii Film Commission;

(3) Establish the Film Industry Development Special Fund;

(4) Rename the Hawaii Film and Creative Industries Development Special Fund as the Hawaii Creative Industries Development Special Fund and exclude media and film from the definition of creative industries;

(5) Allow the Creative Industries Development Special Fund to be used for the support and development of public facilities and other initiatives to grow the State's creative industries; and

(6) Appropriate funds.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism; Hawaii State AFL-CIO; Hawaii Teamsters Local 996; Pride at Work–Hawaii; Maui Chamber of Commerce; Kapolei Chamber of Commerce; and two individuals. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of the Attorney General; Honolulu Film Office; and IATSE Local 665.

Your Committee finds that Hawaii's film industry presents a significant opportunity for economic growth, job creation, and global cultural recognition. Your Committee believes that establishing a film commission would help streamline industry activity, attract investment, and improve local production capacity.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Changing the name of the State of Hawaii Film Commission and State of Hawaii Film Commission Board to the Hawaii Film Authority and Hawaii Film Authority Board, respectively;

(2) Amending the membership of the Hawaii Film Authority Board;

(3) Changing the effective date to July 1, 3000, to encourage further discussion; and

(4) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Economic Development & Technology that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 1641, S.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 1641, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Finance.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Economic Development & Technology,

____________________________

GREGGOR ILAGAN, Chair