STAND. COM. REP. NO. 753-24

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2024

RE: H.B. No. 2664

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2024

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred H.B. No. 2664 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) Transfer certain special fund monies earmarked for the development of a new stadium in Halawa to the general fund;

(3) Reappropriate those funds and authorize the issuance of general obligation bonds to plan, design, and construct a new stadium at the University of Hawaii at Manoa campus;

(4) Rename the Stadium Authority as the Halawa Redevelopment Authority and the Stadium Development District as the Halawa Redevelopment District; and

(5) Amend the powers and duties of the Halawa Redevelopment Authority.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from Church of the Crossroads and one individual. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from the Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism; Department of Accounting and General Services; and Stadium Authority. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the University of Hawaiʻi System.

Your Committee finds that the lack of progress regarding the New Aloha Stadium and Entertainment District project in Halawa has been detrimental to the State. Your Committee further finds that general obligation bond revenues should be utilized for capital improvement projects that provide affordable housing and help facilitate the University of Hawaii in providing a stadium that meets National Collegiate Athletics Association requirements.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Changing the general obligation bonds authorization amount to $211,000,000 and specifying that the proceeds shall be used to upgrade the football field at the University of Hawaii at Manoa campus to meet National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I football stadium requirements;

(2) Deleting the general fund appropriation to the University of Hawaii for the purpose of a new stadium on the Manoa campus;

(3) Changing the effective date to June 30, 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 Finance that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2664, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2664, H.D. 1, and be placed on the calendar for Third Reading.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Finance,

____________________________

KYLE T. YAMASHITA, Chair