STAND. COM. REP. NO. 425-26

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2026

RE: H.B. No. 1576

H.D. 1

Honorable Nadine K. Nakamura

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2026

State of Hawaii

Madame:

Your Committee on Economic Development & Technology, to which was referred H.B. No. 1576 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO FILMING,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to:

(1) Require the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism (Department) to provide public notice of certain information whenever a production obtains a permit or enters into a memorandum of agreement or understanding with the Department to film a visually recorded production at certain state-administered locations;

(2) Require the Department to provide public notice of certain information whenever a production registers for pre-qualification or is determined to qualify for the Motion Picture, Digital Media, and Film Production Income Tax Credit and simultaneously post notice on a publicly accessible part of its website; and

(3) Allow individuals to sign up to receive notice by electronic mail or postal mail.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawaiʻi Film Alliance; Island Film Group; IATSE 665; CARES; and nine individuals. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism.

Your Committee finds that timely and accessible information regarding filming activity and tax credit participation promotes transparency, supports community awareness, and improves communication between productions and the public. Your Committee further finds that the Hawaii Film Studio is an important asset for local productions seeking space for shooting, soundstages, and related activities; however, the Studio is currently subjected to unnecessary administrative burdens, including a requirement that the Studio receive approval of new tenants from the Board of Land and Natural Resources. This measure seeks to promote transparency and reduce administrative burdens in the film industry by requiring public notice and disclosure for certain film and production activity. Your Committee finds that providing an exemption for dispositions of lands set aside for filming and film studio operation from prior approval of the Board of Land and Natural Resources will further streamline processes in the film, media, and other creative industries.

Accordingly, your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Removing the requirement that the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism provide public notice once per year per production;

(2) Inserting a provision exempting dispositions of lands set aside for filming and film studio operation from prior approval of the Board of Land and Natural Resources;

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

(4) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for 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 H.B. No. 1576, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1576, 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