STAND. COM. REP. NO. 781-26

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 Finance, to which was referred H.B. No. 1576, H.D. 1, 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 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 of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism 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;

(3) Allow individuals to sign up to receive such public notice by electronic mail or postal mail; and

(4) Provide an exemption for dispositions of lands set aside for filming and film studio operation from the requirement to obtain prior approval of the Board of Land and Natural Resources.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawaii Teamsters Local 996; Hawaiʻi Film Alliance; Island Film Group; Hawaii Media Inc.; Activities & Attractions Association of Hawaiʻi, Inc.; and two individuals. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from one individual. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism.

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. 1576, H.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

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

____________________________

CHRIS TODD, Chair