STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3702

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.B. No. 1576

H.D. 1

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2026

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred H.B. No. 1576, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO FILMING,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to facilitate transparency in the State's film industry.

More specifically, this measure:

(1) Requires the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism to provide public notice of certain information and to simultaneously post the notice on a publicly accessible part of its website whenever a production:

(A) Obtains a permit or enters into a memorandum of agreement or understanding with the Department to film a visually recorded production at certain locations; or

(B) Registers for pre-qualification or is determined to qualify for the Motion Picture, Digital Media, and Film Production Income Tax Credit;

(2) Allows individuals to sign up to receive the public notice by electronic mail or postal mail; and

(3) Provides an exemption from prior approval of the Board of Land and Natural Resources for dispositions of lands set aside for filming and film studio operation.

Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the Hawaii Film Alliance, Hawaii Teamsters Local 996, and six individuals.

Your Committee received written comments in opposition to this measure from the Libertarian Party of Hawaii and one individual.

Your Committee received written comments on this measure from the Creative Industries Division of the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism.

Your Committee finds that increased transparency and the public accessibility of information regarding film productions and related tax credit activities are necessary to foster trust between the community and the State's film industry. Your Committee believes that by requiring timely public notice of production permits, agreements, and tax credit qualifications, as well as providing this information on a publicly accessible website, this measure promotes accountability and ensures that residents are adequately informed when filming activities occur at state-administered sites.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1576, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,

________________________________

DONOVAN M. DELA CRUZ, Chair