STAND. COM. REP. NO. 969-26

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2026

RE: H.B. No. 1943

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. 1943, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to:

(1) Expand the purposes of the establishment and operation of out-of-state offices to include collaboration with tourism agencies and stakeholders to execute tourism strategies;

(2) Require and appropriate funds for the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism to establish an out‑of-state office in Seoul, Republic of Korea; and

(3) Appropriate funds for the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism's Beijing, Philippines, and Taipei offices to promote "Made in Hawaii" branded products and increase the export of Hawaii products.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Ala Moana-Kakaʻako Neighborhood Board No. 11; Chamber of Commerce Hawaii; The Maritime Group; Retail Merchants of Hawaiʻi; and two individuals. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Business Development and Support Division of 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. 1943, 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