STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2852

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 3085

S.D. 2

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 S.B. No. 3085, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE HAWAII FILM STUDIO,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to streamline the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism's use and management of the Hawaii film studio facility at Diamond Head to better meet the needs and production timelines of the facility's tenants.

More specifically, this measure exempts dispositions of land set aside for filming and studio operation from prior approval by the Board of Land and Natural Resources.

Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism; Creative Industries Division of the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism; Department of Land and Natural Resources; Chamber of Commerce Hawaii; and Hawaii Film Alliance.

Your Committee finds that the State has invested significant sums in capital improvements at the Hawaii film studio located at Diamond Head. Nevertheless, potential tenants are challenged to meet their production deadlines given the protracted lease approval process. A streamlined approval process, as proposed by this measure, will help ensure the best use of the State's investment in the studio facility, which is intended to support local film, media, and creative industries.

Your Committee has amended this measure by repealing the Act on June 30, 2030, if the Hawaii film studio is still at the Diamond Head location as of that date.

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 S.B. No. 3085, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 3085, S.D. 2.

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

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DONOVAN M. DELA CRUZ, Chair