🚨 Open For Testimony
🟢 Bills Currently Open for Testimony
(Testimony typically closes 24 hours before the hearing)
BILL 1: SB 2580 (SD2) — Film Tax Credit ⭐ PRIORITY
🟢 SB 2580 (SD2) – Motion Picture & Digital Media Film Production Tax Credit
Status:
🟢 OPEN for written testimony
Committee:
FIN – House conference room 308 VIA VIDEO CONFERENCE
Hearing Date
Thursday, 04-02-26 2:00PM
HFA Position:
Strong Support
Why This Bill Matters
- Competitive tax credit percentages that keep productions filming in Hawaiʻi instead of other states
- Removal of per-project caps that currently drive large productions to other jurisdictions
- Inclusion of streaming productions, reflecting the modern entertainment landscape
- Long-term program stability so productions can plan multi-year commitments to Hawaiʻi
- Continued economic activity that benefits local crew, businesses, and communities statewide
What to Say
Please personalize your testimony and make it your own. Adding even 1–2 sentences about your experience strengthens your testimony and carries more weight.
Example:
“I support SB 2580.
Hawaiʻi’s film industry provides quality jobs for local workers and generates hundreds of millions of dollars in economic activity for our state. Modernizing our tax credit program with competitive base percentages and removing restrictive per-project caps will help ensure that productions continue to choose Hawaiʻi over competing states. This bill protects local jobs, supports local businesses, and invests in the long-term economic future of our communities.”
Important Note
Even if you miss the official deadline, we still encourage you to submit testimony. Late testimony is often accepted and becomes part of the official legislative record.
BILL 2: HB 1939 (HD2) — Uplifts / Film Tax Credit ⭐ PRIORITY
🟢 HB 1939 (HD2) – Motion Picture & Digital Media Film Production Tax Credit (Uplifts)
Status:
🟢 OPEN for written testimony
Committee:
Insert Committe
Hearing Date
Insert Date
HFA Position:
Strong Support
Why This Bill Matters
Hawaiʻi’s production workforce is highly skilled and deeply rooted in our communities. According to the Oxford Economics study of NCIS: Hawaiʻi Season Two, 68% of direct in-state spending went to local payroll, supporting 710 direct local jobs and over 1,100 total jobs. Public polling by SMS Research shows 93% of Hawaiʻi residents agree that films about Hawaiʻi should be filmed in Hawaiʻi, and 85% support film tax incentives.
- Uplift incentives that reward productions for hiring Hawaiʻi’s local crew
- Workforce development that strengthens the pipeline of skilled production workers in our state
- Competitive credit percentages that keep Hawaiʻi in the running against other filming jurisdictions
- Recognition that local hire benefits communities through wages spent, taxes paid, and careers sustained in Hawaiʻi
What to Say
Please personalize your testimony and make it your own. Adding even 1–2 sentences about your experience strengthens your testimony and carries more weight.
Example:
“I support HB 1939.
Hawaiʻi has a talented, experienced production workforce that deserves the opportunity to work in their home state. This bill rewards productions that hire local crew, strengthening our communities and ensuring that the economic benefits of filming in Hawaiʻi stay in Hawaiʻi. Uplift incentives for local hire are a proven approach used by other competitive filming jurisdictions, and Hawaiʻi should not be left behind.”
➡️ Submit Testimony
Important Note
Even if you miss the official deadline, we still encourage you to submit testimony. Late testimony is often accepted and becomes part of the official legislative record.
BILL 3: SB 2578 (SD1) — Film Commission
🟢 SB 2578 (SD1) – Hawaiʻi Film Commission
Status:
🟢 OPEN for written testimony
Committee:
FIN – House conference room 308 VIA VIDEO CONFERENCE.
Hearing Date
Thursday, 04-02-26 2:00PM
HFA Position:
Support
Why This Bill Matters
SB 2578 establishes the Hawaiʻi Film Commission within the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism (DBEDT) to provide dedicated oversight, strategic planning, and industry coordination for the state’s film and digital media sector. A standalone commission would give Hawaiʻi’s film industry the focused leadership it needs to grow sustainably and compete with other states.
Hawaiʻi’s film industry contributed $168.7 million in qualified expenditures in 2023 alone, yet the state lacks a dedicated commission to strategically develop and support this economic engine. Other leading production states have established film offices or commissions with clear mandates and industry representation.
- Dedicated leadership and strategic planning for Hawaiʻi’s film industry within state government
- Industry coordination that streamlines permitting, workforce development, and production support
- Representation for industry workers and stakeholders in commission governance
- Long-term strategic growth for a sector that generates significant economic impact statewide
What to Say
Please personalize your testimony and make it your own. Adding even 1–2 sentences about your experience strengthens your testimony and carries more weight.
Example:
“I support SB 2578.
Hawaiʻi’s film industry has grown significantly but lacks a dedicated state commission to coordinate its long-term development. Establishing a Film Commission within DBEDT would provide the focused leadership needed to support productions, develop our local workforce, and ensure that Hawaiʻi remains a premier filming destination. This is an investment in strategic growth for an industry that already contributes hundreds of millions of dollars to our state economy.”
➡️ Submit Testimony
Important Note
Even if you miss the official deadline, we still encourage you to submit testimony. Late testimony is often accepted and becomes part of the official legislative record.
BILL 4: SB 3085 (SD2) — Film Studio Exemption
🟢 SB 3085 (SD2) – Film Studio Use Exemption
Status:
🟢 OPEN for written testimony
Committee:
Insert Committe
Hearing Date
Insert Date
HFA Position:
Support
Why This Bill Matters
Without adequate studio facilities, even the most competitive tax credit program cannot attract productions that require purpose-built stages and production support infrastructure. This bill removes barriers to studio development and use, making Hawaiʻi a more complete and attractive production destination.
- Development and use of permanent film studio infrastructure in Hawaiʻi
- Year-round production activity that creates stable, ongoing employment for local crew
- Long-term production commitments from studios and streamers that require dedicated facilities
- A complete production ecosystem that complements Hawaiʻi’s natural locations with professional studio spaces
What to Say
Example:
“I support SB 3085.
Hawaiʻi’s natural beauty is a world-class filming location, but productions also need professional studio facilities to commit to long-term work here. Removing barriers to studio development and use will help attract the kind of sustained production activity that creates year-round jobs for local crew and ongoing economic benefits for our communities.”
➡️ Submit Testimony
Important Note
Even if you miss the official deadline, we still encourage you to submit testimony. Late testimony is often accepted and becomes part of the official legislative record.
BILL 5: HB 2590 (HD1) — GET Relief
🟢 HB 2590 (HD1) – General Excise Tax Relief
Status:
🟢 OPEN for written testimony
Committee:
Insert Committe
Hearing Date
Insert Date
HFA Position:
Support
Why This Bill Matters
- Reduced cost burden on productions operating in Hawaiʻi
- Greater cost competitiveness with other filming jurisdictions that do not impose equivalent taxes
- Direct benefits to local businesses and vendors in the production supply chain
- A more attractive overall business environment for productions considering Hawaiʻi
What to Say
Example:
“I support HB 2590.
The General Excise Tax adds significant costs to production activity in Hawaiʻi that competing states do not impose. Providing relief in this area makes our state more attractive for productions and directly benefits the local businesses and workers who support the industry. This is a practical step toward keeping production spending in Hawaiʻi.”
➡️ Submit Testimony
Important Note
Even if you miss the official deadline, we still encourage you to submit testimony. Late testimony is often accepted and becomes part of the official legislative record.
BILL 6: HB 1576 (HD1) — Filming Notification & Transparency
🟢 HB 1576 (HD1) – Filming Notice & Transparency
Status:
🟢 OPEN for written testimony
Committee:
Insert Committe
Hearing Date
Insert Date
HFA Position:
Support
Why This Bill Matters
Good community relations are essential to maintaining the broad public support that Hawaiʻi’s film industry currently enjoys. SMS Research polling shows 94% of Hawaiʻi residents believe filming is good for the state — transparent communication helps maintain that trust.
- Public awareness of filming activity
- Clear communication between productions and communities
- Predictable and transparent permitting processes
- Stronger industry-community relationships
What to Say
Example:
“I support HB 1576.
Transparency and communication around filming activity are important for maintaining strong relationships between productions and the community. Policies in this area should be balanced to support public awareness while also ensuring a stable and efficient production environment.”
➡️ Submit Testimony
Important Note
Even if you miss the official deadline, we still encourage you to submit testimony. Late testimony is often accepted and becomes part of the official legislative record.
