SB 1641 Hawaii Senate · 2026 Regular Session

RELATING TO THE STATE OF HAWAII FILM COMMISSION.

Summary

Establishes the Hawaii Film Authority within the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism and transfers the rights, powers, functions, and duties of the Hawaii Film Office to the Authority. Establishes the Hawaii Film Authority Board within the Hawaii Film Authority. Establishes the Film Industry and Development Special Fund. Renames the Hawaii Film and Creative Industries Development Special Fund as the Hawaii Creative Industries Development Special Fund and excludes media and film from the definition of creative industries. Allows the Creative Industries Development Special Fund to be used for the support and development of facilities and other initiatives to grow the State's creative industries. Requires annual reports to the Legislature. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

Bill status passed both 4 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2025

Committee Review

Mar 2025

Senate Passage

Mar 2025

House Passage

Apr 2025

Governor

Introduced Jan 23, 2025 Last action Dec 8, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 4 comparisons

What changed between versions

SB1641_SD1 → SB1641_SD2 · 8 edits

MODERATE

This bill fundamentally restructures the State's film industry support by renaming the 'Hawaii State Film Office' to the 'State of Hawaii Film Commission' and creating a new governing 'Board' to oversee it. The changes shift the focus from 'film and media' to 'film' specifically, remove 'media' from the definition of creative industries, and transfer all powers and employees from the old office to the new commission. A new 'Film Industry Development Special Fund' is established to replace the previous fund, with updated rules on how money is collected and spent.

Scope change

The bill narrows the scope of the agency's mission from supporting both film and media industries to focusing exclusively on the film industry. It also redefines 'creative industries' to explicitly exclude film, separating it from other sectors like arts and music.

SCOPE

The agency name changed from 'Hawaii State Film Office' to 'State of Hawaii Film Commission', and a new 'Commission Board' was created to govern it.

The agency's mission was narrowed from supporting 'film and media' industries to supporting only the 'film' industry.

DEFINITION

The definition of 'creative industries' was updated to include arts and music but explicitly exclude film.

FISCAL

A new 'Film Industry Development Special Fund' was created, replacing the previous 'Hawaii Film and Creative Industries Development Special Fund'.

The sources of revenue for the fund were updated, removing references to 'media' and adding specific revenues from film production tax credits.

REQUIREMENT

Board member appointment rules were changed to prohibit serving consecutive four-year terms for most members.

TIMELINE

The effective date of the Act was changed from July 1, 2025, to July 1, 2050.

ENFORCEMENT

Provisions regarding the transfer of employees and their civil service status were expanded and clarified.

SB1641 → SB1641_HD1 · 6 edits

MODERATE

This bill fundamentally restructures Hawaii's film support system by replacing the 'State of Hawaii Film Commission' with a new 'Hawaii Film Authority.' The Authority is granted broader powers to invest in projects, manage facilities, and act as a producer, while the original fund is split into two separate funds: one for the film industry and another for the broader creative economy. The bill also transfers all existing staff, assets, and duties from the old office to the new Authority.

Scope change

The bill expands the scope from a commission focused on film and media to a broader 'Hawaii Film Authority' with investment and production capabilities. It also separates the funding streams, creating a distinct fund for creative industries (excluding film) to support other sectors like music and design.

SCOPE

Replaced the 'State of Hawaii Film Commission' with the 'Hawaii Film Authority,' which is granted new powers to invest in film projects, manage production facilities, and serve as an assistant or co-producer.

REQUIREMENT

Established a new 'Hawaii Film Authority Board' with a specific composition including representatives from the Governor's office, the Department of Education, the University of Hawaii, labor unions, and industry organizations.

Added provisions to transfer all existing employees, assets, and contracts from the Hawaii Film Office to the new Hawaii Film Authority without loss of benefits or seniority.

FISCAL

Split the original 'Hawaii Film and Creative Industries Development Special Fund' into two separate funds: the 'Film Industry Development Special Fund' for film-specific activities and the 'Creative Industries Fund' for other sectors like music and design.

DEFINITION

Explicitly excluded 'film' from the definition of 'creative industries' to legally separate the two new funding streams.

TIMELINE

Set the effective date of the Act to July 1, 3000, likely a placeholder for future legislative review, while the original bill was set for July 1, 2025.

Floor votes

How they voted

This bill passed the Senate by voice vote (no roll call recorded).

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Amendments

Apr 10, 2025

Amended

Senate disagrees with House amendments.

upper

Apr 10, 2025

Introduced

Received from House (Hse. Com. No. 700).

upper

Apr 8, 2025

Lower · Passed

Passed Third Reading as amended in HD 2 with Representative(s) Iwamoto voting aye with reservations; Representative(s) Muraoka voting no (1) and Representative(s) Cochran, Marten excused (2). Transmitted to Senate.

lower

Mar 28, 2025

Lower · Passed

The committee on FIN recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 14 Ayes: Representative(s) Yamashita, Takenouchi, Grandinetti, Holt, Keohokapu-Lee Loy, Kitagawa, Kusch, Lamosao, Lee, M., Miyake, Morikawa, Templo, Alcos, Reyes Oda; Ayes with reservations: none; 0 Noes: none; and 2 Excused: Representative(s) Hussey, Ward.

lower

Mar 21, 2025

Committee

Reported from ECD (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1495) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to FIN.

lower

Mar 19, 2025

Lower · Passed

The committee on ECD recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 7 Ayes: Representative(s) Ilagan, Hussey, Holt, Tam, Templo, Todd, Matsumoto; Ayes with reservations: none; 0 Noes: none; and 0 Excused: none.

lower

Mar 6, 2025

Committee

Referred to ECD, FIN, referral sheet 19

lower

Mar 4, 2025

Introduced

Received from Senate (Sen. Com. No. 385) in amended form (SD 2).

lower

Mar 4, 2025

Upper · Passed

Report Adopted; Passed Third Reading, as amended (SD 2). Ayes, 22; Aye(s) with reservations: none. Noes, 2 (Senator(s) Awa, DeCorte). Excused, 1 (Senator(s) Lee, C.). Transmitted to House.

upper

Feb 19, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on WAM recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in WAM were as follows: 13 Aye(s): Senator(s) Dela Cruz, Moriwaki, Aquino, DeCoite, Elefante, Hashimoto, Inouye, Kanuha, Kidani, Kim, Lee, C., Wakai; Aye(s) with reservations: Senator(s) Fevella ; 0 No(es): none; and 0 Excused: none.

upper

Feb 14, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on WAM will hold a public decision making on 02-19-25 10:02AM; Conference Room 211 & Videoconference.

upper

Feb 13, 2025

Upper · Passed

Report adopted; Passed Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referred to WAM.

upper

Feb 13, 2025

Committee

Reported from EDT (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 479) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to WAM.

upper

Feb 11, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on EDT recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in EDT were as follows: 4 Aye(s): Senator(s) DeCoite, Wakai, Kim, Awa; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 1 Excused: Senator(s) Fukunaga.

upper

Feb 3, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on EDT has scheduled a public hearing on 02-06-25 1:15PM; Conference Room 229 & Videoconference.

upper

Jan 27, 2025

Committee

Referred to EDT, WAM.

upper

Jan 23, 2025

Introduced

Introduced.

upper

1 primary · 0 co-sponsors