Amends the Motion Picture, Digital Media, and Film Production Income Tax Credit (tax credit) by, beginning for costs incurred after 12/31/2025, providing an additional credit to qualified productions with a workforce of at least eighty percent local hires; requiring each taxpayer claiming the tax credit to submit an independent third-party certification verifying certain information to the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism; increasing the per-production cap amount to $20,000,000 and excluding qualified productions that incur at least $60,000,000 of qualified production costs from the per-production cap amount; changing the aggregate cap amount to $60,000,000; providing that, beginning for costs incurred after 12/31/2023, if the total amount of tax credits claimed in a year is less than the aggregate cap amount, the cap for the subsequent year shall be increased by the unclaimed amount; defining "streaming platform" and amending the definition of "qualified production" to include certain streaming productions; and extending the sunset date of the tax credit to 1/1/2038. Exempts from the general excise tax certain amounts received by a motion picture project employer from a client company that represent reimbursements for costs paid or incurred by the client company for reasonable employment-related costs of motion picture project workers or loan-out companies. (CD1)
Authorizes the Division of Animal Industry of the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity to adopt, amend, and repeal rules to develop an evaluation and authorization process to import and transport aquatic livestock in the State. Requires the Aquaculture Program to develop a biological aquatic risk-based framework and biocontainment standards for the aquatic livestock evaluation and authorization process. (CD1)
This bill allocates supplemental funding to the Hawaii Judiciary for the 2025-2027 fiscal biennium. It provides additional budget resources to support court operations and judicial services during this period. The bill directly affects the Judiciary's budget planning and resource allocation. (Note: As a procedural funding measure, not a policy change, the summary is concise per guidelines.)
Requires the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism, in collaboration with the Department of Taxation, to study the effectiveness of tax expenditures, prepare summary descriptive statistics, submit annual reports to the Legislature, and develop appropriate schedules and tax return forms to collect adequate information for evaluation of tax expenditures. Authorizes Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism staff to access certain information on tax returns to conduct evaluations of tax expenditures. Applies to taxable years beginning after 12/31/2026. (CD1)
Prohibits any law enforcement agency or law enforcement official from entering into an agreement under federal law that permits state or county agencies to engage in immigration enforcement. Prohibits law enforcement agencies and law enforcement officials from engaging in certain immigration-related actions, except under limited circumstances. (CD1)
HB 2094 increases daily pay for jurors and prospective jurors who attend court, raising the amount each person receives per day of actual court service. The bill directly affects individuals summoned for jury duty across the state. It includes a funding appropriation to cover the increased payments, ensuring courts can implement the higher compensation rate. The change aims to improve compensation for citizens fulfilling this civic obligation.
Increases the expenditure limit and the amount of partial public campaign financing available for all elective offices. Adjusts the minimum amount of qualifying contributions certain candidates must receive to participate in the program. Increases the matching fund payments for excess qualifying contributions. Appropriates funds for the program. Effective 11/4/2026. (CD1)
HB 2547 allows the Director of Finance to invest certain state funds in short-term, investment-grade corporate bonds. This bill directly affects state financial management by expanding permissible investment options for unspent state moneys. The key provision authorizes these specific bond investments while requiring they meet strict credit quality standards. The bill is procedural in nature, focusing solely on enabling this investment method without creating new regulations or altering state obligations.
This bill officially designates the Hawaii Symphony Orchestra as the "State of Hawaii Symphony Orchestra." It requires the orchestra to submit annual reports to the Hawaii Legislature and includes funding appropriations for its operations. The bill does not change existing laws or create new policies; it simply establishes the orchestra's official state designation and outlines reporting and funding mechanisms. This affects the Hawaii Symphony Orchestra directly as its official state representative.
Removes county-specific expenditure restrictions for funds in the Automated Speed Enforcement Systems Program Special Fund. Authorizes the Department of Transportation to reissue procurement for the Automated Speed Enforcement Systems Program every five years. Requires unencumbered and unexpended revenues from the Automated Speed Enforcement Systems Program Special Fund in excess of a $12,000,000 as of June 30 of each year to lapse to the general fund. Part II: Limits the Automated Speed Enforcement Systems Program to counties with a population of five hundred thousand or more. Expands the Automated Speed Enforcement Systems Program to high-risk locations of state or county highways as determined by the Department of Transportation, under certain conditions. Provides restrictions for the expansion of the Automated Speed Enforcement Systems Program and Photo Red Light Imaging Detector Systems Program. Part III: Amends the definition of "county" as it relates to the Photo Red Light Imaging Detector Systems Program. (CD1)
