HI HB2479

Expands the film, television, and digital media production tax credit under Hawaii Revised Statutes section 235-17 to include animation, special and visual effects, and internet-distributed productions as eligible qualified productions.

Increases tax credit eligibility for productions with animation or special and visual effects by defining them as costs incurred using digital technologies for designing, modeling, rendering, lighting, painting, animating, motion capture, and compositing, while excluding audio effects, in-camera effects, credit rolls, subtitles, and promotional material effects.

Adds internet distribution as an eligible distribution method for commercials and includes short and long-form productions for internet distribution as new categories of qualified productions eligible for the 15-20% tax credit based on county population.

Sets a sunset date of January 1, 2020 for the amended tax credit provisions, replacing the previous sunset date of January 1, 2016 established by Act 88 (2006).

Requires the Department of Taxation to submit annual reports to the legislature beginning in 2013 containing cost-benefit analysis data including personnel costs and cumulative tax credits granted for each qualified production.