HI HB1493

Establishes the State of Hawaii Film Commission within the Creative Industries Division of the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism for administrative purposes

Commission will consist of 12 members including representatives from county film offices, indigenous storytelling experts, global media production professionals, studio development specialists, Hawaii-based producers, labor workforce representatives, and ex-officio members from DLNR and DBEDT

Commission responsibilities include developing a five-year strategic plan for workforce development and infrastructure expansion, providing policy recommendations on tax incentives, establishing partnerships with local and global film industries, streamlining permitting processes, and fostering indigenous storytelling initiatives

Requires annual reports to the legislature detailing progress in film industry development, workforce initiatives, tax incentive impacts, and revenue generated by film and media production

Appropriates $750,000 for each fiscal year 2025-2026 and 2026-2027 to fund commission operations, including 1 FTE executive director position and 2 FTE administrative support positions, effective July 1, 2025