HI SB2156

Permits temporary film production on certain agricultural-zoned lands in Hawaii counties with populations under 500,000 (Hawaii, Maui, Kauai, and Kalawao counties), excluding lands designated as important agricultural lands, high-productivity soils (Class A or B), or active crop production areas.

Establishes the Agricultural Film Production Land Use Oversight Committee within the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism, comprising seven members including state agency representatives and governor-appointed members with expertise in film, agriculture, and Native Hawaiian affairs.

Requires film production companies to obtain permits, involve lineal descendants in decision-making for lands with ancestral value, and ensure all activities remain accessory and secondary to agricultural use.

Allows temporary structures and film set pieces on permitted parcels subject to safety standards and structural integrity checks, with ownership transferable to landowners upon mutual agreement.

Hawaii's film industry contributed an estimated $728 million in economic activity and supported 51,231 jobs in 2021.