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Committee defers bill to create Hawaii film commission/authority after broad stakeholder testimony
Summary
Lawmakers deferred SB 16 41 to gather more input after extensive testimony from DBEDT, film workers, unions and the Attorney General about governance, conflict-of-interest rules and special-fund language.
The House Committee on Economic Development deferred SB 16 41 on March 14 for additional drafting after multiple testifiers raised governance, conflict-of-interest and funding questions about creating a film commission or film authority.
Georgia Skinner, Head of Creative Industries at DBEDT, testified in support and offered language clarifications to distinguish film from broader creative industries. Labor unions, including Tweana Scanlon (president, IATSE Local 665), and industry representatives testified about potential conflicts of interest if producers or commercial stakeholders held decision-making seats on a proposed commission.
Michael Guiso (testifier, Teamsters) urged strict conflict-of-interest rules modeled on the Association of Film Commissioners International (AFCI) guidance and requested labor representation on the commission. Several testifiers, including aspiring filmmaker Michael Older and DBEDT deputy director Dane Wicker, said an authority model — similar to the Hawaii Tourism Authority — could better support the industry’s development.
Deputy Attorney General Kevin Tong and Deputy AG Randall Nishiyama provided written comments raising legal standards issues: Tong said proposed GRAMA standards in the bill were insufficient and that the special-fund language lacked required statutory provisions; Nishiyama recommended inserting the HB 1025 preamble into a related bill earlier in the hearing.
Committee Chair Iligan said the measure needs more work and deferred SB 16 41 to the next week’s session, scheduling it for Wednesday, March 19, 2025, at 10 a.m., and asked stakeholders to provide additional drafting input. The transcript records the committee’s intention to rework governance structure (possibly creating an authority), clarify the special-fund provisions and add stricter conflict-of-interest language before further action.
