HB 603 Hawaii House · 2025 Regular Session

RELATING TO NATIVE HAWAIIAN BUSINESS MARKETING.

Summary

Appropriates funds for the Office of Hawaiian Affairs to convene a working group regarding program design, implementation, and long-term viability of a Native Hawaiian Marketing Program to promote and support the success of businesses owned by Hawaiians through marketing and technical assistance. Effective 7/1/3000.

Bill status in committee 3 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2025

Committee Review

Feb 2025

House Passage

Feb 2025

Senate Passage

Governor

Introduced Jan 17, 2025 Last action Feb 4, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

HB603 → HB603_HD1 · 6 edits

MODERATE

The bill was significantly rewritten from a comprehensive Native Hawaiian marketing program into a much simpler appropriation measure. The original version created a full marketing program with specific rules, a marketing label, and technical assistance requirements, while the new version only appropriates funds for the Office of Hawaiian Affairs to form a working group to study the program's design and viability.

Scope change

The bill's scope was dramatically narrowed from establishing an active marketing program with enforcement mechanisms to simply funding a preliminary working group to study the program concept.

PROGRAM_STRUCTURE

Removed the entire marketing program structure including the office's duty to administer and oversee the program, establish qualifications, and design a marketing label.

ENFORCEMENT

Removed all provisions prohibiting the sale of items falsely representing Native Hawaiian origin, which included specific penalties and definitions.

FISCAL

Reduced funding from $350,000 for two fiscal years to an unspecified amount for a working group study.

REQUIREMENT

Added a requirement for the Office of Hawaiian Affairs to convene a working group to engage stakeholders about program design, implementation, and long-term viability.

TIMELINE

Changed the effective date from July 1, 2025 to July 1, 3000, which appears to be an error or placeholder.

REPORTING

Simplified the reporting requirements from detailed program outcomes to general information about program design and viability.

Floor votes · House Feb 4, 2025

How they voted

48–0

Passed · 3 other

Total votes 51

Feb 4, 2025

D Democratic41

40 Yea 1

97% Yea

R Republican10

8 Yea 2

80% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Feb 4, 2025

Committee

Reported from JHA (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 64) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to CPC.

lower

Feb 4, 2025

House · Passed

House Vote: pass (48-0-3)

house

Jan 31, 2025

Lower · Passed

The committee on JHA recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 9 Ayes: Representative(s) Tarnas, Poepoe, Belatti, Hashem, Kahaloa, Perruso, Takayama, Garcia, Shimizu; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and 2 Excused: Representative(s) Cochran, Todd.

lower

Jan 21, 2025

Committee

Referred to JHA, CPC, FIN, referral sheet 2

lower

Jan 21, 2025

Introduced

Introduced and Pass First Reading.

lower

Jan 17, 2025

Introduced

Pending introduction.

lower

6 primary · 0 co-sponsors