HB 603 Hawaii House · 2026 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 1 of 4 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2025

Committee Review

Floor Vote

Governor

Introduced Jan 17, 2025 Last action Dec 8, 2025

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What changed between versions

HB603 → HB603_HD1 · 5 edits

MODERATE

The bill was significantly rewritten to remove the creation of a marketing program and a new marketing label. Instead, the bill now only appropriates funds for the Office of Hawaiian Affairs to form a working group to study the program's design and viability. The effective date was also changed from July 1, 2025, to July 1, 3000, effectively delaying implementation indefinitely.

Scope change

The bill's scope was drastically reduced from establishing a functional marketing program and legal protections for labels to merely funding a preliminary study group.

SCOPE

Removed the mandate to create a Native Hawaiian marketing program and a specific marketing label for businesses.

REQUIREMENT

Removed the requirement to establish qualifications for businesses to use the label and rules to enforce it.

ENFORCEMENT

Removed the prohibition against selling items falsely labeled as Native Hawaiian-made.

FISCAL

Changed the purpose of the $350,000 appropriation from running a program to convening a working group to study the program.

TIMELINE

Changed the effective date from July 1, 2025, to July 1, 3000.

Floor votes

How they voted

No floor votes recorded yet.

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

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