Budget & Taxes (Economic Development)

Expands the definition of "eligible business activity" for the purposes of the Enterprise Zone Program to include certain research and development activities and information technology design and production services. Authorizes the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism to declare up to two census tracts in the State that contain an innovation enterprise to be designated as an enterprise zone, subject to the Governor's approval. Requires DBEDT to conduct an in-house comprehensive review, in consultation with the Department of Taxation, of the State Enterprise Zones Program and requires a report to the Legislature. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Amends the definition of "eligible business activity" for enterprise zone program purposes to include retail sales of tangible personal property manufactured and sold in the enterprise zone that is to be used or consumed by the purchaser and not for resale, the processing of value-added agricultural products grown within an enterprise zone, and the provision of professional services by health care professionals in health care related sectors.

Establishes the Trade-Oriented Production Capacity Grant Program within the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism to support one-time capital investments that expand the State's manufacturing and production capacity for trade. Provides grants for equipment, automation, and facility improvements that directly increase output, efficiency, and competitiveness for eligible businesses, with required private-sector matching funds. Prioritizes traded-sector businesses with interstate or international market potential to help generate measurable near-term trade and economic returns. Appropriates funds.

Requires and appropriates funds for the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism, in collaboration with a county selected by the Department, to develop an artificial intelligence-assisted pre-compliance intake pilot platform, subject to a matching funds requirement for the county. Requires the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism to develop a policy or metric to measure the success of the pilot platform. Effective 7/1/2050. (HD1)

Requires the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism, in collaboration with the Department of Taxation, to study the effectiveness of tax expenditures, prepare summary descriptive statistics, submit annual reports to the Legislature, and develop appropriate schedules and tax return forms to collect adequate information for evaluation of tax expenditures. Authorizes Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism staff to access certain information on tax returns to conduct evaluations of tax expenditures. Applies to taxable years beginning after 12/31/2026. (CD1)

Amends the definition of "eligible business activity" for State Enterprise Zone Program purposes to include retail sales of tangible personal property manufactured and sold in the enterprise zone to the final consumer, the processing of value-added agricultural products grown within an enterprise zone, the provision of professional services by health care professionals in health-care-related sectors, the use of advanced manufacturing to produce products, or the development of cybersecurity technology. Extends the eligibility period of the state business tax credit and general excise tax exemption for qualified businesses within state enterprise zones from 7 years to 9 years. Extends the eligibility period of the general excise tax exemption for qualified businesses within state enterprise zones engaged in the manufacturing of tangible personal property or the producing or processing of agricultural products from 10 years to 12 years. Makes the extension of the state business tax credit eligibility period applicable to taxable years beginning after 12/31/2025. Makes the extension of the general excise tax exemption eligibility period take effect on 1/1/2027. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Establishes a business competitiveness goal for the State to be nationally ranked in the top thirty states for business climate by 2050, with interim goals. Requires the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism to submit annual progress reports to the Legislature. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Amends the definition of "eligible business activity" for the purposes of the Enterprise Zone Program to include certain retail sales of tangible personal property; processing of certain value-added agricultural products; research development, sale, or production of all types of medical products and medical and health care services; activities of the Hawaii Food and Product Innovation Network; the provision of certain professional services by health care professionals; aerospace research and development activities; and information technology design and production services. Authorizes the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism to declare up to two census tracts on state land that contain an innovation enterprise to be designated as an enterprise zone, subject to the Governor's approval and notwithstanding certain conditions. Requires DBEDT to conduct a comprehensive review, in consultation with the Department of Taxation, of the State Enterprise Zones Program and to submit a report to the Legislature. For taxable years beginning after 12/31/2026, extends the eligibility period of the state business tax credit for qualified businesses within state enterprise zones. Beginning 1/1/2028, extends the eligibility period of the general excise tax exemption for qualified businesses within state enterprise zones. Applies to qualified businesses who join the Enterprise Zone Program on or after 7/1/2026. (CD1)

Increases the transient accommodations tax and allocates a portion of the tax to the general fund for projects that address climate change impacts and advance economic development and revitalization. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)