Rep. Joe Gedeon

Maddy summaryThis bill requests the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism to create a Destination Management Task Force to improve how Hawaii manages tourism impacts. The task force will include representatives from the state legislature, county mayors, the governor's office, the Hawaii Tourism Authority, and the visitor industry. Its main duties are to review the tourism authority's strategic plan, enhance coordination between state and county agencies, and develop partnerships to better manage crowded tourist areas. The group must submit a report with findings and recommendations to the Legislature before the start of the 2027 session.

Maddy summaryThis bill requests the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism to create a Destination Management Task Force to improve how Hawaii manages tourism at popular sites. The task force would include leaders from the state legislature, the governor's office, county mayors, the Hawaii Tourism Authority, and the visitor industry to coordinate efforts between state and local agencies. Its main duties are to review the tourism authority's strategic plan, enhance cooperation between the state and counties, and develop partnerships to address challenges at high-traffic visitor locations. The group must submit a report with findings and recommendations to the legislature before the 2027 session begins.

Maddy summaryThis House Resolution requests the Hawaii Comptroller to form a working group to plan a Global War on Terror memorial on the grounds of the Hawaii State Capitol. The working group would include representatives from state agencies, military branches, veterans' organizations, architects, and families of service members. Its task is to discuss memorial design, gather community input, develop a timeline and budget, and submit final recommendations to the Legislature and Governor. The resolution acknowledges Hawaii's significant military contributions since 2001 and aims to create a dedicated space to honor those who served.

Appropriates funds to the Office of Community Services (OCS) to award grants to certain nonprofit organizations. Establishes an evaluation and selection committee to oversee the awarding of grants. Requires an applicant for a grant to provide certain documentation on activities that qualify for community engagement hours to qualify for the grant. Appropriates funds for positions in OCS and for the Department of the Attorney General to assist OCS in reviewing contracts and monitoring costs. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

Appropriates funds for studies on remediation of substances released from the Red Hill Bulk Fuel Storage Facility; environmental monitoring and testing; research on groundwater modeling and sampling; and independent testing and verification of water data, to be published on a public dashboard. Requires the Department of Land and Natural Resources to seek reimbursement from the United States Department of Defense. Effective 11/20/2121. (SD1)

Expands the purposes of the establishment and operation of out-of-state offices to include collaboration with tourism agencies and stakeholders to execute tourism strategies. Requires, and appropriates funds for, the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism to establish out‑of-state offices in Seoul, Republic of Korea and Laoag, Ilocos Norte, Republic of the Philippines. Appropriates funds for the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism's Beijing and Taipei offices to promote "Made in Hawaii" branded products and increase the export of Hawaii products. Effective 7/1/3050. (SD1)

Amends the Motion Picture, Digital Media, and Film Production Income Tax Credit (film tax credit) by providing additional credits to qualified productions that have a workforce of at least eighty per cent local hires in the first taxable year or second consecutive taxable year and meet other specific requirements, then increasing the local workforce threshold to eighty-two per cent in the third or fourth consecutive taxable year and eighty-five per cent in the fifth consecutive taxable year, that the additional credit is claimed; requiring independent third-party certification of qualified production costs for all film productions claiming the film tax credit; authorizing DBEDT to waive the credit cap per qualified production for one qualified production each fiscal year; and requiring the Hawaii Film Office to submit an annual report to the Legislature. Sunsets 1/1/2033. Effective 7/1/3050. (SD1)

Appropriates funds to the Department of Human Services to issue supplemental contracts to community-based organizations to address increases in costs related to labor, insurance, utilities, rent, and gas. For any multi-year contracts entered into or renewed beginning in fiscal year 2027-2028, requires the Department of Human Services to issue a Request for Information to determine whether any existing contract remains fiscally sound and thereafter determine, with the consent of the contractor, whether a new request for proposals should be issued. Effective 7/1/3000. (SD1)

Establishes the State-led Marketing and Branding Special Fund and requires that a portion of all transient accommodations tax revenues that would otherwise be deposited into the general fund be deposited into the special fund, to be used for state-led marketing, branding, and tourism management. Requires the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism to develop and submit an annual comprehensive marketing, branding, and tourism management plan to the Legislature for approval. Effective 7/1/3050. (SD1)

Creates a School Psychologists Working Group within the Department of Education to recommend actionable steps or propose legislation for an immediate pathway to licensure for school psychologists that can be acted upon in 2027. Requires a report to the Legislature. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)