RELATING TO SPORTS FACILITIES.

Budget

Active

The official status still shows this bill as active or still awaiting another formal step.

Sponsor: GARRETT, YAMASHITA
Last action: 2026-04-17
Official status: Re-Referred to EDT/EDU, WAM.
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The bill text does not explicitly state that a portion of the funds must come from private sources.

Rules for Sports Facilities Funding

This bill sets rules for how money is used from a special fund to build and improve sports stadiums in Hawaii, including conditions on spending and restrictions on private donations.

What This Bill Does

Sets conditions that must be met before money can be spent from the Stadium Development Special Fund.
Restricts private donations to only being used for stadium infrastructure and development costs.
Appropriates funds from the Halawa redevelopment special fund for specific projects, but only if certain readiness conditions are completed first.

Who It Names or Affects

The Department of Accounting and General Services
The Stadium Authority
People who donate to stadium development

Terms To Know

Stadium Development Special Fund: A special fund used for the construction, maintenance, and improvement of sports stadiums.
Halawa redevelopment special fund: A fund that collects money from various sources to support development projects in the Halawa area.

Limits and Unknowns

The bill does not specify what happens if conditions for spending are not met.
It is unclear how private donations will be monitored and enforced to ensure they only go towards approved uses.

Amendments

These notes stay tied to the official amendment files and metadata from the legislature.

HD1

Hawaii published version HD1

Plain English: This amendment changes how funds are allocated and managed for sports facilities in Hawaii, specifically focusing on a stadium project.

The amendment lapses certain appropriations previously made under Act 88 of 2021 and Act 268 of 2019, totaling $370 million.
It appropriates $49.5 million from the Halawa redevelopment special fund for fiscal year 2025-2026 to be deposited into the general fund.
The amendment authorizes the issuance of up to $350 million in general obligation bonds for upgrading or constructing a stadium that meets NCAA Division I football requirements.

Some parts of the text are truncated, making it unclear what all changes have been made to Chapter 109 and Section 109-3.5 of Hawaii Revised Statutes.

HD2

Hawaii published version HD2

Plain English: This amendment changes how funds are allocated and managed for sports facilities in Hawaii, including creating new appropriations and modifying existing laws.

Lapses $350 million previously appropriated under Act 88 of the 2021 session laws.
Lapses $20 million in general obligation bond funds from Act 268 of the 2019 session laws.
Appropriates $49.5 million from the Halawa redevelopment special fund to be deposited into the general fund for fiscal year 2025-2026.
Authorizes issuance of $350 million in general obligation bonds for upgrading a stadium on the University of Hawaii at Manoa campus.

The amendment text is complex and includes many references to previous laws, making it difficult to summarize all changes without additional context.
Some sections are truncated or unclear, limiting a full understanding of the impacts.

HD2_PROPOSED

Hawaii published version HD2_PROPOSED

Plain English: The amendment changes how funds are allocated and managed for sports facilities in Hawaii, including renaming certain sections of the law to reflect new purposes.

Lapses $350 million and $20 million previously appropriated for specific projects under previous laws.
Appropriates $49.5 million from the Halawa redevelopment special fund into the general fund for fiscal year 2025-2026.
Authorizes the issuance of up to $350 million in general obligation bonds for upgrading a stadium at the University of Hawaii-Manoa campus.
Amends sections of Chapter 109, Hawaii Revised Statutes, renaming it and changing its focus from stadiums to Halawa redevelopment.

The amendment text is complex and includes many legal references that are not fully explained here.

HD3

Hawaii published version HD3

Plain English: This amendment changes how funds are allocated and managed for sports facilities in Hawaii, including lapsing certain appropriations and creating new funding mechanisms.

Lapses the appropriation of $350 million from Act 88 (2021) and $20 million from Act 268 (2019), which were previously allocated for sports facilities.
Appropriates funds out of a renamed Halawa redevelopment special fund to be used for upgrading the stadium at the University of Hawaii at Manoa campus.
Authorizes the issuance of general obligation bonds and appropriates money for fiscal year 2025-2026 to upgrade the stadium on the UH Manoa campus to meet NCAA Division I football standards.

The exact amount appropriated from the Halawa redevelopment special fund is not specified.
Details about how funds will be managed and used after June 30, 2027, are limited in this amendment text.

SD1

Hawaii published version SD1

Plain English: This amendment requires the Stadium Authority to meet certain conditions before spending money from the Stadium Development Special Fund and appropriates specific funds for fiscal years 2025-2026 and 2026-2027, with restrictions on how private donations can be used.

The amendment requires that any condition set by the legislature must be met before money from the Stadium Development Special Fund is spent.
It appropriates $49.5 million for fiscal year 2025-2026 and restricts future appropriations to come only from private donations.
Private donations can now only be used for stadium infrastructure and development costs.

The amendment does not specify the exact conditions that must be met before funds are spent, which could leave some uncertainty about how this will work in practice.

Bill History

2026-04-17 S
Re-Referred to EDT/EDU, WAM.
2025-12-08 D
Carried over to 2026 Regular Session.
2025-04-11 S
Received notice of disagreement (Hse. Com. No. 704).
2025-04-10 H
House disagrees with Senate amendment (s).
2025-04-08 H
Returned from Senate (Sen. Com. No. 773) in amended form (SD 1).
2025-04-08 S
Report Adopted; Passed Third Reading. Ayes, 25; Aye(s) with reservations: none. Noes, 0 (none). Excused, 0 (none). Transmitted to House.
2025-04-04 S
One Day Notice 04-08-25.
2025-04-04 S
Reported from WAM (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1797) with recommendation of passage on Third Reading.
2025-04-02 S
The committee(s) on WAM recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes in WAM were as follows: 13 Aye(s): Senator(s) Dela Cruz, Moriwaki, Aquino, DeCoite, Elefante, Hashimoto, Inouye, Kanuha, Kidani, Kim, Lee, C., Wakai, Fevella; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 0 Excused: none.
2025-03-27 S
The committee(s) on WAM will hold a public decision making on 04-02-25 10:01AM; Conference Room 211 & Videoconference.
2025-03-19 S
Report adopted; Passed Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referred to WAM.
2025-03-19 S
Reported from EDT/HRE (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1176) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to WAM.
2025-03-13 S
The committee(s) on HRE recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in HRE were as follows: 3 Aye(s): Senator(s) Kim, Kidani, Hashimoto; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 2 Excused: Senator(s) Fukunaga, Fevella.
2025-03-13 S
The committee(s) on EDT recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in EDT were as follows: 3 Aye(s): Senator(s) DeCoite, Wakai, Kim; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 1 No(es): Senator(s) Awa; and 1 Excused: Senator(s) Fukunaga.
2025-03-10 S
The committee(s) on EDT/HRE has scheduled a public hearing on 03-13-25 3:00PM; Conference Room 229 & Videoconference.
2025-03-06 S
Referred to EDT/HRE, WAM.
2025-03-06 S
Passed First Reading.
2025-03-06 S
Received from House (Hse. Com. No. 378).
2025-03-04 H
Passed Third Reading as amended in HD 3 with Representative(s) Alcos voting aye with reservations; Representative(s) Garcia, Holt, Kong, Shimizu, Tam voting no (5) and Representative(s) Pierick, Ward excused (2). Transmitted to Senate.
2025-02-28 H
Forty-eight (48) hours notice Tuesday, 03-04-25.
2025-02-28 H
Reported from FIN (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1034) as amended in HD 3, recommending passage on Third Reading.
2025-02-24 H
The committee on FIN recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 15 Ayes: Representative(s) Yamashita, Takenouchi, Grandinetti, Holt, Hussey, Keohokapu-Lee Loy, Kitagawa, Kusch, Lamosao, Lee, M., Miyake, Morikawa, Templo, Reyes Oda; Ayes with reservations: Representative(s) Alcos; Noes: none; and 1 Excused: Representative(s) Ward.
2025-02-21 H
Bill scheduled to be heard by FIN on Monday, 02-24-25 2:00PM in House conference room 308 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
2025-02-14 H
Report adopted; referred to the committee(s) on FIN as amended in HD 2 with Representative(s) Garcia voting aye with reservations; Representative(s) Holt voting no (1) and Representative(s) Cochran, Matayoshi, Poepoe, Ward excused (4).
2025-02-14 H
Reported from HED (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 775) as amended in HD 2, recommending referral to FIN.
2025-02-12 H
The committee on HED recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 10 Ayes: Representative(s) Garrett, Amato, Evslin, Kapela, Kila, La Chica, Woodson, Muraoka, Souza; Ayes with reservations: Representative(s) Olds; Noes: none; and 1 Excused: Representative(s) Sayama.
2025-02-07 H
Proposed draft of Bill scheduled to be heard by HED on Wednesday, 02-12-25 2:00PM in House conference room 309 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE. Copy of proposed draft available at www.capitol.hawaii.gov.
2025-02-04 H
Passed Second Reading as amended in HD 1 and referred to the committee(s) on HED with none voting aye with reservations; Representative(s) La Chica voting no (1) and Representative(s) Cochran, Kong, Ward excused (3).
2025-02-04 H
Reported from WAL (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 126) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to HED.
2025-01-30 H
The committee on WAL recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 9 Ayes: Representative(s) Hashem, Lamosao, Belatti, Ichiyama, Morikawa, Poepoe, Shimizu, Souza; Ayes with reservations: Representative(s) Iwamoto; Noes: none; and 1 Excused: Representative(s) Woodson.
2025-01-27 H
Bill scheduled to be heard by WAL on Thursday, 01-30-25 9:00AM in House conference room 411 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
2025-01-27 H
Referred to WAL, HED, FIN, referral sheet 4
2025-01-23 H
Introduced and Pass First Reading.

Official Summary Text

RELATING TO SPORTS FACILITIES.
Department of Accounting and General Services; Stadium Authority; Stadium Development Special Fund; Appropriations ($)
Requires conditions placed on appropriations to the Stadium Development Special Fund to be met before expenditure. Restricts private donations to the Stadium Authority to use on stadium infrastructure and stadium development costs. Appropriates funds out of the Stadium Development Special Fund, subject to the completion of specific project readiness conditions. Requires certain moneys expended to be from private sources. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

HB1494

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

1494

THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2025

STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

relating
to sports facilities
.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

PART I

����
SECTION 1.
�
Any law to the contrary notwithstanding, the
appropriation under Act 88, Session Laws of Hawaii 2021, section 26, as
amended by section 5 of Act 248, Session Laws of Hawaii 2022, in the amount
indicated or balance thereof, unallocated, allotted, encumbered, and unrequired,
is hereby lapsed:

����
"
Item No.
����������
Amount
������������
(MOF)

����
A-0.03
����������
$350,000,000
�����������
C"

����
SECTION 2.
�
Any law to the
contrary notwithstanding, the appropriation under Act 268, Session Laws of
Hawaii 2019, section 6, as amended by section 5 of Act 4, Session Laws of
Hawaii 2020, as amended by section 18 of Act 146, Session Laws of Hawaii 2021,
as amended by section 10 of Act 220, Session Laws of Hawaii 2022, in the amount
of $20,000,000 of general obligation bond funds or balance thereof,
unallocated, allotted, encumbered, and unrequired, is hereby lapsed.

����
SECTION 3.
�
There is appropriated out of the Halawa
redevelopment special fund, as renamed pursuant to section 8 of this Act, the
sum of $49,500,000 or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2025-2026
to be deposited into the general fund.

PART II

����
SECTION 4.
�
The director of finance is authorized to
issue general obligation bonds in the sum of $350,000,000 or so much thereof as
may be necessary and the same sum or so much thereof as may be necessary is
appropriated for fiscal year 2025-2026 for the purpose of upgrading the stadium
on the university of Hawaii at Manoa campus to meet National Collegiate
Athletic Association division I football stadium requirements, including plans,
design, construction, equipment, appurtenances, ground and site improvements,
infrastructure, and all related and associated project costs.

����
The sum appropriated shall be
expended by the university of Hawaii for the purposes of this part.

����
SECTION 5.
�
The appropriations made for the capital
improvement project authorized by this part shall not lapse at the end of the
fiscal biennium for which the appropriations are made; provided that all moneys
from the appropriations unencumbered as of June 30, 2027, shall lapse as of
that date.

PART III

����
SECTION 6.
�

Chapter 109, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending its title
to read as follows:

"
CHAPTER 109

[
STADIUMS AND RECREATIONAL
FACILITIES
]
HALAWA REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY
"

����
SECTION
7
.
�
Section 109-2,
Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:

����
"
�109-2
�
[
Stadium
]
Halawa
redevelopment
authority; powers and duties.
�
The powers and duties of the [
stadium
]
Halawa
redevelopment
authority shall be as follows:

����
(1)
�
To repair,
maintain, and operate [
stadium facilities and the stadium development
]
the
Halawa redevelopment
district, including:

���������
(A)
�
[
Repairs, maintenance,
operations, and demolition
]
Demolition
of existing stadium
facilities;

��������
[
(B)
�
Operations
and maintenance of a new stadium;
] and

�������
[
(C)
]

(B)
�
Contractual payments to developers,
contractors, or management contractors engaged by the [
stadium
]
Halawa redevelopment

authority;

����
(2)
�
To coordinate in
planning, design, and construction activities, including on-site repairs,
within the [
stadium development
]
Halawa redevelopment
district;

����
(3)
�
To acquire and
hold title to real property;

����
(4)
�
To
prescribe and collect rents, fees, and charges for the use or enjoyment of the
[
stadium, facilities related to the stadium,
]
Halawa redevelopment
district, facilities related to the Halawa redevelopment district,
and real
property held by the [
stadium
]
Halawa redevelopment
authority,
including entering into leases, contracts, sponsorship and advertising
agreements, food and beverage agreements, concession agreements, parking
agreements, or other development and use agreements that may apply; provided
that leases shall not exceed a term of ninety-nine years;

����
(5)
�
To
make and execute contracts and other instruments necessary or convenient to
exercise its powers under this chapter and subject to any limitations in this
chapter, to exercise all powers necessary, incidental, or convenient to carry
out and effectuate the purposes and provisions of this chapter;

����
(6)
�
To
adopt, amend, and repeal, in accordance with chapter 91, rules it may deem
necessary to effectuate this chapter and in connection with its projects,
operations, and facilities;

����
(7)
�
To
appoint officers, agents, and employees, prescribe their duties and
qualifications, and fix their salaries, without regard to chapters 76 and 89,
to manage the [
stadium, the stadium development
]
Halawa redevelopment

district[
,
] and its contractors; and

����
(8)
�
To
plan, promote, and market the [
stadium
]
Halawa redevelopment district

and related facilities."

����
SECTION
8
.
�
Section
109-3.5, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:

����
"
[
[
]
�109-3.5[
]
�
Stadium development
]
Halawa
redevelopment
special fund; established.
�
(a)
�
There is established in the state treasury
the [
stadium development
]
Halawa redevelopment
special fund, into
which funds collected by the [
stadium
]
Halawa redevelopment

authority shall be deposited, including:

����
(1)
�
All revenues from
the [
stadium development
]
Halawa redevelopment
district,
including but not limited to agreements or actions generating revenue related
to [
stadium
] operations, lease or rental of facilities or land,
concessions, food and beverage, parking, sponsorship and advertising, utilities
and infrastructure, and development;

����
(2)
�
All gifts or
grants awarded in any form from any public agency or any other source for
purposes of the [
stadium development
]
Halawa redevelopment

district;

����
(3)
�
All proceeds from
revenue bonds issued for the purpose of the [
stadium development
]
Halawa
redevelopment
district; and

����
(4)
�
Appropriations
made by the legislature to the fund.

����
(b)
�

Moneys in the [
stadium development
]
Halawa redevelopment

special fund shall be used by the [
stadium
]
Halawa redevelopment

authority for the payment of expenses arising from any and all use, operation,
repair, maintenance, alteration, improvement, development, or any unforeseen or
unplanned repairs of the [
stadium development
]
Halawa redevelopment

district, including without limitation[
:

����
(1)
�
The
development, operation, and maintenance of a new stadium;

����
(2)
�
Food and
beverage service and parking service provided at the stadium facility; the sale
of souvenirs, logo items, or other items; any future major repair, maintenance,
and improvement of the stadium facility as a commercial enterprise or as a
world-class facility for athletic events, entertainment, or public events; and
marketing the facility pursuant to section 109-2(4) and (8); and

����
(3)
�
Contractual
]
,
contractual
payments to developers or contractors engaged by the [
stadium
]

Halawa redevelopment
authority for the purpose of redeveloping the site
and related on- and off-site infrastructure that benefits the [
stadium
]
Halawa
redevelopment
district and its development guidance policies."

����
SECTION 9.
�

Chapter 206E, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending the title
of part IX to read as follows:

"
PART IX.
�
[
STADIUM DEVELOPMENT
]
HALAWA
REDEVELOPMENT
DISTRICT
"

����
SECTION
10
.
�
Section 109-3,
Hawaii Revised Statutes, is repealed.

����
["
�109-3
�
Stadium special fund.
�
(a)
�
There is created a special fund to be known
as the stadium special fund into which funds collected by the authority shall
be deposited.
�
The stadium special fund
shall be applied, used, and disposed of for the payment of:

����
(1)
�
The expenses of
the operation, maintenance, promotion, and management of; and

����
(2)
�
All or a
portion of the cost of financing any capital improvement project for;

the stadium and related facilities; provided that
all services required for the stadium and related facilities shall be performed
by persons hired on contract or otherwise, without regard for chapter 76;
provided further that the authority shall report to the legislature all
receipts and expenditures of the stadium special fund account twenty days prior
to the convening of each regular session until the stadium special fund is
closed pursuant to subsection (c).

����
(b)
�
Notwithstanding subsection (a), all moneys
collected by the stadium authority after June 30, 2021, shall be deposited into
the stadium development special fund pursuant to section 109-3.5.

����
(c)
�
Upon June 30, 2021, the stadium special fund
established herein shall be abolished, and all appropriations, encumbrances,
and the remaining unencumbered balance shall be transferred to the stadium
development special fund.
"]

����
SECTION 11.
�

Sections 40-84, 84-17(d), 109-1, 109-6, 109-7, 171-2, 171-64.7(a),
206E-221, 206E-222, 206E-223, 206E‑224, 206E-225, 226-64, and 445-112,
Hawaii Revised Statutes, are amended by substituting the words "Halawa
redevelopment authority" wherever the words "stadium authority" appear,
as the context requires.

����
SECTION 12.
�

Sections 109-1, 171-2, 201H-191.5, 206E-14, 206E-221, 206E-222,
206E-223(a), 206E-224, 206E-225, and 206E‑226, Hawaii Revised Statutes,
are amended by substituting the words "Halawa redevelopment district"
wherever the words "stadium development district" appear, as the
context requires.

����
SECTION 13.
�

Sections 36-27(a), 36-30(a), and 109-8, Hawaii Revised Statutes, are
amended by substituting the words "Halawa redevelopment special fund"
wherever the words "stadium development special fund" appear, as the
context requires.

PART IV

����
SECTION 14.
�
Statutory material to be repealed is
bracketed and stricken.
�
New statutory
material is underscored.

����
SECTION 15.
�
This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2025.

INTRODUCED BY:

_____________________________

Report Title:

Sports
Facilities; UH; Stadium Authority; New Stadium; GO Bonds; Lapse; Stadium
Development Special Fund; Halawa Redevelopment; Appropriations

Description:

Lapses
appropriations of general obligation bond funds previously authorized for the
planning, design, and construction of a stadium in Halawa by the Stadium
Authority.
�
Transfers certain special
fund moneys earmarked for the development of a new stadium in Halawa to the
general fund.
�
Authorizes the issuance of
general obligation bonds for a new stadium on the University of Hawaii at Manoa
campus.
�
Renames the Stadium Authority as
the Halawa Redevelopment Authority and the Stadium Development District as the
Halawa Redevelopment District.
�
Amends
the powers and duties of the Halawa Redevelopment Authority.

The summary description
of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is
not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.