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HB181
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
H.B. NO.
181
THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2025
STATE OF HAWAII
A BILL FOR AN ACT
relating
to media
.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:
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SECTION 1.
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The legislature finds that Hawaii has unique landscapes and natural
environments that make it a very desirable and popular film location.
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The world's filmmakers come to Hawaii for
universally tropical and natural locations under secure, familiar, and
professional production circumstances.
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The legislature further finds that in the past, Hawaii has been known as
"Hollywood's tropical backlot" due to the number of high-profile
films and television shows filmed in Hawaii.
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As the most geographically isolated land mass on Earth, Hawaii is home
to eleven of the world's thirteen climate zones.
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No other place offers more convenient,
diverse, or magnificent filming opportunities.
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Hawaii features an active volcano, volcanic craters the size of
Manhattan, snow‑capped mountain peaks, dense jungles, cattle ranches, the
tallest sea cliffs, and some of the best beaches in the world.
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As the film industry continues to evolve and
its technology continues to develop, the State needs to ensure that Hawaii and
its beautiful, iconic locations are protected and preserved.
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The purpose of this Act is to require the
department of business, economic development, and tourism to fix the payment of
royalties to the State for the filming of scenic shots of iconic locations in
the State that are subsequently featured in media for production purposes.
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SECTION 2.
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Chapter 201, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is
amended by adding a new section to part IX to be appropriately designated and
to read as follows:
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�201-
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Iconic
location royalties.
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(a)
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The department shall fix the payment of royalties to the State for the
filming of scenic shots of iconic locations in the State that are subsequently
featured in media for production purposes; provided that state and county
productions shall be exempt from this section.
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(b)
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The department shall adopt rules pursuant to chapter 91 for the
purposes of this section, including:
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(1)
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Establishing
the basis upon which the amount and duration of royalty payments to the State
will be fixed; and
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(2)
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Defining
"iconic locations" and "scenic shots".
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(c)
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All royalty payments received pursuant to this section shall be
deposited into the general fund.
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(d)
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For the purposes of this section, "production" has the same
meaning as in section 235‑17.
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SECTION 3.
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New statutory material is underscored.
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SECTION 4.
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This Act shall take effect upon its approval.
INTRODUCED BY:
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Report Title:
Royalties;
Iconic Locations; Media; Production; Department of Business, Economic
Development, and Tourism
Description:
Requires
the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism to fix the
payment of royalties to the State for the filming of scenic shots of iconic
locations in the State that are subsequently featured in media for production
purposes.
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Exempts state and county
productions.
The summary description
of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is
not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.