RELATING TO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

Budget

Active

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

Sponsor: TAM, AMATO, GEDEON, HUSSEY, ILAGAN, KAHALOA, LEE, M., MATAYOSHI, REYES ODA, SOUZA, TAKAYAMA, TODD
Last action: 2026-03-30
Official status: Report adopted; Passed Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referred to WAM.
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official bill summary and text do not mention establishing an office in Laoag, Philippines.

Economic Development Act

This act expands the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism's (DBEDT) out-of-state offices to include tourism collaboration and requires DBEDT to establish new offices in Seoul, South Korea, while funding existing Beijing and Taipei offices to promote 'Made in Hawaii' products.

What This Bill Does

Expands the purposes of DBEDT's out-of-state offices to collaborate with tourism agencies and stakeholders.
Requires DBEDT to establish an office in Seoul, South Korea, using state funds.
Appropriates money for DBEDT’s Beijing and Taipei offices to promote 'Made in Hawaii' products and increase exports.

Who It Names or Affects

The Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism (DBEDT)
Tourism agencies and stakeholders
Hawaii businesses exporting products

Terms To Know

Out-of-state offices: Offices established by DBEDT in locations outside of Hawaii to promote economic development.
Made in Hawaii Products: Products manufactured or produced in the state of Hawaii that are marketed and exported internationally.

Limits and Unknowns

The bill does not specify exact amounts for appropriations.
It is unclear how these new offices will be staffed and operated.
The effective date (July 1, 3050) seems to be a placeholder or error in the text.

Amendments

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

HD1

Hawaii published version HD1

Plain English: This amendment expands the purpose of out-of-state offices to include tourism collaboration, requires an office in Seoul, South Korea, and allocates funds for promoting 'Made in Hawaii' products in Beijing, Philippines, and Taipei.

Expands the purposes of out-of-state offices to collaborate with tourism agencies and stakeholders.
Requires the establishment of a new out-of-state office in Seoul, Republic of Korea.
Allocates funds for promoting 'Made in Hawaii' branded products and increasing exports from Beijing, Philippines, and Taipei.

The exact amount of funding appropriated is not specified.
The effective date listed as July 1, 3000 appears to be an error or placeholder.

SD1

Hawaii published version SD1

Plain English: This amendment expands the purpose of out-of-state offices to include tourism collaboration, requires the establishment of new offices in Seoul and Laoag with funding, and allocates funds to promote 'Made in Hawaii' products.

Expands the purposes of out-of-state offices to collaborate with tourism agencies and stakeholders.
Requires and funds the establishment of an office in Seoul, South Korea, and another in Laoag, Philippines.
Allocates funding for existing Beijing and Taipei offices to promote 'Made in Hawaii' products.

The exact amount of funds appropriated is not specified.
The amendment's effective date (July 1, 3050) seems unrealistic and may be a placeholder or error.

Bill History

2026-03-30 S
Report adopted; Passed Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referred to WAM.
2026-03-30 S
Reported from EDT/WLA (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 3309) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to WAM.
2026-03-23 S
The committee(s) on WLA recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in WLA were as follows: 3 Aye(s): Senator(s) Lee, C., Inouye, Chang; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 2 Excused: Senator(s) Lamosao, DeCorte.
2026-03-23 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, Fukunaga; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 2 Excused: Senator(s) Kim, Fevella.
2026-03-20 S
The committee(s) on EDT/WLA has scheduled a public hearing on 03-23-26 1:15PM; Conference Room 224 & Videoconference.
2026-03-10 S
Referred to EDT/WLA, WAM.
2026-03-10 S
Passed First Reading.
2026-03-10 S
Received from House (Hse. Com. No. 172).
2026-03-06 H
Passed Third Reading with none voting aye with reservations; Representative(s) Pierick voting no (1) and Representative(s) Perruso, Quinlan, Sayama excused (3). Transmitted to Senate.
2026-03-06 H
Reported from FIN (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 969-26), recommending passage on Third Reading.
2026-03-04 H
The committee on FIN recommend that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes were as follows: 16 Ayes: Representative(s) Todd, Takenouchi, Hartsfield, Hussey, Keohokapu-Lee Loy, Kitagawa, Kusch, Lee, M., Miyake, Morikawa, Perruso, Templo, Yamashita, Alcos, Gedeon, Reyes Oda; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and Excused: none.
2026-03-02 H
Bill scheduled to be heard by FIN on Wednesday, 03-04-26 10:00AM in House conference room 308 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
2026-02-19 H
Passed Second Reading as amended in HD 1 and referred to the committee(s) on FIN with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and none excused (0).
2026-02-19 H
Reported from ECD/TOU (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 506-26) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to FIN.
2026-02-04 H
The committee on TOU recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 7 Ayes: Representative(s) Tam, Templo, Holt, Hussey, Ilagan, Yamashita, Gedeon; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and Excused: none.
2026-02-04 H
The committee on ECD recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 7 Ayes: Representative(s) Ilagan, Hussey, Holt, Tam, Templo, Yamashita, Gedeon; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and Excused: none.
2026-01-30 H
Bill scheduled to be heard by ECD/TOU on Wednesday, 02-04-26 10:00AM in House conference room 423 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
2026-01-28 H
Referred to ECD/TOU, FIN, referral sheet 3
2026-01-26 H
Introduced and Pass First Reading.
2026-01-23 H
Pending introduction.

Official Summary Text

RELATING TO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.
DBEDT; Out-of-State Offices; Purposes; Republic of Korea; Philippines; Establishment; Beijing; Taipei; Made in Hawaii Products; Appropriations ($)
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)

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

HB1943

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

1943

THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026

STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

relating
to ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
.

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

����
SECTION 1.
�
The purpose of this Act is to promote
products manufactured in Hawaii; expand the export of Hawaii-made goods;
attract foreign and domestic investment and commercial activity to the State; foster
sister-state, educational, athletic, and cultural exchanges; and advance
initiatives that yield economic benefits for Hawaii by:

����
(1)
�
Expanding the
purposes of the establishment and operation of offices in out-of-state
locations to include serving Hawaii's businesses through various initiatives;

����
(2)
�
Requiring and
appropriating funds for the department of business, economic development, and
tourism to establish an out
‑
of-state office in Seoul,
Republic of Korea; and

����
(3)
�
Appropriating funds
for the department of business, economic development, and tourism's Beijing
office and Taipei office to promote "Made in Hawaii" branded products
and increase the export of Hawaii products.

����
SECTION
2
.
�
Section 201-81,
Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:

����
"
�201-81
�
Establishment of
out-of-state offices; purposes.
�
The
department of business, economic development, and tourism may establish and
operate offices and facilities in out-of-state locations, including foreign
nations, to effectuate the following purposes:

����
(1)
�
Develop programs
to reach targeted companies or industries in the respective area and
surrounding regions;

����
(2)
�
Monitor
out-of-state government policies and regulations that have an impact on
business, markets, sales, tourism, and related activities;

����
(3)
�
Host government
and business officials at conferences, meetings and social occasions, or other
events on matters pertaining to business opportunities and attraction of
investments for the State;

����
(4)
�
Develop and
conduct advertising efforts, promotional events, media coverage, and
educational programs regarding commerce in the State;

����
(5)
�
Conduct related
operations as needed, including hiring or contracting for consultants;

����
(6)
�
Support
sister-state or province relationships, as defined in section 229-1, and other
partnerships that promote and enrich the people, cultures, environments, and
economies of the State and its international partners; [
and
]

����
(7)
�
Create stable
linkages between Hawaii and their respective regions;

����
(8)
�
Host and
organize trade missions;

����
(9)
�
Introduce and
market hew products and services from Hawaii;

���
(10)
�
Act as a
conduit for economic and business-related information between Hawaii and their
respective regions;

���
(11)
�
Match
businesses in Hawaii with opportunities in the respective area;

���
(12)
�
Promote Hawaii
tourism;

���
(13)
�
Collaborate
with tourism agencies and stakeholders to execute tourism strategies;

���
(14)
�
Support and
implement the department's programs; and

���
[
(7)
]

(15)
�
Generate revenue for the State."

����
SECTION 3.
�
The department of business, economic
development, and tourism shall establish an out-of-state office in Seoul,
Republic of Korea, as authorized under section 201-81, Hawaii Revised Statutes.

����
SECTION 4.
�
There is appropriated out of the general
revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of
$ or so much
thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2026-2027 for the department of
business, economic development, and tourism to establish an out-of-state office
in Seoul, Republic of Korea.

����
The sum appropriated shall be
expended by the department of business, economic development, and tourism for
the purposes of this Act.

����
SECTION 5.
�
There is appropriated out of the general
revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $
or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2026-2027 for the
department of business, economic development, and tourism's Beijing office and
Taipei office to promote "Made in Hawaii" branded products and
increase the export of Hawaii products.

����
The sum appropriated shall be
expended by the department of business, economic development, and tourism for
the purposes of this Act.

����
SECTION 6.
�
Statutory material to be repealed is
bracketed and stricken.
�
New statutory
material is underscored.

����
SECTION 7.
�
This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2026.

INTRODUCED BY:

_____________________________

Report Title:

Department
of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism; Out-of-state Offices; Purposes;
Republic of Korea; Establishment; Beijing; Taipei; Made in Hawaii Products;
Appropriation

Description:

Expands
the purposes of the establishment and operation of offices in out-of-state locations
to include serving Hawaii's businesses and tourism efforts through various
initiatives.
�
Requires, and appropriates
funds for, the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism to
establish an out
‑
of-state office in Seoul, Republic of Korea.
�
Appropriates funds for the Department of Business,
Economic Development, and Tourism's Beijing office and Taipei office to promote
"Made in Hawaii" branded products and increase the export of Hawaii
products.

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