RELATING TO THE HAWAII TOURISM AUTHORITY.

HB2403

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

2403

THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026

STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

Relating
to the hawaii tourism authority
.

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

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SECTION
1
.
�
Section 201B-2, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is
amended as follows:

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1.
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By amending subsection (b) to read:

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"(b)

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The
authority shall be headed by an advisory board of directors that shall consist
of [
twelve
]
seven
members; provided that:

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(1)
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The members shall be appointed by the
governor as provided in section 26-34, except as provided by this section;

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(2)
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The members shall include at least one
representative each from the city and county of Honolulu and the counties of
Hawaii, Kauai, and Maui;

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[
(3)
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One member shall be appointed by the
president of the senate, and one member shall be appointed by the speaker of
the house of representatives;

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(4)
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At least six members shall have knowledge,
experience, and expertise in the area of accommodations, transportation,
retail, entertainment, or attractions, and at least one member appointed by the
governor shall have knowledge, experience, and expertise in the area of
Hawaiian cultural practices;

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(5)
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At least one member shall represent a
tourism-impacted entity;

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(6)
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The governor shall make appointments
to ensure the fulfillment of all requirements of paragraphs (2) and (4);
provided that upon the occurrence of a vacancy subject to paragraph (3), the
governor shall notify the president of the senate and the speaker of the house
of representatives of any unfulfilled requirements pursuant to paragraphs (2)
and (4), and the president of the senate or the speaker of the house of
representatives, as appropriate, shall appoint a member who fulfills those
requirements; and

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(7)
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No person who has served as a member
of the board of directors of the Hawaii Visitors and Convention Bureau shall be
eligible to sit as a member of the board of directors of the Hawaii tourism
authority until at least two years have expired between the person's
termination from service on the Hawaii Visitors and Convention Bureau board and
the person's appointment to the authority's board of directors.
]

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(3)
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One member shall be appointed from a
list provided by The Hawaii Lodging and Tourism Association;

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(4)
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One member shall be appointed from a
list provided by the Hawaii Hotel Alliance;

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(5)
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One member shall be appointed from a
list provided by the Hawaii State and Local Government Affairs Committee of
Airlines for America;

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(6)
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One member shall be appointed from a
list provided by the Activities & Attractions Association of Hawaii, Inc.;

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(7)
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One member shall be appointed from a
list provided by the Hawaii Restaurant Association;

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(8)
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One member shall be appointed from a
list provided by the Retail Merchants of Hawaii, Inc.; and

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(9)
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One member shall be appointed from a
list provided by the Cruise Lines International Association, Inc.
"

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2.
�
By amending subsection (e) to read:

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"(e)

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[
Seven
]
Four
members
shall constitute a quorum and a minimum of [
seven
]
four

affirmative votes shall be necessary for all actions by the authority.
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The members shall serve without compensation,
but shall be reimbursed for expenses, including traveling expenses, necessary
for the performance of their duties.
"

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SECTION
2.
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Statutory material to be repealed is
bracketed and stricken.
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New statutory
material is underscored.

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SECTION
3.
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This Act shall take effect upon its
approval.

INTRODUCED BY:

_____________________________

Report Title:

HTA; Advisory
Board of Directors; Membership; Appointments

Description:

Requires
the Advisory Board of Directors of the Hawaii Tourism Authority to be composed
of seven, rather than twelve, members.
�

Requires the Governor to appoint members to the Advisory Board from lists
provided by certain organizations representing the tourism industry.

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