New Bill Drafts Posted, Next Steps

The latest drafts of SB541, HB1590, and SB1304, and the rationale for revising them, have been posted. To view them, click the links below or under the "Latest Bill Drafts" section in the right sidebar.

SB541, HD1 - 15-20% refundable production tax credit
Rationale for revisions: House Committee Report
* So far, this version of the refundable production tax credit bill is the version that best reflects the consensus of film industry stakeholders.

HB1590, SD1 - 15-20% refundable production tax credit
Rationale for revisions: Senate Committee Report

SB1304, HD1 - Grants to local filmmakers, changes to film & TV board
Rationale for revisions: House Committee Report


NEXT STEPS:

SB541, HD1 will be heard by FIN sometime in the next 2 weeks

HB1590, SD1 will be heard by WAM sometime in the next 2 weeks

SB1304, HD1 will be heard by FIN sometime in the next 2 weeks

Please note that most of the members in FIN and WAM differ from the members in the committees that have already heard your testimonies (TAC, EDB, MAT), so you may re-use the bulk of your previous testimonies in the new testimonies you submit to FIN and WAM (making adjustments for the different provisions that may have been introduced or reintroduced in the new drafts).

Tax Credit Bills Switcheroo

* The House TAC-EDB committees have extracted the body of HB1590, HD2 (with slight revisions) and put it under the header SB541, HD1
* The Senate MAT committee has extracted the body of SB541, SD1 and put it under the header HB1590, SD1

This recent "switcheroo" of the bodies of the two refundable film tax credit bills may seem odd, but such is our legislative process. To help you make sense of it all (or to confuse you further), here's a snapshot of how each of the film tax credit bills has evolved thus far:

HB1590 > TAC-EDB > HB1590, HD1 > FIN > HB1590, HD2 > Crossover to Senate > MAT > HB1590, SD1 > WAM > ????

SB541 > MAT > SB541, SD1 > WAM > SB541, SD2 > Crossover to House > TAC-EDB > SB541, HD1 > FIN > ????

If WAM and FIN decide to pass the latest versions of HB1590 and SB541, respectively, each bill will cross back over to its originating body. The originating body will review the latest version and decide whether to agree or disagree with it.

> If the originating body agrees, a final vote will be taken and the bill will be sent to the governor to be signed into law (or vetoed).

> If the originating body disagrees, the bill will go into Conference to be vetted by both the House and the Senate, until both bodies can agree on a single version of the bill. If an agreement can't be reached, the bill will die.

HB1590, SD1 Passed by MAT

Today, MAT passed its own version (SD1) of HB1590 (refundable film tax credit). Here it is: HB1590, SD1. While the basic intent of this bill is good (increase to refundable tax credit), the specific provisions in the other, more focused, more streamlined House draft of SB541 (SB541, HD1) are preferable.

Next stop for this bill: WAM (the money guys), chaired by the fellow below. Hearing will be scheduled sometime in the next week or two--prep your testimonies!

Friend or senator of yours? Write to him!
(And address your testimonies to him.)


Brian Taniguchi
Chair, Senate Ways & Means Committee
10th Senate District (Moiliili-Manoa)

SB541, HD1 Passed by TAC-EDB

This morning, TAC-EDB passed its own version (HD1) of SB541 (refundable film tax credit). This version reflects an unprecedented level of consensus among film industry stakeholders--this is now THE refundable film tax credit bill to support. Take a look at it: SB541, HD1.

Next stop for this bill: FIN (the money guys), chaired by the fellow below. Hearing will be scheduled sometime in the next week or two--prep your testimonies!

Friend or rep of yours? Write to him!
(And address your testimonies to him.)

Dwight Takamine
Chair, House Finance Committee
1st Representative District (Hawi-Hilo, Big Island)

Decisionmaking on Tax Credit Bills Tomorrow

On Tuesday, 3/22:

TAC-EDB will issue its decision on whether to pass SB541, SD2 (refundable film tax credit) and send it over to be heard by FIN.
Time: 9:15am
Place: Conference Room 325, State Capitol
See the full hearing notice.

-AND-

MAT will issue its decision on whether to pass HB1590, HD2 (refundable film tax credit) and send it over to be heard by WAM.
Time: 1:15pm
Place: Conference Room 225, State Capitol
See the full hearing notice.

These are decisionmaking-only hearings, so no testimony will be accepted, but you are welcome to attend.

Schoolhouse Rock Redux

To illustrate the current status of the film bills, here's an excerpt from "I'm Just a Bill," part of the Schoolhouse Rock series on ABC that ran from 1973-1985, and was recently revived. Click on the image above for the full lyrics and to listen to that good 'ol boogie tune...how's that for nostalgia?

"Well, now I'm stuck in committee
And I'll sit here and wait
While a few key Congressmen discuss and debate
Whether they should let me be a law.
How I hope and pray that they will,
But today I am still just a bill."

Judgment Day: SB541 & SB1304

The verdict from today's TAC-EDB hearing is in:

SB541, SD2 (increased refundable production tax credit): Decisionmaking on this bill is deferred until Tuesday morning. Stay tuned...

SB1304, SD2 (grants to local filmmakers, changes to TV & film development board): Passed with amendments. The latest draft is now SB1304, HD1. I'll post the link to it (in the new section, "Latest Bill Drafts," on the right sidebar) as soon as the Legislature puts it online. Only slight differences from SD2: added 1 board member to make the total # of board members 12, and adjusted appointment rules accordingly. They didn't add a $ figure for the fund for grants--that will be left up to FIN, which will hear the bill sometime in the next few weeks (prep your testimonies now, sometimes hearings don't get announced a full 24 hours in advance).

Legislative Alphabet Soup

Here's a glossary of frequently used abbreviations in the legislative process (and by extension, on this blog).

HOUSE:
HB = House Bill, a bill first introduced in the House
HD = House Draft, a specific version of a bill issued by a House committee that is assigned a draft number (e.g., "HD2"). Drafts start getting numbered after the first committee that hears a bill makes changes to it. Note that there can be House drafts of Senate bills after they cross over into the House.
TAC = House Committee on Tourism & Culture, currently chaired by Jerry Chang
EDB = House Committee on Economic Development & Business Concerns, currently chaired by Robert Herkes
FIN = House Committee on Finance, currently chaired by Dwight Takamine

SENATE:
SB = Senate Bill, a bill first introduced in the Senate
SD = Senate Draft, a specific version of a bill issued by a Senate committee that is assigned a draft number (e.g., "SD1"). Drafts start getting numbered after the first committee that hears a bill makes changes to it. Note that there can be Senate drafts of House bills after they cross over into the Senate.
MAT = Senate Committee on Media, Arts, Sciences & Technology, currently chaired by Carol Fukunaga
WAM = Senate Committee on Ways & Means (money), currently chaired by Brian Taniguchi

OTHER:
CD = Conference Draft, a specific version of a bill issued by the consensus of both houses that is assigned a draft number (e.g., "CD1")

IMPORTANT NOTE: Various drafts of a bill can differ wildly from each other. For example, after House committees TAC and EDB hear SB541, SD2, they may decide to revise it dramatically. This revised version of the bill would be called SB541, SD2, HD1 ("Senate Bill 541, Senate Draft 2, House Draft 1"). Please review each draft of a bill closely before testifying because it's possible that you may oppose SD2 of a particular bill, but then support HD1 of that same bill.

TOMORROW: Hearing on SB541 & Decisionmaking on SB1304

The Senate version of the refundable production tax credit bill, SB541, SD2, will be heard TOMORROW (Friday) at 9am by TAC-EDB. Please submit your testimonies via one of the methods listed below.

At this same hearing, the decision on whether to pass SB1304, SD2 (money for grant & loan programs for local filmmakers, changes to TV & Film Development Board) will be issued. No further testimony on this bill will be accepted.

Date: Friday, March 17, 2005
Time: 9:00am
Place: Conference Room 325, State Capitol

See the full hearing notice

HOW TO SUBMIT YOUR TESTIMONY (for SB541 only):

As soon as possible today, submit your testimony using only one of the following methods:

1. Hand deliver 35 copies (with 2 holes punched at the top) to the TAC committee vice chair's office in Room 427, State Capitol or to the House Sergeant-at-Arms Testimony Drop-Off Box in the Turnaround Ares of the Capitol Basement Parking Lot.

2. Fax (if less than 5 pages) to the House Sergeant-At-Arms Office at 586-6501 or 1-800-535-3859 (toll free for neighbor islands) When faxing, please include the following information:
* Submitting to: TAC committee clerk, Rm 427
* Hearing Date/Time: Fri, 3/18, 9:00am
* Required Copies for Submission: 35

For more information, please call the TAC committee clerk at 586-6120.

HB1590 Deferred Again

The Senate MAT committee has again deferred decisionmaking on HB1590, HD2, the House version of the bill that offers a ___% (exact % TBD) refundable production tax credit to film, television, commercial, and digital media productions, and photography shoots spending over $200,000 in Hawaii. The MAT committee will probably reschedule the decisionmaking on this bill to Tuesday, 3/22. Stay tuned...

Decisionmaking on Film Tax Credit Bill HB1590

Tomorrow, MAT will issue its decision on whether to pass HB1590, HD2 (refundable film tax credit) and send it over to be heard by WAM. This is a decisionmaking-only hearing, so no testiomy will be accepted, but you are welcome to attend.

Date: Thursday, March 17, 2005
Time: 1:15pm
Place: Conference Room 225, State Capitol

See the full hearing notice.

ALSO: The Senate version of the film tax credit bill, SB541, will probably be heard by the House on Friday morning. Will let you know if/when I confirm this. Prep those testimonies!

What's the Difference?: Film Bills Demystified

Confused about all the different film bills currently being heard by the Legislature? Let me explain.

There are two key strategies for growing Hawaii's film industry:

1. Attract bigger-budget productions (over $200K) - both visiting AND local Hawaii productions qualify
2. Support low-budget independent productions by Hawaii-based filmmakers (under $200K)

Both strategies are part and parcel of the overall goal to develop a sustainable local film industry.

Reasons Behind Strategies

1. Bigger-budget productions, whether visiting or local, create jobs, train our local workforce, pump money into the local economy (spending money on hotels, food, equipment, supplies, transportation, consumer goods, etc.), present direct and indirect promotional opportunities for Hawaii, and teach and inspire our fledgling local filmmakers.

2. Low-budget independent local productions give voice to Hawaii, promote cultural expression, education, and understanding, help foster a sustainable local film industry by decreasing reliance on visiting productions to create jobs, and enhance Hawaii's own sense of identity and its image to audiences around the world.
[Note that bigger-budget local productions that would benefit from the refundable production tax credit (#1 above) also do all of this!]

Associated Bills

1. HB1590 and SB541 attract and encourage bigger-budget productions (both local and visiting, as long as they spend over $200K in Hawaii) of film, tv, commercials, digital media, and photography shoots, by offering refundable production tax credits based on a production's expenditures in Hawaii. In their current form, these bills are companion bills which accomplish similar goals. In the end, only one will be passed after both are discussed by both houses (if they get that far).

2. SB1304 appropriates money from the state to create grants for local filmmakers.

Why Testify?

Though you may not receive direct feedback or response to your testimonies, emails, and calls to legislators, please know your efforts are not in vain. The legislators' feedback/response to your testimonies is essentially whether or not they pass the bill.

Each individual's opinion really does count. Remember that YOU elect these legislators to represent YOUR views; it is their duty to represent their constituents (including you). If you have ever attended a hearing in person, you'll know that the committee chair goes through each testimony she has received, reads aloud the name of the testifier, and states whether the testifier supports or opposes the bill. If the testifier is present, he may deliver his testimony orally. Also, the committee reports published by each committee after each hearing list the names and stances of the testifiers. You can search for a committee report by bill number.

So please keep sending in your testimonies!

Refundable Production Tax Credit Bill HB1590 Deferred

The Senate MAT committee has deferred decisionmaking on HB1590, HD2, the bill that offers a ___% (exact % TBD) refundable production tax credit to film, television, commercial, and digital media productions, and photography shoots spending over $200,000 in Hawaii. The MAT committee will reconvene on Thursday afternoon (exact time and location TBD) to issue its decision on this bill.

Before Thursday, please email MAT chair Senator Carol Fukunaga at fukunaga1@capitol.hawaii.gov to express your views/opinions on this bill.

In thinking about film tax incentives, consider this:

* Louisiana passed several film tax incentives in 2002, when their annual production expenditure was just $20 million. With the help of these incentives, that figure grew to $210 million in 2003 and $335 million in 2004. High profile films such as Runaway Jury and Ray, and the upcoming Fantastic Four, All the King's Men, and Dukes of Hazzard were all drawn to Louisiana by its generous incentives. Additionally, local independent films have begun to flourish.

* In the 2 years since New Mexico passed its film tax incentives, the state has attracted 25 films that have generated $162 million in expenditures (up from just $8.8 million in 2002) and increased the local film crew labor pool six-fold, from 100 to 600 workers. One of these films was the upcoming Adam Sandler feature The Longest Yard, which considered shooting in Hawaii but decided that New Mexico had better incentives. Local independent films have begun to flourish here as well.

For more information on film tax incentives, click here.

Local Filmmaker Grants Bill SB1304 Deferred

SB1304, SD2, the bill that would fund grants and loans to Hawaii filmmakers, was deferred by the House TAC and EDB committees this morning. For this bill to survive, it is important that local independent filmmakers and others who would benefit from a thriving local film industry that doesn't solely depend on visiting productions, email the TAC and EDB committee chairs, Jerry Chang (repchang@Capitol.hawaii.gov) and Robert Herkes (repherkes@Capitol.hawaii.gov) by the end of this week, to let them know this bill is important.

To remind you how important and impactful it is to support homegrown filmmakers, please take a look at the government film financing programs in Australia, New Zealand, and New Mexico, which spawned successful filmmakers such as Baz Luhrmann (Strictly Ballroom, Moulin Rouge!), Peter Jackson (Bad Taste, Heavenly Creatures, Lord of the Rings), Lee Tamahori (Once Were Warriors, Die Another Day), and Niki Caro (Whale Rider).

Government support of local film and television projects is important for building a sustainable, self-sufficient local film industry. This support would nurture a local base of artists and skilled laborers who have a natural connection to and affinity for Hawaii, and help realize the potential of Hawaii's artists to create works that promote cultural expression, education, and understanding.

House Hearing on SB1304, SD2 on Tuesday, 3/15

The TAC-EDB hearing for SB1304, SD2 (money for grant & loan programs for local filmmakers, changes to TV & Film Development Board) has been announced:

Date: Tuesday, March 15, 2005
Time: 8:30am
Place: Conference Room 325, State Capitol, 415 S. Beretania St.

See the full hearing notice.

HOW TO SUBMIT YOUR TESTIMONY:
By Monday, 3/14 at 8:30am, submit your testimony using only one of the following methods:

1. Hand deliver 35 copies to the TAC committee vice chair's office in Room 427, State Capitol or to the House Sergeant-at-Arms Testimony Drop-Off Box in the Turnaround Ares of the Capitol Basement Parking Lot.

2. Fax (if less than 5 pages) to the House Sergeant-At-Arms Office at 586-6501 or 1-800-535-3859 (toll free for neighbor islands) When faxing, please include the following information:
* Submitting to: TAC committee clerk, Rm 427
* Hearing Date/Time: Tuesday, 3/15, 8:30am
* Required Copies for Submission: 35

For more information, please call the TAC committee clerk at 586-6120.

Senate Hearing on HB1590, HD2 on Tuesday, 3/15

The MAT hearing for HB1590, HD2 (increased refundable production tax credit) has been announced:

Date: Tuesday, March 15, 2005
Time: 1:15pm
Place: Conference Room 225, State Capitol, 415 S. Beretania St.

See the full hearing notice.

HOW TO SUBMIT YOUR TESTIMONY:
By Monday, 3/14 at 1:15pm, submit your testimony using only one of the following methods:

1. Hand deliver 30 3-hole punched copies to the MAT committee clerk, Room 216, State Capitol

2. Fax (if less than 5 pages) to the Senate Sergeant-At-Arms Office at 586-6659 or 1-800-586-6659 (toll free for neighbor islands) When faxing, please include the following information:
* Submitting to: Senate MAT committee clerk, Rm 216
* Hearing Date/Time: Tuesday, 3/15, 1:15pm
* Required Copies for Submission: 30

3. Email as an attached Microsoft Word document to fukunaga1@capitol.hawaii.gov

For more information, please call the MAT committee clerk at 586-7135.

Why Film Tax Incentives?

Film tax incentives have been known to attract and encourage film and television productions, thereby stimulating spending, tax revenues, job growth, and business development within a jurisdiction. Greater production activity also has the potential to inspire the artistic and cultural creativity of local filmmakers, and offer positive promotional exposure for a jurisdiction.

Examples:

* Louisiana passed several film tax incentives in 2002, when their annual production expenditure was just $20 million. With the help of these incentives, that figure grew to $210 million in 2003 and $335 million in 2004. High profile films such as Runaway Jury and Ray, and the upcoming Fantastic Four, All the King's Men, and Dukes of Hazzard were all drawn to Louisiana by its generous incentives. Additionally, local independent films have begun to flourish.

* In the 2 years since New Mexico passed its film tax incentives, the state has attracted 25 films that have generated $162 million in expenditures (up from just $8.8 million in 2002) and increased the local film crew labor pool six-fold, from 100 to 600 workers. One of these films was the upcoming Adam Sandler feature The Longest Yard, which considered shooting in Hawaii but decided that New Mexico had better incentives. Local independent films have begun to flourish here as well.

For more information, click on the articles below to learn how film incentives (or lack thereof) have affected other states and cities:

Successful Film Incentives:
New York
Louisiana
New Mexico

Pending Legislation:
Indiana
Texas
California

Disadvantages of Lack of Film Incentives:
San Francisco

HB1590, HD2 Survives First Crossover

Another one makes it through. All reps except Rep. Ezra Kanoho (excused) approved passage of HB1590, HD2, the House version of the increased refundable production tax credit (see full bill text). It will now be sent to the Senate to be vetted in committee hearings (probably MAT, WAM). Polish off those testimonies now and stay tuned for the hearings...

Senate Bills Survive First Crossover

The Senate bills below survived the first crossover today and were sent over to the House. It appears that HB1590, HD2 (the House version of the refundable production tax credit) hasn't been voted on yet--will keep you posted.

1. SB541, SD2 - Increases refundable production tax credit to 15-20%; provides additional wage reimbursement credit for below-the-line hires who are Hawaii residents; caps claims at $1 (formality to encourage further discussion); lowers minimum Hawaii spending requirement to $200K; expands eligibility to sound recordings, commercials, photographic print ads and magazine shoots, non-daily news programs; incorporates digital media, analog sound recordings, and educational support requirment for performing arts companies into Act 221 sections of statutes.
Votes: All senators voted to pass the measure except for Senator Gordon Trimble (no) and Senator Les Ihara (excused).
Full text of SB541, SD2

2. SB1304, SD2 - Appropriates an unnamed sum to the Television & Film Development Special Fund for the creation of grant and loan programs for local filmmakers; sets guidelines for adminstration of such programs through Television & Film Development Board.
Votes: All senators voted to pass the measure except for Senator Les Ihara (excused).
Full text of SB1304, SD2

WHAT NEXT?: These bills will be reviewed in House committee hearings, probably by the TAC, EDB, and FIN committees. Write your testimonies now and have them ready to go because a hearing can be announced anytime--even as soon as the end of this week. I'll keep you posted as hearings are announced and let you know how to submit your testimonies.

Floor Votes This Tuesday & Thursday

On Tuesday, 3/8 (tomorrow) and Thursday, 3/10, the whole House and Senate, respectively, will be convening to vote on all the bills that have survived thus far. Bills that survive these floor votes will be sent over to the other legislative body ("crossover") and then discussed and heard through committees again--this is when you'll get to testify again.

You are welcome to attend these floor meetings to observe, but there will be no testimony accepted. Each legislative body will be going through and voting on a long list of bills, and there may be speeches given by legislators to support or oppose a bill. Unfortunately, the schedule of which bill will be heard when won't be posted until tomorrow morning at the Capitol. But if you'd like to attend tomorrow, the Senate meeting will start at 10am, and the House meeting will start at 8:30am. Each body will be meeting in its respective chamber--click here for a map of the Chamber floor.

P.S. For your convenience, I've added a new section on the sidebar outlining WHAT YOU CAN DO to register your views with your legislators.

New Film Bill Drafts Posted

1. HB1590, Relating to the Hawaii Film & Digital Media Industry
[Increases the refundable production tax credit]
A new draft of this bill, HD2, has just been posted. HD2 contains the following amendments:
(1) Blanking the tax credit percentages;
(2) Changing the effective date to July 1, 2099, to encourage further discussion; and
(3) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for clarity, consistency, and style.

Full text of HB1590, HD2
Committee Report 961 (summarizes bill and changes made, lists testifiers)
Status of HB1590, HD2


2. SB541, Relating to the Hawaii Film & Digital Media Industry
[Increases the refundable production tax credit]
A new draft of this bill, SD2, has just been posted. SD2 contains the following amendments:
(1) Moving the provisions that:
a. Establish certain types of reoccurring productions as separate productions with regard to qualifying for the tax credit; and
b. Require qualified productions to comply with applicable laws, spending thresholds, participation, and reporting requirements, out of the definition of "qualified production" and placed these provisions in the subsection that establishes the tax credit claim cap (proposed subsection (i)), since these provisions are substantive in nature;
(2) Changing the cap on tax credit claims from $8,000,000 to $1 per production (to encourage further discussion)
(3) Adding the provisions that require performing arts production businesses that claim the tax credit established under section 235-110.9 (Act 221), Hawaii Revised Statutes, to provide proof of the business' support of Hawaii schools' performing arts programs, the employment of Hawaii residents, and the use of in-state production facilities in the production of the business' qualifying performing arts product that are being added to the definition of a "qualified high technology business", to the reporting requirements of section 235-110.9(e), Hawaii Revised Statutes;
(4) Changing the effective date of the measure from July 1, 2005 to July 1, 2050 (to encourage further discussion); and
(5) Making technical and nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity and style.

Full text of SB541, SD2
Committee Report 881
Status of SB541, SD2


3. SB1304, Relating to Television & Film Industry Development
[Appropriates money to the Television & Film Development Special Fund for the creation of grants and loans for local filmmakers]
A new draft of this bill, SD2, has just been posted. SD2 contains the following amendments:
(1) Changing the appropriated amount to an unspecified amount for purposes of stimulating further discussion; and
(2) Making technical nonsubstantive amendments for style and clarity.

Full text of SB1304, SD2
Committee Report 887
Status of SB1304, SD2

Film Legislation Update, 3/4/05

Here's a summary and status report on the film bills we are tracking:

1. HB1590, Relating to the Hawaii Film & Digital Media Industry

The latest draft (HD1) contains the following major provisions:
* Increases refundable production tax credit from 4% to 15% on Oahu and 20% on neighbor islands
* Lowers minimum spending requirement to $200K
* Allows additional categories of film & TV projects to qualify for credit
* Caps claims per production at $8 million
* Sets effective dates of 1/1/05 to 12/31/10
FULL BILL TEXT: http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessioncurrent/bills/hb1590_hd1_.htm

>>Status: On 3/2, the House Finance committee (FIN) unanimously passed this bill with amendments, including a blanked-out percentage and a "defective date" of 2099. These changes are made to allow for further discussion on the bill.
>>Next: FIN will issue a new draft (HD2) of this bill, which will cross over to the Senate by 3/10 to be heard by the pertinent committees. During these hearings, there will be a chance for the public to give testimony for or against the bill.
_________________________________________________

2. SB541, Relating to the Hawaii Film & Digital Media Industry

The latest draft (SD1) contains the following major provisions:
* Temporarily increases refundable production tax credit from 4% to 15% 0n Oahu and 20% on neighbor islands
* Lowers minimum spending requirement to $200K
* Allows additional categories of film & TV projects to qualify for credit
* Caps claims per production at $8M
* Sets effective dates of 1/1/05 to 12/31/10
* Allows music recordings over $20K to qualify for credit
* Establishes wage reimbursement credit of __% for below-the-line hires that are Hawaii residents
* Revises definition of "performing arts products" in provisions related to Act 221 & royalties exemption to include digital media and analog sound recordings
FULL BILL TEXT: http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessioncurrent/bills/sb541_sd1_.htm

>>Status: On 2/25, the Senate Ways & Means committee (WAM) passed this bill with amendments, including a cap of $1 and a "defective date." These changes are made to allow for further discussion on the bill. Everyone voted yes on the bill except for Senator Gordon Trimble, who voted no.
>>Next: WAM will issue a new draft (SD2) of this bill, which will cross over to the House by 3/10 to be heard by the pertinent committees. During these hearings, there will be a chance for the public to give testimony for or against the bill.
_________________________________________________

3. SB1304, Relating to Television & Film Industry Development

The latest draft (SD1) contains the following major provisions:
* Appropriates $2 million per year for 2 years to the TV&Film Board Special Fund for the creation of grants for local filmmakers
* Increases size of board from 9 to 11 members
* Allows board to form subcommittees and sets guidelines for the administration of grant and loan programs
FULL BILL TEXT: http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessioncurrent/bills/sb1304_sd1_.htm

>>Status: On 2/25, the Senate Ways & Means committee (WAM) unanimously passed this bill with amendments.
>>Next: WAM will issue a new draft (SD2) of this bill, which will cross over to the House by 3/10 to be heard by the pertinent committees. During these hearings, there will be a chance for the public to give testimony for or against the bill.
_________________________________________________

4. SB1794, Relating to the Hawaii Film & Digital Media Industry

The latest draft contains the following major provision:
* Appropriates $700K to the state and county film offices for marketing, operations, and business development
FULL BILL TEXT: http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessioncurrent/bills/sb1794_.htm

>>Status: On 2/18, the Senate Media, Arts, Science & Technology committee (MAT) passed this bill unamended.
>>Next: WAM will vet this bill and decide by 3/24 whether or not to recommend its inclusion in a revised state budget.
_________________________________________________

More Information on the Legislative Process:

How a Bill Becomes a Law
How to Write Testimony
House Committees & Info on Reps
Senate Committees & Info on Senators
Search for a Bill or Committee Report
Other Questions
_________________________________________________

WHAT YOU CAN DO

1. Contact individual legislators on the pertinent committees directly to make your views known. Their contact information can be found on the committee pages:
Senate: MAT, WAM
House: TAC, EDB, FIN

2. Keep abreast of when committee hearings are scheduled (check this blog), and prepare and submit testimony at least 24 hours prior to a hearing. Instructions on how to submit testimony can be found at the bottom of hearing notices, which I will post on this blog. Then, attend the hearing to deliver your testimony orally.