HB925 would create a new Performing Arts Special Fund in the state treasury and direct the Hawaii State Foundation on Culture and the Arts to use the money for the coordination, planning, promotion, marketing, and execution of performing arts events. The fund could receive legislative appropriations, grants, gifts, donations, interest, and other revenues, but the bill’s main dedicated revenue source would be a transfer equal to 1% of all ticket sales from concerts held at state venues.
The bill defines “concert,” “performing arts,” and “state venue” broadly, and it exempts ticket sales from concerts primarily performed by students at Department of Education schools or the University of Hawaii from the 1% transfer. The act is set to take effect on July 1, 3000, which effectively delays implementation far into the future.
Impact
If enacted, HB925 would amend chapter 9 of the Hawaii Revised Statutes by establishing a new special fund and imposing a new revenue transfer mechanism on state agencies that manage venues hosting concerts. State agencies would be required to calculate and transfer 1% of ticket sales from covered concerts into the fund, and the comptroller would track amounts due. The bill would also expand the state’s arts funding structure beyond visual arts toward performing arts programming, while creating exemptions for student performances and leaving the foundation responsible for spending the money on arts event-related activities.
Sentiment
The available voting history suggests generally favorable sentiment toward the bill, as the Senate Transportation and Culture and the Arts Committee passed it with amendments on a 5-0 vote. No committee transcript is available, so there is no recorded floor or committee debate to indicate opposition or detailed support arguments. The bill’s findings and purpose section frame it as a cultural investment and a way to broaden access to arts opportunities statewide.
Contention
The main policy issue appears to be the funding mechanism: the bill requires state agencies to divert 1% of concert ticket sales from state venues into a special fund, which could raise questions about revenue allocation, administrative tracking, and effects on venue operations. The bill also notes the importance of sound financial management and the State’s creditworthiness, suggesting some sensitivity around creating new dedicated revenue streams. The explicit exemptions for student performances at Department of Education schools and the University of Hawaii indicate an effort to avoid burdening educational arts events, but no recorded transcript is available showing specific objections or negotiated concerns.
A resolution to direct the Clerk of the House of Representatives to only present to the Governor enrolled House bills finally passed by both houses of the One Hundred Third Legislature.
Relating to nonsubstantive additions to, revisions of, and corrections in enacted codes, to the nonsubstantive codification or disposition of various laws omitted from enacted codes, and to conforming codifications enacted by the 88th Legislature to other Acts of that legislature.