HB925 proposes to create a new Performing Arts Special Fund in the state treasury and direct the State Foundation on Culture and the Arts to use that fund for the coordination, planning, promotion, marketing, and execution of performing arts events. The fund would receive legislative appropriations, grants, gifts, donations, interest earnings, and a new dedicated revenue stream tied to concert ticket sales at state venues.
The bill requires each state agency that owns or manages a state venue to transfer an amount equal to 1% of all ticket sales from concerts held at those venues into the special fund. It defines “concert,” “performing arts,” and “state venue,” and exempts concerts primarily performed by students enrolled at Department of Education schools or the University of Hawaii. The measure is set to take effect on July 1, 3000, which functionally delays implementation far into the future.
Impact
If enacted, HB925 would amend Chapter 9 of the Hawaii Revised Statutes by adding a new special fund dedicated to performing arts programming. It would create a continuing revenue obligation for state agencies operating venues, require the comptroller to track amounts due, and shift a portion of ticket-sale revenue from concerts at state facilities into a centralized arts fund. The bill would affect state agencies, the State Foundation on Culture and the Arts, and operators or presenters of concerts at state venues, while exempting certain student performances.
Sentiment
The available legislative history suggests generally favorable support for the bill. The Senate Transportation and Culture and the Arts Committee passed the measure with amendments by a 5-0 vote, and the bill advanced to Ways and Means after second reading. No committee transcript is available here, but the unanimous committee vote indicates broad agreement on the bill’s arts-promotion goals.
Contention
The main policy issue reflected in the bill text is funding: the measure creates a dedicated 1% ticket-sale transfer from concerts at state venues, which could raise questions about revenue diversion, administrative tracking, and the effect on venue operations or ticket pricing. The bill also notes the need for sound financial management to protect the State’s creditworthiness, suggesting some sensitivity around creating new earmarked obligations. The explicit exemptions for student-performed concerts at Department of Education schools and the University of Hawaii indicate an effort to avoid burdening educational performances, but no recorded opposition or debate is available in the provided materials.
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.