Hawaii proposes a major tax break for the film industry

Relating To Taxation.

Introduced· 2026-01-23

Who's it for

Who's it for: Film & TV Industry

What it means for you

4/10Mixed

Mixed: some good, some bad ·

Cost shift

Plain‑English summary, cross‑checked against the official bill text.

This bill would give movie and TV production companies a special, lower tax rate and let them skip paying taxes on crew wages.

Our take

What we think, in plain words.

This is a classic corporate tax break. By lowering taxes for Hollywood studios filming in Hawaii, the state hopes to bring in more jobs. But when big movie companies pay less in taxes, everyday taxpayers are left to make up the difference to fund schools, roads, and public services.

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The facts

What the bill actually says, no spin.

Lowers the state tax rate for film and digital media productions to just 0.5 percent instead of the normal 4 percent.
Lets movie production companies skip paying taxes on the money they use to pay crew wages, insurance, and benefits.
Makes it easier for film companies to claim state tax credits by removing a rule that required them to pay the highest tax rate first.