Lawmakers defer HB1941 after concerns tying postproduction to physical production

The committee took up HB1941 (HD1), a bill that would alter tax incentives to include postproduction, and after testimony from industry and state offices decided to defer the measure for further work.

Georgia Skinner said the language in HB1939 was more appropriate for some of the postproduction incentives and that tying physical production and postproduction percentages together could unintentionally “cut off the production industry” while trying to boost postproduction. The Honolulu Film Office representative echoed that concern, arguing it would be better to separate postproduction incentives and tie any nascent postproduction support to workforce development rather than requiring fixed percentages that link to physical production.

Industry witnesses and public commenters said postproduction work is important to retain locally but noted infrastructure is limited: "We have local post production facility facilities that are small and currently being contracted by major films to do their editing," Irish Barber (Hawaii Film Alliance) said, warning that the bill as written could deter productions from keeping postproduction work in Hawaii. After discussion, the chair said the committee would defer HB1941 to pursue other vehicles and refine language.