The bill will significantly alter how outdoor advertising is regulated in Hawaii, especially for public facilities such as stadiums and convention centers. By exempting billboard and outdoor advertising displays authorized by the Stadium Authority and Hawaii Tourism Authority, the bill seeks to enhance revenue generation through naming rights and advertising. The revenues generated from these advertising ventures would be directed into the convention center enterprise special fund, supporting further marketing and operational activities. This approach is expected to boost economic development related to tourism and event hosting.
Senate Bill 3197, introduced in the Thirty-Second Legislature of Hawaii, seeks to amend several sections of the Hawaii Revised Statutes related to advertising. The bill particularly focuses on the authority of the Stadium Authority to sell or lease naming rights for stadium facilities and the Convention Center. Specifically, SB3197 exempts certain outdoor advertising devices from regulation, allowing for increased commercialization within these public facilities, which has potential ramifications for local governance and economic activity.
While the bill is largely supported by proponents who view it as a means to generate additional revenue for public facilities and enhance marketing efforts, it has also received criticism. Opponents of the bill argue that it undermines local control over public spaces by allowing for greater commercialization and could lead to the over-saturation of advertising in areas designed for public enjoyment. The sentiment reflects a balance of interests between economic growth and maintaining the aesthetic and cultural integrity of community spaces.
Notably, there are potential contentious issues surrounding SB3197 regarding the local autonomy over advertising regulations. By transferring authority over these regulations to state-level entities, there are concerns that local communities may lose their ability to dictate how public spaces are used. Furthermore, while the bill promotes revenue generation, there are worries that it may lead to an influx of commercial advertisements that detract from the publicness of these facilities, challenging the existing norms surrounding public advertising and community identity.