| 29 | | - | WHEREAS, under existing law, gaming, also known as gambling, is largely prohibited within the State; and WHEREAS, legislation to legalize gaming has been introduced in past legislative sessions; and WHEREAS, gaming activities operated within a comprehensive policy framework may lead to economic growth and provide a significant source of tax revenue; and WHEREAS, the Legislature requires information on the costs and benefits of legalized gambling, including different gambling operations, to evaluate and properly consider gambling for Hawaii; now, therefore, BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Thirty-third Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2025, the House of Representatives concurring, that the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism is requested to convene a Tourism and Gaming Working Group; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the working group is requested to: (1) Research gaming experiences and programs of legalized gambling in other states, including but not limited to revenues generated, costs of administration, preventive education, gambling counseling and treatment, regulation, and enforcement; (2) Review gaming legislation that has been considered by the Legislature and other states to determine if any proposal has the potential to be implemented in the State; (3) Examine the potential for gaming activities at the New Aloha Stadium Entertainment District and onboard vessels operated within the exclusive economic zone; (4) Develop a comprehensive tourism gaming policy framework that addresses economic growth, job creation, capital investment, tax revenues, and costs associated with administration, regulation, enforcement, and social programs to educate, counsel, and treat problem gambling; and (5) Examine how gaming activities may support the work conducted by the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism and Hawaii Tourism Authority; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the working group is requested to consist of the following members: (1) The chairs of the Senate and House of Representatives standing committees with primary subject matter jurisdiction over economic development, or the chairs' designees, who are requested to serve as co‑chairpersons of the working group; (2) The President of the Senate, or the President's designee; (3) The Speaker of the House of Representatives, or the Speaker's designee; (4) The Director of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism, or the Director's designee; (5) The Attorney General, or the Attorney General's designee; (6) The Director of Law Enforcement, or the Director's designee; (7) The Director of Taxation, or the Director's designee; (8) The Director of Health, or the Director's designee; (9) The Director of Human Services, or the Director's designee; (10) The Executive Director of the University of Hawaii Economic Research Organization, or the Executive Director's designee; (11) One individual having knowledge, experience, and expertise in the area of labor, to be invited by the co-chairpersons of the working group; (12) One individual representing Native Hawaiian culture, to be invited by the co-chairpersons of the working group; (13) One individual having experience in social services and behavioral addictions, to be invited by the co‑chairpersons of the working group; (14) One individual possessing academic and research expertise in global tourism, sports, and entertainment industries, to be invited by the co-chairpersons of the working group; (15) Three individuals representing gaming corporations, to be invited by the co-chairpersons of the working group; (16) One individual from Aloha Hālawa District Partners LLC, to be invited by the co‑chairpersons of the working group; and (17) Other interested parties having relevant experience and expertise, to be invited by the co‑chairpersons of the working group; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the working group is requested to submit a report of its findings and recommendations, including any proposed legislation, to the Legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2027; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism is requested to provide necessary administrative support to the working group in carrying out its duties, including the preparation of the report to the Legislature; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism is requested to dissolve the Tourism and Gaming Working Group on June 30, 2028; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Director of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism; Attorney General; Director of Law Enforcement; Director of Taxation; Director of Health; Director of Human Services; and Executive Director of the University of Hawaii Economic Research Organization. Report Title: Tourism and Gaming Working Group; Gambling; Legislative Report |
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| 43 | + | WHEREAS, under existing law, gaming, also known as gambling, is largely prohibited within the State; and WHEREAS, legislation to legalize gaming has been introduced in past legislative sessions; and WHEREAS, gaming activities operated within a comprehensive policy framework may lead to economic growth and provide a significant source of tax revenue; and WHEREAS, the Legislature needs useful information, evaluated and prepared by stakeholders, to properly consider such a framework; now, therefore, BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Thirty-third Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2025, the House of Representatives concurring, that the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism is requested to convene a Tourism and Gaming Working Group; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the working group is requested to: (1) Review gaming legislation that has been considered by the Legislature to determine if any proposal has the potential to be implemented in the State; (2) Develop a comprehensive tourism gaming policy framework that would serve as a catalyst for economic growth, job creation, capital investment, and a significant source of tax revenue for the State; (3) Examine the potential for gaming activities at the New Aloha Stadium Entertainment District; and (4) Examine how gaming activities may support the work conducted by the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism and the Hawaii Tourism Authority; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the following individuals are requested to serve as members of the working group: (1) The Chairs of the Standing Committees of the Senate and House of Representatives under whose purview fall matters of economic development, who are also requested to serve as co‑chairpersons of the working group; (2) The President of the Senate, or the President's designee; (3) The Speaker of the House of Representatives, or the Speaker's designee; (4) A representative from the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism; (5) A representative from the Department of Law Enforcement; (6) A representative from the Department of Taxation; (7) One individual having knowledge, experience, and expertise in the area of labor, to be invited by the co-chairpersons of the working group; (8) One individual representing Native Hawaiian culture, to be invited by the co-chairpersons of the working group; (9) One individual having experience in social services and behavioral addictions, to be invited by the co‑chairpersons of the working group; (10) One individual possessing academic and research expertise in global tourism, sports, and entertainment industries, to be invited by the co-chairpersons of the working group; (11) One individual from Boyd Gaming Corporation, to be invited by the co-chairpersons of the working group; (12) One individual from DraftKings Inc., to be invited by the co-chairpersons of the working group; (13) One individual from BetMGM, to be invited by the co‑chairpersons of the working group; (14) One individual from Aloha Hālawa District Partners LLC, to be invited by the co‑chairpersons of the working group; and (15) Other interested parties having relevant experience and expertise, invited by the co‑chairpersons of the working group; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the working group is requested to submit to the Legislature a report of its findings and recommendations, including any proposed legislation, no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2027; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism is requested to provide necessary administrative support to the working group in carrying out its duties, including the preparation of the report to the Legislature; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism is requested to dissolve the Tourism and Gaming Working Group on June 30, 2028; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Director of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism; President of the Senate; Speaker of the House of Representatives; Director of Law Enforcement; Director of Taxation; President and Chief Executive Officer of Boyd Gaming Corporation; Chief Executive Officer of DraftKings Inc.; and Chief Executive Officer of BetMGM. Report Title: Tourism and Gaming Working Group; Gambling; Legislative Report |
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