Hawaii-2021-HCR137-Amended

WHEREAS, business activity and a strong economy are vital to the public's health, safety, and welfare; and

WHEREAS, the economy of the State is largely dependent on the tourism industry; and

WHEREAS, the effects of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic and resulting job losses in the tourism sector of the economy have demonstrated the urgent need for business diversification in the State; and

WHEREAS, the COVID-19 pandemic has shown that many jobs and businesses can be done from virtually anywhere with an internet connection; and

WHEREAS, business leaders must consider economic development opportunities, business climate, tax friendliness, and quality of life in determining the location for their operations; and

WHEREAS, the State consistently ranks among the top states in the country for clean air quality, happiness of its citizens, life expectancy, good weather, and overall quality of life; and

WHEREAS, given the advances in technology and the way business is conducted in the modern age, there are more reasons for a company to relocate to Hawaii than ever before; and

WHEREAS, the following states have used incentives to entice companies to relocate:

(1) Florida offers discretionary grant funding so long as fifty jobs are created in a three-year period and an investment of at least $50,000,000 is made;

(2) Indiana offers a credit against corporate income tax liability where the credit can be up to fifty percent of a corporation's approved costs in relocating to Indiana; provided that $50,000,000 in new investment and seventy-five new employees are required;

(3) Kentucky provides income tax credits to both regional and national headquarter firms that can offset up to one hundred percent of corporate income tax liability;

(4) Louisiana provides a rebate of up to twenty-five percent of facilities and relocation costs over five years;

(5) Mississippi offers incentives for national and regional relocation of headquarters between $500 and $2,000 per new job for a period of up to five years;

(6) South Carolina has a twenty percent credit against corporate income tax liability, based on the cost of the portion of the facility dedicated to headquarters operation or direct lease costs for the first five years of operation;

(7) Tennessee provides a refundable tax credit for relocation expenses resulting from a move where the credit can be used to offset franchise or excise tax liability in the year earned; provided that if the tax liability is less than the credit, the difference is refunded in cash;

(8) West Virginia offers a credit of up to ten percent of the company's qualified investment to offset corporate income and business franchise tax liability for up to thirteen years; and

(9) Wisconsin provides a refundable business tax credit based upon a percentage of wages paid to eligible headquarter employees and, in addition to reimbursement of up to fifty percent of training costs, the company can earn credits for up to three percent of capital investment in personal property and up to five percent of investment in real property; provided that a new investment of $1,000,000 is required; and

WHEREAS, the State should explore all possible incentives to lure well-paying jobs and investment to Hawaii; now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Thirty-first Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2021, the Senate concurring, that the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism is requested to compile a short list of Fortune 500 companies and multi-national corporations that could potentially relocate to the State; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Department is requested to also identify the means and incentives that may attract and entice the Fortune 500 companies and multi-national corporations on the short list to relocate to the State; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Department is requested to exclude natural resource companies, non-renewable energy companies, and impracticable manufacturing companies from the short list; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism 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 2022; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a certified copy of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Director of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism.

Report Title:

Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism; Fortune 500

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.C.R. NO.	137
THIRTY-FIRST LEGISLATURE, 2021		H.D. 1
STATE OF HAWAII		S.D. 1