ChangeBridge / Hawaii / HB2546 Passed
HB2546 House Bill
Passed
2026-03-10

Relating To Tax Credit For Research Activities.

Amends the tax credit for research activities by: allowing taxpayers to claim credits for all qualified research expenses without regard to prior-year expenses; amending from March 31 to March 1, the deadline for qualified high technology businesses to submit a written, certified statement to the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism identifying its qualified expenditures and research activities tax credits claimed in the previous taxable year; increasing the annual statewide cap amount for the tax credit; requiring the tax credit to be divided between all qualified high technology businesses for that year on a proportional basis if the annual statewide cap is reached; and requiring DBEDT to establish an annual application period and notify each qualified high technology business applicant of the credit amount certified. Applies to costs incurred beginning after 12/31/2025. Effective 7/1/3050. (SD1)

Bill Details

State

Hawaii

Session

2026 Regular Session

Chamber

House

Official Source

www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session/measure_ind...

LegiScan

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Sponsors

Nadine Nakamura (Rep - D)
Daisy Hartsfield (Rep - D)
Greggor Ilagan (Rep - D)
Sue Keohokapu-Lee Loy (Rep - D)
Lisa Kitagawa (Rep - D)
Matthias Kusch (Rep - D)
Tyson Miyake (Rep - D)
Daynette Morikawa (Rep - D)
Amy Perruso (Rep - D)
Shirley Ann Templo (Rep - D)

Action History

2026-04-06 S The committee(s) on WAM recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in WAM were as follows: 12 Aye(s): Senator(s) Dela Cruz, Moriwaki, DeCoite, Elefante, Hashimoto, Inouye, Kanuha, Kidani, Kim, Richards, Wakai, Fevella; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 1 Excused: Senator(s) Lee, C..
2026-04-01 S The committee(s) on WAM deferred the measure until 04-06-26 10:31AM; Conference Room 211 & Videoconference.
2026-03-30 S Report adopted; Passed Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referred to WAM.
2026-03-30 S The committee(s) on WAM will hold a public decision making on 04-01-26 10:03AM; Conference Room 211 & Videoconference.
2026-03-30 S Reported from EDT (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 3238) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to WAM.
2026-03-24 S The committee(s) on EDT recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in EDT were as follows: 4 Aye(s): Senator(s) DeCoite, Wakai, Kim, Fevella; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 1 Excused: Senator(s) Fukunaga.
2026-03-20 S The committee(s) on EDT has scheduled a public hearing on 03-24-26 1:04PM; Conference Room 229 & Videoconference.
2026-03-12 S Referred to EDT, WAM.
2026-03-12 S Passed First Reading.
2026-03-12 S Received from House (Hse. Com. No. 435).
2026-03-10 H Passed Third Reading as amended in HD 2 with Representative(s) Iwamoto voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Pierick excused (1). Transmitted to Senate.
2026-03-06 H Forty-eight (48) hours notice Tuesday, 03-10-26.
2026-03-06 H Reported from FIN (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1111-26) as amended in HD 2, recommending passage on Third Reading.
2026-03-02 H The committee on FIN recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 16 Ayes: Representative(s) Todd, Takenouchi, Hartsfield, Hussey, Keohokapu-Lee Loy, Kitagawa, Kusch, Lee, M., Miyake, Morikawa, Perruso, Templo, Yamashita, Alcos, Gedeon, Reyes Oda; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and Excused: none.
2026-02-27 H Bill scheduled to be heard by FIN on Monday, 03-02-26 2:00PM in House conference room 308 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
2026-02-19 H Passed Second Reading as amended in HD 1 and referred to the committee(s) on FIN with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and none excused (0).
2026-02-19 H Reported from ECD (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 511-26) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to FIN.
2026-02-13 H The committee on ECD recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 7 Ayes: Representative(s) Ilagan, Hussey, Holt, Tam, Templo, Yamashita, Gedeon; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and Excused: none.
2026-02-10 H Bill scheduled to be heard by ECD on Friday, 02-13-26 8:30AM in House conference room 423 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
2026-02-02 H Referred to ECD, FIN, referral sheet 6
2026-01-28 H Introduced and Pass First Reading.

Votes

2026-03-24 Senate Economic Development and Technology: Passed, With Amendments Yea: 4 Nay: 0
2026-04-06 Senate Ways and Means: Passed, With Amendments Yea: 12 Nay: 0

Committee Referrals

2026-02-02 H Economic Development
2026-02-19 H Finance
2026-03-12 S Economic Development and Technology
2026-03-30 S Ways and Means

Bill Text Versions

2026-01-28 Introduced
2026-02-18 Amended
2026-03-07 Amended
2026-03-25 Amended

Subjects

Tax Credit Research Activities Qualified High Technology Businesses Annual Cap Tax Credit Distribution Certification DBEDT

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