HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.R. NO.

55

THIRTIETH LEGISLATURE, 2020

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 

 

 

 

 

HOUSE RESOLUTION

 

 

urging the tax REVIEW commission and the Office of planning to conduct feasibility studies to determine whether and how green fees can support or accelerate PROGRESS toward hawaii's climate change MITIGATION and adaptation benchmarks and mandates.

 

 

 

     WHEREAS, Hawaii's reefs, oceans, beaches, forests, and other natural resources provide billions of dollars in value to the economy; and

 

     WHEREAS, residents and visitors enjoy the benefits of Hawaii's ecosystem and natural environment, but the continued use of the State's natural resources will have a detrimental effect on those assets; and

 

     WHEREAS, Hawaii's natural resources are vital to the tourism industry and the local economy; however, Hawaii invests less than one percent of its state budget into those assets; and

 

     WHEREAS, Hawaii's total conservation funding gap is estimated to be as high as $360 million annually, constituting a major unfunded liability that poses a significant risk to the State's business climate and economic resiliency; and

 

     WHEREAS, innovative financing mechanisms such as green fees, also called eco-taxes or green taxes, could allow the State to better manage impacts on ecosystems and natural resources because green fees require mandatory payments to government entities for the explicit purpose of supporting conservation and natural resource management; and

 

     WHEREAS, this body seeks to understand if and how green fees can support or accelerate progress toward the State's climate change benchmarks and mandates and Aloha+ Challenge natural resource management goals; now, therefore,

     BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Thirtieth Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2020, that the Tax Review Commission and Office of Planning are urged to conduct feasibility studies to determine whether and how green fees can support or accelerate progress toward the State's climate change benchmarks, mandates, and initiatives; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Tax Review Commission's feasibility study include:

 

     (1)  An examination of all existing tax and fee structures that exist to support climate change mitigation efforts;

 

     (2)  An examination of all existing tax and fee structures placed on visitor accommodation and tourism industries; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Office of Planning's feasibility study include:

 

     (1)  A discussion of the advantages or disadvantages of increasing, decreasing, or reallocating existing taxes relative to the option of establishing a new green fee on tourists and residents; and

 

     (2)  Proposed green fee structures that could close the $360 million annual conservation funding gap over a five-year period and a means to impose fees fairly on residents and tourists; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Tax Review Commission and Director of the Office of Planning are requested to submit a report to the Legislature of their findings, recommendations, and any proposed legislation no later than December 31, 2020; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Resolution be transmitted to the Director of Taxation, Chair of the Tax Review Commission, and Director of the Office of Planning.

 

 

 

 

OFFERED BY:

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Report Title: 

Tourism; Green Fees; Feasibility Study