STAND. COM. REP. NO. (ç~3_24
Honolu , a~aii
2024
RE: H.R. No. 94
H.D. 1
Honorable Scott K. Saiki
Speaker, House of Representatives
Thirty—Second State Legislature
Regular Session of 2024
State of Hawaii
Sir:
Your Committee on Economic Development, to which was referred
H.R. No. 94 entitled:
“HOUSE RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF BUSINESS,
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, AND TOURISM TO CONVENE A WORKING GROUP
TO EXAMINE THE FEASIBILITY OF A STATE LOTTERY,”
begs leave to report as follows:
The purpose of this measure is to request the Department of
Business, Economic Development, and Tourism to convene a working
group to examine the feasibility of a state lottery.
Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure
from one individual. Your Committee received comments on this
measure from the Department of Business, Economic Development, and
Tourism.
Your Committee finds that according to the North American
Association of State and Provincial Lotteries, forty—four states
and the District of Columbia offer lotteries in the United States.
Gallup polls have found that state lotteries are the most popular
form of gambling in the United States, with roughly half of
respondents saying they purchased a lottery ticket in the past
twelve months. In 2021, Americans spent $105.26 billion on -
lottery tickets, and state governments on average take in about a
third of each lottery jackpot in taxes and revenue.
2024-2638 HR94 HD1 HSCR HMSO
STAND. COM. REP. No.Jcl~)-24
Page 2
Your Committee recognizes that Hawaii is one of the few
remaining jurisdictions without a state lottery. Your Committee
believes that a working group should be convened to study whether
a state lottery would be feasible.
The Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism
states in its testimony that for the project to be completed at
the scope and timeline as requested in this measure, the
Department would need $200,000 in state funds to hire a research
company to prepare the feasibility study.
Your Committee further notes that the Department currently
has vacancies for economist positions and recommends extending the
deadline to submit the report to the Legislature to twenty days
prior to the Regular Session of 2026 to give the Department time
to fill the economist positions and conduct the study in house.
Accordingly, your Committee has amended this measure by:
(1) Clarifying that the Department of Business, Economic
Development, and Tourism is requested to submit its
report examining the feasibility of a state lottery to
the Legislature no later than twenty days prior to the
convening of the Regular Session of 2026; and
(2) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the
purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.
As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your
Committee on Economic Development that is attached to this report,
your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of H.R. No. 94,
as amended herein, and recommends that it be referred to your
Committee on Finance in the form attached hereto as H.R. No. 94,
H.D. 1.
2024-2638 HR94 HD1 HSCR HMSO
STAND. COM. REP. NO. IçZI3 -24
Page 3
Respectfully submitted on
behalf of the members of the
Committee on Economic
Development,
~2P~z
DANIEL HOLT, Chair
2024-2638 HR94 FID1 HSCR HMSO
State of Hawaii
House of Representatives
The Thirty-second Legislature
fçc.~a% 1Sa~-z~
Record of Votes of the Committee on Economic Development
Bill/Resolution No.: Committee Referral: Date:
~qq t~l’~J ~j~2~2VL~o7J-\
C The committee is reconsidering its previous decision on the measure.
The recommendation is to: Q Pass, unamended (as is) Pass, with amendments (HD) C Hold
C Pass short form bill with HD to recommit for future public hearing (recommit)
ECD Members Ayes Ayes (WR) Nays Excused
1. HOLT, Daniel (C)
2. LAMOSAO, Rachele F. (VC)
3. HUSSEY-BURDICK, Natalia
4. KONG, Sam Satoru
5. LA CHICA, Trish V
6. NAKAMURA, Nadine K.
7. QUINLAN, Sean V
8. PIERICK, Elijah
TOTAL (8) / 2...
The recommendation is: ~“Adopted ~ Not Adopted
If joint referral, did not support recommendation.
committee acronym(s)
Vice Chair’s or designee’s signature:
Distribution: Original (White) — Committee
(J~2~) I~~h
Duplicate (Yellow) — Chief Clerk’s Office Duplicate (Pink) — HMSO