Bill to track how Hawaii's ‘green fee’ dollars are spent advances

By Christina O'Connor for Pacific Business News

Eugene Tanner / Pacific Business News

A bill that would establish administrative protocols and reporting requirements for Hawaii’s “green fee” has advanced in the Legislature.

House Bill 1949 passed 14-1 through the House Finance Committee on Thursday and was recommended to pass third reading on the House floor.

The green fee, which Hawaii Gov . Josh Green signed into law last year, took effect on Jan. 1, raising Hawaii's transient accommodations tax on hotels and vacation rentals by .75 percentage points to 11%. The legislation also established a new 11% TAT for cruise ships that was halted amid legal challenges.

Officials have estimated that the green fee will bring in about $100 million annually for the state.

Those funds would go toward mitigating the impacts of tourism on the natural environment by supporting efforts to preserve the state’s natural resources and enhance destination management.

Click here to read the full article published by Pacific Business News on Mar. 8.