HB 2597: Chief Data Officer; Open Data Portal; Comprehensive Hawaii Data Hub; Artificial Intelligence; Governance Tools; State Departments and Agencies; Artificial Intelligence Chatbot; Appropriation
- Session Year: 2025-2026
- House: House
- Latest Version Date: 2026-03-27
Current Status:
Failed
(2026-03-30: Report adopted; Passed Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referred to WAM.)
Introduced
In Committee
First Chamber
In Committee
Second Chamber
Final Decking
Enacted
Requires the Chief Data Officer to enhance the State's open data portal website through the phased development and publishing of an artificial intelligence chatbot and necessary data visualizations on statewide shared data sets to assist the public. Requires the Chief Data Officer to develop a system to evaluate and select artificial intelligence governance tools for use by state departments and agencies and establish a mechanism for reporting and publication of artificial intelligence use cases and artificial intelligence vendors used by the departments and agencies. Appropriates funds. Effective 1/1/2077. (SD1)
Requires the Chief Data Officer to enhance the State's open data portal website through the phased development and publishing of an artificial intelligence chatbot and necessary data visualizations on statewide shared data sets to assist the public. Requires the Chief Data Officer to develop a system to evaluate and select artificial intelligence governance tools for use by state departments and agencies and establish a mechanism for reporting and publication of artificial intelligence use cases and artificial intelligence vendors used by the departments and agencies. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)
Requires the Chief Data Officer to enhance the State's open data portal website through the phased development and publishing of an artificial intelligence chatbot and necessary data visualizations on statewide shared data sets to assist the public in navigating the open data portal website and finding information about statewide services across state departments and agencies. Requires the Chief Data Officer to develop a system to evaluate and select for procurement artificial intelligence governance tools for use by state departments and agencies and establish a mechanism for reporting and publication of artificial intelligence use cases and artificial intelligence vendors used by the departments and agencies. Appropriates funds.
|
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES |
H.B. NO. |
2597 |
|
THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026 |
H.D. 1 |
|
|
STATE OF HAWAII |
S.D. 1 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
|
|
||
A BILL FOR AN ACT
RELATING TO ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:
SECTION 1. Chapter 27, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding two new sections to part VII to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:
"§27-A Open data portal; comprehensive Hawaii data hub; artificial intelligence chatbot; phased development. (a) The chief data officer shall enhance the State's open data portal at data.hawaii.gov or successor website, as designated through the office of enterprise technology services, to make the open data portal the comprehensive Hawaii data hub, which shall include public data from all state entities, by developing and publishing an artificial intelligence chatbot and necessary data visualizations on statewide shared data sets to assist the public in navigating the State's open data portal and finding information about statewide services across state departments and agencies.
(b) The chief data officer shall develop the artificial intelligence chatbot in phases. The chief data officer shall ensure full transparency throughout the process and publish the contents covered in each phase of development of the chatbot, including tests and yearly audits, on data.hawaii.gov or successor website. State departments and agencies that deploy a chatbot shall utilize the artificial intelligence chatbot or link their departmental chatbot pursuant to the comprehensive Hawaii data hub to ensure chatbot results are consistent across state websites.
(c) In developing the artificial intelligence chatbot pursuant to this section, the chief data officer shall ensure that:
(1) Queries for the chatbot and answers by the chatbot are available in English and Olelo Hawaii;
(2) Any answer provided by the chatbot includes a source link;
(3) The chatbot includes a disclaimer that any answer provided by the chatbot is artificial intelligence-generated;
(4) There is a clear means of connecting a chatbot user with a human if the user requests assistance;
(5) The chatbot is explicitly prohibited from providing any legal advice or medical advice to a user; and
(6) No user can delete data collected by the chatbot to respond to the user.
(d) The chief data officer may provide the artificial intelligence chatbot developed pursuant to this section to any state department or agency for use on that department's or agency's website.
(e) The chief data officer shall ensure the artificial intelligence chatbot developed pursuant to this section adheres to the State's privacy and security policies.
(f) As used in this section, "artificial intelligence chatbot" or "chatbot" means a software application, web interface, or computer program designed to have textual or spoken conversations that uses a generative artificial intelligence system capable of maintaining a conversation with a user in a manner that uses natural language and simulates the way a natural person would behave as a conversational partner.
§27-B Chief data officer; artificial intelligence; governance tools; departmental and agency use. (a) The chief data officer shall develop a system to evaluate and select for procurement artificial intelligence governance tools for use by state departments and agencies to ensure the responsible use of artificial intelligence by those departments and agencies.
(b) The chief data officer shall establish a mechanism for state departments and agencies to report to the chief data officer on any artificial intelligence use cases and artificial intelligence vendors used by the departments and agencies and publish a list of use cases and vendors on data.hawaii.gov or successor website; provided that state departments and agencies shall participate in the use case reporting process."
SECTION 2. Section 27-44, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended as follows:
1. By amending subsection (a) to read:
"(a) There is established within the office of
enterprise technology services a full-time chief data officer to develop,
implement, and manage statewide data policies, procedures, and standards
pursuant to section 27-44.3 [and to]; facilitate data sharing
across state agencies[.]; and develop and
publish an artificial intelligence chatbot to assist the public in navigating the State's open data portal and
finding information about statewide services pursuant to section 27-A. The chief data officer shall use the state
information assets and analytics to research and recommend processes and tools
to improve inter-departmental and intra-departmental decision making and
reporting. The chief data officer shall
be appointed by and report directly to the chief information officer. Each executive branch department, including
the department of education and [University] university of
Hawaii, shall use reasonable efforts to make appropriate and existing data sets
maintained by the department electronically available to the public through the
State's open data portal at data.hawaii.gov or successor website designated by
the chief data officer; provided that:
(1) Nothing in this chapter shall require departments to create new electronic data sets or to make data sets available upon demand;
(2) Data licensed to the State by another person or entity shall not be made public under this chapter unless the person or entity licensing the data agrees to the public disclosure; and
(3) Proprietary and other information protected from disclosure by law or contract shall not be disclosed.
This disclosure shall be consistent with the policies, procedures, and standards developed by the chief data officer and consistent with applicable law, including chapter 92F and other state and federal laws related to security and privacy, and no personally identifiable information shall be posted online unless the identified individual has consented to the posting or the posting is necessary to fulfill the lawful purposes or duties of the department."
2. By amending subsection (d) to read:
"(d) There is established a data task force to
assist the chief data officer in developing the State's data policies,
procedures, and standards[.], including advising on the development and publication of an artificial
intelligence chatbot to assist the public in navigating the State's open data
portal and finding information about statewide services pursuant to
section 27-A. The task force shall
comprise the following members:
(1) One representative of the judiciary, to be appointed by the chief justice of the supreme court;
(2) The superintendent of education, or the superintendent's designee;
(3) The director of human services, or the director's designee;
(4) The director of health, or the director's designee;
(5) The director of business, economic development, and tourism, or the director's designee;
(6) The president of
the [University] university of Hawaii, or the president's
designee;
(7) Two members of the public to represent nonprofit organization stakeholders having experience in data, of which one member shall be chosen and invited to participate by the speaker of the house of representatives and one member shall be chosen and invited to participate by the president of the senate; and
(8) Two members of the public to represent for-profit business stakeholders having experience in data, of which one member shall be chosen and invited to participate by the speaker of the house of representatives and one member shall be chosen and invited to participate by the president of the senate.
The chief data officer shall serve as the chair of the task force and shall ensure that the task force is evaluated periodically."
SECTION 3. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $ or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2026-2027 for:
(1) The chief data officer to develop and publish an artificial intelligence chatbot to assist the public in navigating the State's open data portal and finding information about statewide services pursuant to section 27-A, Hawaii Revised Statutes;
(2) Artificial intelligence governance tools;
(3) The establishment of full-time equivalent ( FTE) artificial intelligence engineer position;
(4) The establishment of full-time equivalent ( FTE) artificial intelligence scientist position; and
(5) For any necessary improvements, as determined by the chief data officer, for the State's open data portal at data.hawaii.gov.
The sum appropriated shall be expended by the department of accounting and general services for the purposes of this Act.
SECTION 4. In codifying the new sections added by section 1 of this Act, the revisor of statutes shall substitute appropriate section numbers for the letters used in designating the new sections in this Act.
SECTION 5. Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken. New statutory material is underscored.
SECTION 6. This Act shall take effect on January 1, 2077.
Report Title:
Chief Data Officer; Open Data Portal; Comprehensive Hawaii Data Hub; Artificial Intelligence; Governance Tools; State Departments and Agencies; Artificial Intelligence Chatbot; Appropriation
Description:
Requires the Chief Data Officer to enhance the State's open data portal website through the phased development and publishing of an artificial intelligence chatbot and necessary data visualizations on statewide shared data sets to assist the public. Requires the Chief Data Officer to develop a system to evaluate and select artificial intelligence governance tools for use by state departments and agencies and establish a mechanism for reporting and publication of artificial intelligence use cases and artificial intelligence vendors used by the departments and agencies. Appropriates funds. Effective 1/1/2077. (SD1)
The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.
|
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES |
H.B. NO. |
2597 |
|
THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026 |
H.D. 1 |
|
|
STATE OF HAWAII |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
|
|
||
A BILL FOR AN ACT
RELATING TO ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:
SECTION 1. Chapter 27, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding two new sections to part VII to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:
"§27-A Open data portal; comprehensive Hawaii data hub; artificial intelligence chatbot; phased development. (a) The chief data officer shall enhance the State's open data portal at data.hawaii.gov or successor website, as designated through the office of enterprise technology services, to make the open data portal the comprehensive Hawaii data hub, which shall include public data from all state entities, by developing and publishing an artificial intelligence chatbot and necessary data visualizations on statewide shared data sets to assist the public in navigating the State's open data portal and finding information about statewide services across state departments and agencies.
(b) The chief data officer shall develop the artificial intelligence chatbot in phases. The chief data officer shall ensure full transparency throughout the process and publish the contents covered in each phase of development of the chatbot, including tests and yearly audits, on data.hawaii.gov or successor website. State departments and agencies shall utilize the artificial intelligence chatbot or link their departmental chatbot pursuant to subsection (d) to the comprehensive Hawaii data hub to ensure chat chatbot results are consistent across state websites.
(c) In developing the artificial intelligence chatbot pursuant to this section, the chief data officer shall ensure that:
(1) Queries for the chatbot and answers by the chatbot are available in English and Olelo Hawaii;
(2) Any answer provided by the chatbot includes a source link;
(3) The chatbot includes a disclaimer that any answer provided by the chatbot is artificial intelligence-generated;
(4) There is a clear means of connecting a chatbot user with a human if the user requests assistance;
(5) The chatbot is explicitly prohibited from providing any legal advice or medical advice to a user; and
(6) No user can delete data collected by the chatbot to respond to the user.
(d) The chief data officer may provide the artificial intelligence chatbot developed pursuant to this section to any state department or agency for use on that department's or agency's website.
(e) The chief data officer shall ensure the artificial intelligence chatbot developed pursuant to this section adheres to the State's privacy and security policies.
(f) As used in this section, "artificial intelligence chatbot" or "chatbot" means a software application, web interface, or computer program designed to have textual or spoken conversations that uses a generative artificial intelligence system capable of maintaining a conversation with a user in a manner that uses natural language and simulates the way a natural person would behave as a conversational partner.
§27-B Chief data officer; artificial intelligence; governance tools; departmental and agency use. (a) The chief data officer shall develop a system to evaluate and select for procurement artificial intelligence governance tools for use by state departments and agencies to ensure the responsible use of artificial intelligence by those departments and agencies.
(b) The chief data officer shall establish a mechanism for state departments and agencies to report to the chief data officer on any artificial intelligence use cases and artificial intelligence vendors used by the departments and agencies and publish a list of use cases and vendors on data.hawaii.gov or successor website; provided that state departments and agencies shall participate in the use case reporting process."
SECTION 2. Section 27-44, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended as follows:
1. By amending subsection (a) to read:
"(a) There is established within the office of
enterprise technology services a full-time chief data officer to develop,
implement, and manage statewide data policies, procedures, and standards
pursuant to section 27-44.3 [and to]; facilitate data sharing
across state agencies[.]; and develop and
publish an artificial intelligence chatbot to assist the public in navigating the State's open data portal and
finding information about statewide services pursuant to section 27-A. The chief data officer shall use the state
information assets and analytics to research and recommend processes and tools
to improve inter-departmental and intra-departmental decision making and
reporting. The chief data officer shall
be appointed by and report directly to the chief information officer. Each executive branch department, including
the department of education and University of Hawaii, shall use reasonable
efforts to make appropriate and existing data sets maintained by the department
electronically available to the public through the State's open data portal at
data.hawaii.gov or successor website designated by the chief data officer;
provided that:
(1) Nothing in this chapter shall require departments to create new electronic data sets or to make data sets available upon demand;
(2) Data licensed to the State by another person or entity shall not be made public under this chapter unless the person or entity licensing the data agrees to the public disclosure; and
(3) Proprietary and other information protected from disclosure by law or contract shall not be disclosed.
This disclosure shall be consistent with the policies, procedures, and standards developed by the chief data officer and consistent with applicable law, including chapter 92F and other state and federal laws related to security and privacy, and no personally identifiable information shall be posted online unless the identified individual has consented to the posting or the posting is necessary to fulfill the lawful purposes or duties of the department."
2. By amending subsection (d) to read:
"(d) There is established a data task force to
assist the chief data officer in developing the State's data policies,
procedures, and standards[.], including advising in the development and publishing of an artificial
intelligence chatbot to assist the public in navigating the State's open data
portal and finding information about statewide services pursuant to
section 27-A. The task force shall
comprise the following members:
(1) One representative of the judiciary, to be appointed by the chief justice of the supreme court;
(2) The superintendent of education, or the superintendent's designee;
(3) The director of human services, or the director's designee;
(4) The director of health, or the director's designee;
(5) The director of business, economic development, and tourism, or the director's designee;
(6) The president of the University of Hawaii, or the president's designee;
(7) Two members of the public to represent nonprofit organization stakeholders having experience in data, of which one member shall be chosen and invited to participate by the speaker of the house of representatives and one member shall be chosen and invited to participate by the president of the senate; and
(8) Two members of the public to represent for-profit business stakeholders having experience in data, of which one member shall be chosen and invited to participate by the speaker of the house of representatives and one member shall be chosen and invited to participate by the president of the senate.
The chief data officer shall serve as the chair of the task force and shall ensure that the task force is evaluated periodically."
SECTION 3. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $ or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2026-2027 for:
(1) The chief data officer to develop and publish an artificial intelligence chatbot to assist the public in navigating the State's open data portal and finding information about statewide services pursuant to section 27-A, Hawaii Revised Statutes;
(2) Artificial intelligence governance tools;
(3) The establishment of full-time equivalent ( FTE) artificial intelligence engineer position;
(4) The establishment of full-time equivalent ( FTE) artificial intelligence scientist position; and
(5) For any necessary improvements, as determined by the chief data officer, for the State's open data portal at data.hawaii.gov.
The sum appropriated shall be expended by the department of accounting and general services for the purposes of this Act.
SECTION 4. In codifying the new sections added by section 1 of this Act, the revisor of statutes shall substitute appropriate section numbers for the letters used in designating the new sections in this Act.
SECTION 5. Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken. New statutory material is underscored.
SECTION 6. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 3000.
Report Title:
Chief Data Officer; Open Data Portal; Comprehensive Hawaii Data Hub; Artificial Intelligence; Governance Tools; State Departments and Agencies; Artificial Intelligence Chatbot; Appropriation
Description:
Requires the Chief Data Officer to enhance the State's open data portal website through the phased development and publishing of an artificial intelligence chatbot and necessary data visualizations on statewide shared data sets to assist the public. Requires the Chief Data Officer to develop a system to evaluate and select artificial intelligence governance tools for use by state departments and agencies and establish a mechanism for reporting and publication of artificial intelligence use cases and artificial intelligence vendors used by the departments and agencies. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)
The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.
|
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES |
H.B. NO. |
2597 |
|
THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026 |
|
|
|
STATE OF HAWAII |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
|
|
||
A BILL FOR AN ACT
relating to artificial intelligence.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:
SECTION 1. Chapter 27, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding two new sections to part VII to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:
"§27- Open data portal; comprehensive Hawaii data hub; artificial intelligence chatbot; phased development. (a) The chief data officer shall enhance the State's open data portal at data.hawaii.gov or successor website, as designated through the office of enterprise technology services, to make the open data portal the comprehensive Hawaii data hub, which shall include public data from all state entities, by developing and publishing an artificial intelligence chatbot and necessary data visualizations on statewide shared data sets to assist the public in navigating the State's open data portal and finding information about statewide services across state departments and agencies.
(b) The chief data officer shall develop the artificial intelligence chatbot in phases. The chief data officer shall ensure full transparency throughout the process and publish the contents covered in each phase of development of the chatbot, including tests and yearly audits, on data.hawaii.gov or successor website. State departments and agencies shall utilize the artificial intelligence chatbot or link their departmental chatbot to the comprehensive Hawaii data hub to ensure chat chatbot results are consistent across state websites.
(c) In developing the artificial intelligence chatbot pursuant to this section, the chief data officer shall ensure that:
(1) Queries for the chatbot and answers by the chatbot are available in English and Olelo Hawaii;
(2) Any answer provided by the chatbot includes a source link;
(3) The chatbot includes a disclaimer that any answer provided by the chatbot is artificial intelligence-generated;
(4) There is a clear means of connecting a chatbot user with a human if the user requests assistance;
(5) The chatbot is explicitly prohibited from providing any legal advice or medical advice to a user; and
(6) No user can delete data collected by the chatbot to respond to the user.
(d) The chief data officer may provide the artificial intelligence chatbot developed pursuant to this section to any state department or agency for use on that department's or agency's website.
(e) The chief data officer shall ensure the artificial intelligence chatbot developed pursuant to this section adheres to the State's privacy and security policies.
(f) As used in this section, "artificial intelligence chatbot" or "chatbot" means a software application, web interface, or computer program designed to have textual or spoken conversations that uses a generative artificial intelligence system capable of maintaining a conversation with a user in a manner that uses natural language and simulates the way a natural person would behave as a conversational partner.
§27- Chief data officer; artificial intelligence; governance tools; departmental and agency use. (a) The chief data officer shall develop a system to evaluate and select for procurement artificial intelligence governance tools for use by state departments and agencies to ensure the responsible use of artificial intelligence by those departments and agencies.
(b) The chief data officer shall establish a mechanism for state departments and agencies to report to the chief data officer on any artificial intelligence use cases and artificial intelligence vendors used by the departments and agencies and publish a list of use cases and vendors on data.hawaii.gov or successor website; provided that state departments and agencies shall participate in the use case reporting process."
SECTION 2. Section 27-44, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended as follows:
1. By amending subsection (a) to read:
"(a) There is established within the office of
enterprise technology services a full-time chief data officer to develop,
implement, and manage statewide data policies, procedures, and standards
pursuant to section 27-44.3 [and to]; facilitate data sharing
across state agencies[.]; and develop and
publish an artificial intelligence chatbot to assist the public in navigating the State's open data portal and
finding information about statewide services pursuant to section 27- . The chief data officer shall use the state
information assets and analytics to research and recommend processes and tools
to improve inter-departmental and intra-departmental decision making and
reporting. The chief data officer shall
be appointed by and report directly to the chief information officer. Each executive branch department, including
the department of education and University of Hawaii, shall use reasonable
efforts to make appropriate and existing data sets maintained by the department
electronically available to the public through the State's open data portal at
data.hawaii.gov or successor website designated by the chief data officer;
provided that:
(1) Nothing in this chapter shall require departments to create new electronic data sets or to make data sets available upon demand;
(2) Data licensed to the State by another person or entity shall not be made public under this chapter unless the person or entity licensing the data agrees to the public disclosure; and
(3) Proprietary and other information protected from disclosure by law or contract shall not be disclosed.
This disclosure shall be consistent with the policies, procedures, and standards developed by the chief data officer and consistent with applicable law, including chapter 92F and other state and federal laws related to security and privacy, and no personally identifiable information shall be posted online unless the identified individual has consented to the posting or the posting is necessary to fulfill the lawful purposes or duties of the department."
2. By amending subsection (d) to read:
"(d) There is established a data task force to
assist the chief data officer in developing the State's data policies,
procedures, and standards[.], including advising in the development and publishing of an artificial
intelligence chatbot to assist the public in navigating the State's open data portal
and finding information about statewide services pursuant to section
27- . The task
force shall comprise the following members:
(1) One representative of the judiciary, to be appointed by the chief justice of the supreme court;
(2) The superintendent of education, or the superintendent's designee;
(3) The director of human services, or the director's designee;
(4) The director of health, or the director's designee;
(5) The director of business, economic development, and tourism, or the director's designee;
(6) The president of the University of Hawaii, or the president's designee;
(7) Two members of the public to represent nonprofit organization stakeholders having experience in data, of which one member shall be chosen and invited to participate by the speaker of the house of representatives and one member shall be chosen and invited to participate by the president of the senate; and
(8) Two members of the public to represent for-profit business stakeholders having experience in data, of which one member shall be chosen and invited to participate by the speaker of the house of representatives and one member shall be chosen and invited to participate by the president of the senate.
The chief data officer shall serve as the chair of the task force and shall ensure that the task force is evaluated periodically."
SECTION 3. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $2,000,000 or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2026-2027 for:
(1) The chief data officer to develop and publish an artificial intelligence chatbot to assist the public in navigating the State's open data portal and finding information about statewide services pursuant to section 27- , Hawaii Revised Statutes;
(2) Artificial intelligence governance tools;
(3) The establishment of one full-time equivalent (1.0 FTE) artificial intelligence engineer position;
(4) The establishment of one full-time equivalent (1.0 FTE) artificial intelligence scientist position; and
(5) For any necessary improvements, as determined by the chief data officer, for the State's open data portal at data.hawaii.gov.
The sum appropriated shall be expended by the department of accounting and general services for the purposes of this Act.
SECTION 4. Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken. New statutory material is underscored.
SECTION 5. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2026.
|
INTRODUCED BY: |
_____________________________ |
|
|
|
Report Title:
Chief Data Officer; Open Data Portal; Comprehensive Hawaii Data Hub; Artificial Intelligence; Governance Tools; State Departments and Agencies; Artificial Intelligence Chatbot; Appropriation
Description:
Requires the Chief Data Officer to enhance the State's open data portal website through the phased development and publishing of an artificial intelligence chatbot and necessary data visualizations on statewide shared data sets to assist the public in navigating the open data portal website and finding information about statewide services across state departments and agencies. Requires the Chief Data Officer to develop a system to evaluate and select for procurement artificial intelligence governance tools for use by state departments and agencies and establish a mechanism for reporting and publication of artificial intelligence use cases and artificial intelligence vendors used by the departments and agencies. Appropriates funds.
The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.
|
Date
|
Status
|
|---|---|
| Mar 30, 2026 | Report adopted; Passed Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referred to WAM. |
| Mar 30, 2026 | Reported from LBT/GVO (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 3358) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to WAM. |
| Mar 25, 2026 | The committee(s) on GVO recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in GVO were as follows: 4 Aye(s): Senator(s) McKelvey, Hashimoto, Moriwaki, Awa; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 1 Excused: Senator(s) Gabbard. |
| Mar 25, 2026 | The committee(s) on LBT recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in LBT were as follows: 4 Aye(s): Senator(s) Elefante, Lamosao, Moriwaki, Fevella; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 1 Excused: Senator(s) Ihara. |
| Mar 20, 2026 | The committee(s) on LBT/GVO has scheduled a public hearing on 03-25-26 3:00PM; Conference Room 225 & Videoconference. |
| Mar 10, 2026 | Referred to LBT/GVO, WAM. |
| Mar 6, 2026 | Passed First Reading. |
| Mar 6, 2026 | Received from House (Hse. Com. No. 123). |
| Mar 5, 2026 | Passed Third Reading with Representative(s) Garcia, Iwamoto voting aye with reservations; Representative(s) Pierick voting no (1) and Representative(s) Perruso excused (1). Transmitted to Senate. |
| Mar 5, 2026 | Reported from FIN (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 772-26), recommending passage on Third Reading. |
| Mar 2, 2026 | The committee on FIN recommend that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. 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. |
| Feb 27, 2026 | Bill scheduled to be heard by FIN on Monday, 03-02-26 2:00PM in House conference room 308 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE. |
| Feb 17, 2026 | 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 Representative(s) Cochran, Lee, M., Poepoe excused (3). |
| Feb 17, 2026 | Reported from ECD (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 297-26) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to FIN. |
| Feb 6, 2026 | 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. |
| Feb 2, 2026 | Bill scheduled to be heard by ECD on Friday, 02-06-26 8:30AM in House conference room 423 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE. |
| Feb 2, 2026 | Referred to ECD, FIN, referral sheet 6 |
| Jan 28, 2026 | Introduced and Pass First Reading. |
|
Date
|
Description
|
Location
|
Votes
|
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 25, 2026 | The committee(s) on GVO recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS | Senate Standing Committee on Government Operations |
Passed |
|
| Mar 25, 2026 | The committee(s) on LBT recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS | Senate Standing Committee on Labor and Technology |
Passed |
|
| Mar 5, 2026 | Third Reading | House Floor |
Passed |
|
| Mar 2, 2026 | The committee on FIN recommend that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED | House Standing Committee on Finance |
Passed |
|
| Feb 6, 2026 | The committee on ECD recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS | House Standing Committee on Economic Development & Technology |
Passed |
This list shows positions taken on this bill by organizations on the date displayed, which is linked to the original source.
Positions by individuals are not included.
|
Organization
|
Position
|
Date
|
|---|---|---|
| Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism (DBEDT) | *** Support | Mar 25, 2026 |
| Department of Transportation | *** Support | Mar 3, 2026 |
| Department of Transportation | ** Support | |
| Enterprise Technology Services | ** Support | |
| Hawaiʻi Green Growth | *** Support | Mar 25, 2026 |
| Office of Enterprise Technology Services | ** Support | |
| Office of Enterprise Technology Services | *** Support | Mar 3, 2026 |
| Office of Enterprise Technology Services (ETS), Department of Accounting and General Services | *** Support | Mar 25, 2026 |
| Office of Information Practices | ** Support | |
| Research and Economic Analysis Division | *** Support | Mar 3, 2026 |
STAND. COM. REP. NO. 772-26
Honolulu, Hawaii
, 2026
RE: H.B. No. 2597
H.D. 1
Honorable Nadine K. Nakamura
Speaker, House of Representatives
Thirty-Third State Legislature
Regular Session of 2026
State of Hawaii
Madame:
Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred H.B. No. 2597, H.D. 1, entitled:
"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE,"
begs leave to report as follows:
The purpose of this measure is to require and appropriate funds for the Chief Data Officer to:
(1) Enhance the State's open data portal website through the phased development and publishing of an artificial intelligence chatbot as a virtual assistant on statewide shared data sets; and
(2) Develop a system to evaluate and select artificial intelligence governance tools for use by state departments and agencies and establish a reporting and publication mechanism related to artificial intelligence use cases and vendors used by the departments and agencies.
As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Finance that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2597, H.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.
Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Finance,
|
|
|
____________________________ CHRIS TODD, Chair |
|
|
|
|
STAND. COM. REP. NO. 297-26
Honolulu, Hawaii
, 2026
RE: H.B. No. 2597
H.D. 1
Honorable Nadine K. Nakamura
Speaker, House of Representatives
Thirty-Third State Legislature
Regular Session of 2026
State of Hawaii
Madame:
Your Committee on Economic Development & Technology, to which was referred H.B. No. 2597 entitled:
"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE,"
begs leave to report as follows:
The purpose of this measure is to require and appropriate funds for the Chief Data Officer to:
(1) Enhance the State's open data portal website through the phased development and publishing of an artificial intelligence chatbot as a virtual assistant on statewide shared data sets; and
(2) Develop a system to evaluate and select artificial intelligence governance tools for use by state departments and agencies and establish a reporting and publication mechanism related to artificial intelligence use cases and vendors used by the departments and agencies.
Your Committee finds that improving public access to government information is essential for transparency, civic engagement, and efficient delivery of services. Your Committee further finds that artificial intelligence tools, when deployed responsibly with appropriate governance and privacy safeguards, can help Hawaii residents better navigate statewide services and data resources. This measure will modernize the State's open data infrastructure, strengthen oversight of artificial intelligence use, and support the responsible integration of emerging technologies across state departments and agencies.
Your Committee has amended this measure by:
(1) Changing the appropriation and positions to unspecified amounts;
(2) Changing the effective date to July 1, 3000, to encourage further discussion; and
(3) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.
Your Committee respectfully requests your Committee on Finance, should it deliberate on this measure, to consider an appropriation amount of $2,000,000 that includes one full-time equivalent artificial intelligence engineer position and one full-time equivalent artificial intelligence scientist position.
As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Economic Development & Technology that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2597, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2597, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Finance.
Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Economic Development & Technology,
|
|
|
____________________________ GREGGOR ILAGAN, Chair |
|
|
|
|
|
Date
|
Testimony PDF
|
|---|---|
| Mar 25, 2026 | HB2597_HD1_TESTIMONY_LBT-GVO_03-25-26_.PDF |
| Mar 3, 2026 | HB2597_HD1_TESTIMONY_FIN_03-02-26_.PDF |
| Feb 6, 2026 | HB2597_TESTIMONY_ECD_02-06-26_.PDF |
Discussed in Hearing
11MIN
Senate Standing Committee on Government Operations
11MIN
Senate Standing Committee on Labor and Technology
2MIN
Senate Standing Committee on Government Operations
2MIN
Senate Standing Committee on Labor and Technology
1MIN
House Standing Committee on Finance
1MIN
House Standing Committee on Economic Development & Technology
1MIN
House Standing Committee on Economic Development & Technology
Bill Author
Bill Co-Author(s):
