SB 2908 Hawaii Senate · 2026 Regular Session

RELATING TO PERMITTING.

Summary

Requires and appropriates funds for the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism, in collaboration with a county selected by the Department, to develop an artificial intelligence-assisted pre-compliance intake pilot platform, subject to a matching funds requirement for the county. Requires the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism to develop a policy or metric to measure the success of the pilot platform. Effective 7/1/2050. (HD1)

Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2026

Committee Review

Mar 2026

Senate Passage

Mar 2026

House Passage

Governor

Introduced Jan 23, 2026 Last action Mar 20, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

SB2908_HD1 → SB2908_SD1 · 5 edits

MODERATE

The bill was revised to expand its scope from a limited pilot program in a single county to a statewide permitting intake platform. This change shifts the focus from testing artificial intelligence tools in one location to creating a unified system for all counties, which aims to standardize data and improve efficiency across the entire state. The funding structure was updated to reflect this broader scope, requiring each county to contribute matching funds rather than just one selected county.

Scope change

The bill changed from a pilot program limited to one county to a statewide platform applicable to all counties.

SCOPE

The project scope expanded from a pilot platform in a single county to a statewide permitting intake platform for all counties.

REQUIREMENT

The requirement for artificial intelligence assistance was removed from the specific list of platform functions, though it remains part of the general description.

The mandate to develop a policy or metric to measure the pilot's success before statewide adoption was removed.

FISCAL

The appropriation amount was set to $50,000, and the matching fund requirement changed from a single county providing funds to every county providing $12,500.

ELIGIBILITY

The eligibility criteria were broadened from projects involving single-family homes in a pilot county to all permitting activities across the state.

Floor votes

How they voted

This bill passed the Senate by voice vote (no roll call recorded).

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Mar 20, 2026

Committee

Reported from ECD (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1275-26) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to WAL.

lower

Mar 18, 2026

Lower · Passed

The committee on ECD recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 6 Ayes: Representative(s) Ilagan, Hussey, Tam, Templo, Yamashita, Gedeon; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and Excused: none.

lower

Mar 10, 2026

Committee

Referred to ECD, WAL, FIN, referral sheet 16

lower

Mar 6, 2026

Introduced

Received from Senate (Sen. Com. No. 86) in amended form (SD 1).

lower

Mar 6, 2026

Upper · Passed

Report Adopted; Passed Third Reading. Ayes, 24; Aye(s) with reservations: none. Noes, 0 (none). Excused, 1 (Senator(s) Ihara). Transmitted to House.

upper

Mar 3, 2026

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on WAM recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes in WAM were as follows: 12 Aye(s): Senator(s) Dela Cruz, Moriwaki, DeCoite, Elefante, Hashimoto, Inouye, Kanuha, Kidani, Kim, Lee, C., Richards, Wakai; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 1 Excused: Senator(s) Fevella.

upper

Feb 27, 2026

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on WAM will hold a public decision making on 03-03-26 10:17AM; Conference Room 211 & Videoconference.

upper

Feb 19, 2026

Upper · Passed

Report adopted; Passed Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referred to WAM.

upper

Feb 19, 2026

Committee

Reported from EDT/EIG (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 2382) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to WAM.

upper

Feb 12, 2026

Upper · Passed

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, Fukunaga, Kim; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 1 Excused: Senator(s) Fevella.

upper

Feb 12, 2026

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on EIG recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in EIG were as follows: 3 Aye(s): Senator(s) Wakai, Chang, DeCoite; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 2 Excused: Senator(s) Richards, Fevella.

upper

Feb 10, 2026

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on EDT/EIG has scheduled a public hearing on 02-12-26 1:00PM; Conference Room 229 & Videoconference.

upper

Jan 30, 2026

Committee

Referred to EDT/EIG, WAM.

upper

Jan 23, 2026

Introduced

Introduced.

upper

2 primary · 4 co-sponsors