Technology

passed both · Hawaii · Senate Apr 2, 2026

SB 1496: RELATING TO CIVIL RIGHTS.

Makes it an unlawful discriminatory practice for places of public accommodation to deny a person with a disability full and equal enjoyment of, or information related to, their goods, services, facilities, privileges, advantages, or accommodations using information and communication technology intended for use by the general public as applicants, participants, customers, clients, or visitors. Establishes exceptions. Clarifies that a facility is considered a place of public accommodation regardless of whether its presence in the State is physical or digital. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

Topics ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyRequires public accommodations to provide accessible ICT for disabled individuals, promoting digital equity and accessibility standards per civil rights framework.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Technology

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passed both · Hawaii · House Mar 30, 2026

HB 2597: RELATING TO ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE.

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)

Topics ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyDevelops AI chatbot for public data portal access, enhancing state service navigation and AI implementation per bill's mandate.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Technology

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passed both · Hawaii · House Mar 30, 2026

HB 1615: RELATING TO THE HAWAII TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION.

Declares that the State is an ocean cluster. Establishes the Office of Marine Affairs within the Hawaii Technology Development Corporation for administrative purposes only. Establishes and appropriates funds for the Marine Affairs Coordinator position. Requires the Marine Affairs Coordinator to submit annual reports to the Governor and Legislature. Transfers the functions of the Governor's Advisory Committee on Marine Affairs to the Office of Marine Affairs. Appropriates funds for the Office of Marine Affairs to procure the services of a consultant to support the marine affairs declaration of intent. Effective 7/1/3050. (SD1)

Topics ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyAppropriates funds for ocean technology development, directly supporting tech innovation through state funding and coordination.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Technology

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passed both · Hawaii · House Mar 25, 2026

HB 2545: RELATING TO THE HAWAII TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION.

Requires the Hawaii Technology Development Corporation to establish the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Matching Program. Requires the Hawaii Technology Development Corporation, in collaboration with the Department of Education, to establish a STEM education outreach program, under which recipients of funds from the SBIR Matching Program must deliver presentations to public school students. Requires and appropriates funds for the Hawaii Technology Development Corporation to develop an Economic Diversification Strategic Plan. Requires reports to the Legislature. Appropriates funds for economic diversification and defense ecosystem development. Effective 7/1/3000. (SD1)

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill mandates STEM education outreach program requiring SBIR recipients to present to public school students, enhancing educational access and STEM education.85% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyAppropriates funds for HTDC to establish tech innovation programs, STEM outreach, and economic diversification strategic plan, directly advancing technology development.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Technology

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passed both · Hawaii · House Mar 24, 2026

HB 1613: RELATING TO THE HAWAII TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION.

Appropriates funds for the Hawaii Technology Development Corporation to establish advanced manufacturing and cybersecurity specialist and marketing and branding specialist positions. Effective 7/1/3050. (SD1)

Topics ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyFunds cybersecurity specialist position at HTDC, directly enhancing cybersecurity capabilities through new role creation and appropriations.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Technology

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passed both · Hawaii · House Mar 24, 2026

HB 1614: RELATING TO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

Establishes the Hawaii Technology Development Corporation Revolving Fund for the purpose of financing the State's matching contributions required by federal grants. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/3050. (SD1)

Topics ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyEstablishes Hawaii Technology Development Corporation Revolving Fund to finance state matching for federal tech development grants, directly funding HTDC for technology economic development.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Technology

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passed · Hawaii · House Mar 23, 2026

HB 1676: RELATING TO ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE.

Establishes an Artificial Intelligence in Education Task Force to develop guidelines and recommendations for the use of artificial intelligence in state public education. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAppropriates funds for AI in Education Task Force, directly funding a new program per bill's appropriation clause90% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationEstablishes AI in Education Task Force with funding to develop guidelines for AI use in public schools, enhancing tech integration and procurement standards in education.95% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyEstablishes AI task force, mandates vendor documentation, and appropriates funds for AI in education guidelines, promoting responsible AI adoption.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Technology

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passed both · Hawaii · House Mar 23, 2026

HB 1562: RELATING TO YOUTH MENTAL HEALTH.

Establishes and appropriates funds for a one-year Digital Youth Mental Health Platform Pilot Project that will enable the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Division of the Department of Health to develop and make publicly available a digital platform designed to help young people address and manage mental health challenges. Requires a report to the Legislature. Effective 7/1/3000. (SD1)

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareFunds a digital mental health platform for youth, directly advancing access to mental health services under healthcare policy.95% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyAppropriates funds for a digital platform pilot project to address youth mental health, directly advancing technology use in public services.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Technology

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passed both · Hawaii · Senate Mar 20, 2026

SB 125: RELATING TO STATE ENTERPRISE ZONES.

Amends the definition of "eligible business activity" for State Enterprise Zone Program purposes to include retail sales of tangible personal property manufactured and sold in the enterprise zone to the final consumer, the processing of value-added agricultural products grown within an enterprise zone, the provision of professional services by health care professionals in health-care-related sectors, the use of advanced manufacturing to produce products, or the development of cybersecurity technology. Extends the eligibility period of the state business tax credit and general excise tax exemption for qualified businesses within state enterprise zones from 7 years to 9 years. Extends the eligibility period of the general excise tax exemption for qualified businesses within state enterprise zones engaged in the manufacturing of tangible personal property or the producing or processing of agricultural products from 10 years to 12 years. Makes the extension of the state business tax credit eligibility period applicable to taxable years beginning after 12/31/2025. Makes the extension of the general excise tax exemption eligibility period take effect on 1/1/2027. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesExpands tax incentives for eligible business activities in enterprise zones, including manufacturing and cybersecurity.90% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyBill explicitly includes 'development of cybersecurity technology' as an eligible business activity for tax incentives, directly advancing cybersecurity within the technology topic.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Technology

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passed · Hawaii · House Mar 10, 2026

HB 1635: RELATING TO TAXATION.

Makes broadcast and streaming platform productions and commercial advertisement productions with Internet-only distribution eligible to receive the Motion Picture, Digital Media, and Film Production Income Tax Credit. Repeals 1/1/2033. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesExpands tax credit eligibility for digital media productions, providing tax relief to qualifying businesses, aligning with tax credit support indicators.95% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyProvides tax credit for digital media production, directly incentivizing investment in streaming platforms and internet-based content distribution technologies.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Technology

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