Hawaii legislation · 2026 Regular Session
Hawaii HB2597: Relating to Artificial Intelligence.
Status: In committee, March 30, 2026
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.
What the bill says
A bill for an act relating to artificial intelligence.
From the engrossed text:
A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE. 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 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 2026-1968 HB2597 SDl SMA.docx HiiiiiiniiiHniiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii Page H.B. NO. S'; 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) …
Sponsors
- Linda Ichiyama (D, 31) · primary sponsor
- Andrew Garrett (D, 22)
- Mark Hashem (D, 19)
- Greggor Ilagan (D, 4)
- Kirstin Kahaloa (D, 6)
- Jeanne Kapela (D, 5)
- Susan Keohokapu-Lee Loy (D, 2)
- Darius Kila (D, 44)
- Sam Kong (D, HD-033)
- Matthias Kusch (D, 1)
- Lisa Marten (D, 51)
- Tyson Miyake (D, 10)
Latest actions
- : Report adopted; Passed Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referred to WAM.
- : Reported from LBT/GVO (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 3358) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to WAM.
- : 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.
- : 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.
- : The committee(s) on LBT/GVO has scheduled a public hearing on 03-25-26 3:00PM; Conference Room 225 & Videoconference.
- : Referred to LBT/GVO, WAM.
- : Passed First Reading.
- : Received from House (Hse. Com. No. 123).
- : 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.
- : Reported from FIN (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 772-26), recommending passage on Third Reading.
Votes
- LBT: recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS (March 25, 2026): 4 yea, 0 nay, passed
- GVO: recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS (March 25, 2026): 4 yea, 0 nay, passed
- Third Reading with Representative(s) Garcia, Iwamoto voting aye with reservations; Representative(s) Pierick voting no (1) and Representative(s) Perruso excused (1) (March 5, 2026): 49 yea, 1 nay, passed
- FIN: recommend that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED (March 2, 2026): 16 yea, 0 nay, 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 (February 17, 2026): 48 yea, 0 nay, passed
- ECD: recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS (February 6, 2026): 7 yea, 0 nay, passed
Subjects: Report, Artificial Intelligence, Appropriations, DOE, UH, Prohibition, DAGS
Common questions
- What is HB2597?
- HB2597 is a bill in the Hawaii Legislature (2026 Regular Session): Relating to Artificial Intelligence.
- What does HB2597 do?
- In its own words: A bill for an act relating to artificial intelligence.
- What is the status of HB2597?
- In committee as of March 30, 2026. Latest action: Report adopted; Passed Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referred to WAM. (March 30, 2026).
- Who sponsored HB2597?
- Linda Ichiyama (D, 31), with 11 co-sponsors.
- Where is the official record for HB2597?
- On the Hawaii Legislature website: https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/measure_indiv.aspx?billtype=HB&billnumber=2597&year=2026
Source: official Hawaii record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.