summary
Introduced
01/26/2026
01/26/2026
In Committee
02/11/2026
02/11/2026
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead
Introduced Session
2026 Regular Session
Bill 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 7/1/3000. (HD1)
AI Summary
This bill requires the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism (DBEDT), working with a county it selects, to create a pilot program for an artificial intelligence (AI)-assisted pre-compliance intake platform. This platform will use AI to help screen permit applications for single-family homes, checking for completeness, missing information, and basic parcel and zoning details, and will route applications to all relevant county agencies simultaneously. It will also provide applicants with guidance through a chat feature and frequently asked questions, while ensuring that human assistance remains available and that AI enhances, rather than replaces, human service. The DBEDT must also establish a way to measure the success of this pilot platform to see if it could be used statewide. The bill appropriates funds for this project, but the selected county must also provide matching funds. This initiative stems from findings by the Simplifying Permitting for Enhanced Economic Development (SPEED) task force, which identified lengthy permit waiting times and issues with incomplete applications as significant problems.
Committee Categories
Agriculture and Natural Resources, Business and Industry
Sponsors (20)
Terez Amato (D)*,
Della Belatti (D)*,
Luke Evslin (D)*,
Greggor Ilagan (D)*,
Kirstin Kahaloa (D)*,
Jeanné Kapela (D)*,
Susan Keohokapu-Lee Loy (D)*,
Darius Kila (D)*,
Matthias Kusch (D)*,
Nicole Lowen (D)*,
Lisa Marten (D)*,
Scot Matayoshi (D)*,
Tyson Miyake (D)*,
Dee Morikawa (D)*,
Ikaika Olds (D)*,
Jackson Sayama (D)*,
Jenna Takenouchi (D)*,
Adrian Tam (D)*,
David Tarnas (D)*,
Shirley Ann Templo (D)*,
Last Action
Passed Second Reading as amended in HD 1 and referred to the committee(s) on WAL with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Holt excused (1). (on 02/11/2026)
Official Document
bill text
bill summary
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bill summary
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bill summary
| Document Type | Source Location |
|---|---|
| State Bill Page | https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session/measure_indiv.aspx?billtype=HB&billnumber=1968&year=2026 |
| BillText | https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/HB1968_HD1_.HTM |
| Committee Report HB1968_HD1_HSCR145-26_ | https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/CommReports/HB1968_HD1_HSCR145-26_.pdf |
| HB1968_TESTIMONY_ECD-TOU_02-04-26_ | https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/Testimony/HB1968_TESTIMONY_ECD-TOU_02-04-26_.PDF |
| BillText | https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/HB1968_.HTM |
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