Bill > HB2591

This bill requires the Chief Data Officer to enhance the State's open data portal, data.hawaii.gov, by developing and publishing an artificial intelligence (AI) chatbot and data visualizations to help the public find information about state services. The AI chatbot, defined as a software program that simulates human conversation using generative AI, will be developed in phases with full transparency, including yearly audits, and will offer answers in English and Olelo Hawaii, with source links and a disclaimer that the information is AI-generated. It will also provide a way to connect users with a human if needed, explicitly prohibit legal or medical advice, and prevent users from deleting or exporting collected data. The Chief Data Officer will also develop a system to evaluate and select AI governance tools for state departments and agencies to ensure responsible AI use, and establish a mechanism for reporting and publishing AI use cases and vendors. Additionally, the bill appropriates $2,000,000 for fiscal year 2026-2027 to fund the development of the AI chatbot, AI governance tools, the creation of two new full-time positions (an AI engineer and an AI scientist), and improvements to the open data portal. The bill also amends existing statutes to incorporate these responsibilities for the Chief Data Officer and the data task force, and specifies that the Act takes effect on July 1, 2026.

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https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session/measure_indiv.aspx?billtype=HB&billnumber=2591&year=2026