Bill > HB2598

This bill requires the Hawaii Technology Development Corporation (HTDC) to create the "Hawaii Made IT Program" to certify local information technology (IT) vendors, making them eligible for state and county government contracts. To be certified, vendors must have their headquarters in Hawaii, with at least two-thirds of their employees being state residents, demonstrate five years of state income tax compliance, provide three references from completed government projects, and commit to donating one percent of their state contract awards to nonprofit digital literacy and equity programs. The HTDC can also explore benefits for participating vendors, such as business advantages and training opportunities, and may charge fees to cover program costs and promote certified businesses. The bill also mandates reporting requirements, including an initial report on employee numbers and salaries upon program launch, and subsequent triennial reports detailing contract awards to certified vendors, updated employee data, a comparison of vendor employee salaries to the ALICE (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed) household threshold, and an overall assessment of the program's impact.

Business and Industry

https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session/measure_indiv.aspx?billtype=HB&billnumber=2598&year=2026