In one paragraph
Hawaii's HB 2597 (H.D. 1, S.D. 1) would have required the State's chief data officer to turn the open data portal into a comprehensive Hawaii data hub with an AI chatbot developed in phases, and to build a system to evaluate and select AI governance tools for state agencies and publish agency AI use cases and vendors. It passed the House March 5, 2026, but the Senate never passed it; it died when the session adjourned May 8, 2026.
Plain-English summary, written with AI assistance. The official text controls.
What it means for business
None: the bill did not pass. It would have placed duties only on the chief data officer and state agencies; vendors supplying AI to state agencies could have been named on a public list posted on data.hawaii.gov.
Key provisions
- Would add HRS sections 27-A and 27-B and amend section 27-44
- The chief data officer would develop and publish an AI chatbot in phases for the open data portal, publishing each phase's contents, including tests and yearly audits
- The chatbot would work in English and Olelo Hawaii, include a source link in each answer, carry an AI-generated disclaimer, offer a way to reach a human, and be barred from giving legal or medical advice
- State agencies that deploy a chatbot would have to use the portal chatbot or link their chatbot to the data hub
- The chief data officer would develop a system to evaluate and select AI governance tools, and agencies would have to report AI use cases and vendors, which would be published
- Appropriation for fiscal year 2026-2027 with the amount left blank, covering the chatbot, governance tools, AI engineer and scientist positions and portal improvements
- Would have taken effect January 1, 2077. Passed House March 5, 2026; passed Senate Second Reading as amended (SD 1) and referred to WAM March 30, 2026; died at adjournment May 8, 2026
Latest legislative action
Mar 30, 2026. Report adopted; Passed Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referred to WAM.
Sponsors (showing 5 of 27)
| Name | Role |
|---|---|
| GARRETT | Primary |
| GATES | Primary |
| HASHEM | Primary |
| HOLT | Primary |
| ICHIYAMA | Primary |
Roll call votes (showing 3 of 4)
The committee(s) on GVO recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. Mar 25, 2026
4 yea0 nay1 otherPassed
The committee(s) on LBT recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. Mar 25, 2026
4 yea0 nay1 otherPassed
The committee on FIN recommend that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. Mar 2, 2026
16 yea0 nayPassed
Topics and industries
Related topics
Affected industries
This page is general information, not legal advice. Summaries are AI-assisted and may contain errors; read the statute for the controlling text and talk to a lawyer about your situation. Full disclaimer · Report an error