HB1613 • 2026

RELATING TO THE HAWAII TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION.

Budget Technology

Active

The official status still shows this bill as active or still awaiting another formal step.

Sponsor: ILAGAN, AMATO, CHUN, GRANDINETTI, HUSSEY, KEOHOKAPU-LEE LOY, KILA, MARTEN, MATAYOSHI, MATSUMOTO, MIYAKE, MORIKAWA, SAYAMA, TAM, WOODSON, Alcos
Last action: 2026-03-24
Official status: Report adopted; Passed Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referred to WAM.
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not provide specific details about the bill's impact on HTDC employees or its exact effective date beyond July 1, 2026.

Funding for Hawaii Technology Development Corporation Positions

This bill provides funding for the Hawaii Technology Development Corporation to create positions focused on advanced manufacturing, cybersecurity, marketing, and branding.

What This Bill Does

Appropriates $100,000 from state funds for the Hawaii Technology Development Corporation (HTDC) to establish a full-time Advanced Manufacturing and Cybersecurity Specialist position.
The specialist will support activities related to advanced manufacturing and cybersecurity, including technical assistance for manufacturers and technology companies.
Also appropriates $100,000 for HTDC to establish a full-time Marketing and Branding Specialist position.
This specialist will work on marketing Hawaii's technology programs and managing public information and stakeholder engagement.

Who It Names or Affects

Hawaii Technology Development Corporation
Manufacturers, suppliers, and technology companies in Hawaii

Terms To Know

Advanced Manufacturing: The use of advanced technologies to improve manufacturing processes.
Cybersecurity: Protecting computer systems and networks from unauthorized access or attacks.

Limits and Unknowns

The bill does not specify how the funds will be allocated beyond hiring two full-time specialists.
Effective date is July 1, 2026, but it may change depending on legislative progress.

Amendments

These notes stay tied to the official amendment files and metadata from the legislature.

HD1

Hawaii published version HD1

Plain English: This amendment appropriates funds to create full-time specialist positions at the Hawaii Technology Development Corporation for advanced manufacturing and cybersecurity, as well as marketing and branding.

Appropriates funding for the establishment of a full-time equivalent (FTE) permanent advanced manufacturing and cybersecurity specialist position within the HTDC.
Allocates funds to create a full-time equivalent (FTE) permanent marketing and branding specialist position at the HTDC.
Specifies that these positions will support statewide initiatives, workforce development, and ecosystem coordination.

The exact amount of funding appropriated is not specified in the amendment text.
The effective date mentioned (July 1, 3000) appears to be an error or placeholder and should likely be a future fiscal year start date.

SD1

Hawaii published version SD1

Plain English: This amendment appropriates funds to create new positions at the Hawaii Technology Development Corporation, including specialists in advanced manufacturing and cybersecurity as well as marketing and branding.

Appropriates funding for the establishment of full-time equivalent (FTE) permanent positions for an advanced manufacturing and cybersecurity specialist and a marketing and branding specialist within the Hawaii Technology Development Corporation.
The new positions will support activities related to advanced manufacturing, cybersecurity, workforce development, federal grant competitiveness, and statewide branding efforts.

The exact amount of funding appropriated is not specified in the amendment text provided.
The effective date mentioned (July 1, 3050) appears to be an error or placeholder and should likely be a different year.

Bill History

2026-03-24 S
Report adopted; Passed Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referred to WAM.
2026-03-24 S
Reported from EDT (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 3146) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to WAM.
2026-03-17 S
The committee(s) on EDT recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in EDT were as follows: 3 Aye(s): Senator(s) DeCoite, Wakai, Fukunaga; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 2 Excused: Senator(s) Kim, Fevella.
2026-03-13 S
The committee(s) on EDT has scheduled a public hearing on 03-17-26 1:00PM; Conference Room 229 & Videoconference.
2026-03-10 S
Referred to EDT, WAM.
2026-03-06 S
Passed First Reading.
2026-03-06 S
Received from House (Hse. Com. No. 27).
2026-03-05 H
Passed Third Reading with none voting aye with reservations; Representative(s) Pierick voting no (1) and Representative(s) Perruso excused (1). Transmitted to Senate.
2026-03-05 H
Reported from FIN (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 769-26), recommending passage on Third Reading.
2026-03-02 H
The committee on FIN recommend that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes were as follows: 16 Ayes: Representative(s) Todd, Takenouchi, Hartsfield, Hussey, Keohokapu-Lee Loy, Kitagawa, Kusch, Lee, M., Miyake, Morikawa, Perruso, Templo, Yamashita, Alcos, Gedeon, Reyes Oda; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and Excused: none.
2026-02-27 H
Bill scheduled to be heard by FIN on Monday, 03-02-26 2:00PM in House conference room 308 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
2026-02-17 H
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., Poepoe excused (3).
2026-02-17 H
Reported from ECD (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 290-26) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to FIN.
2026-01-30 H
The committee on ECD recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 7 Ayes: Representative(s) Ilagan, Hussey, Holt, Tam, Templo, Yamashita, Gedeon; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and Excused: none.
2026-01-26 H
Bill scheduled to be heard by ECD on Friday, 01-30-26 10:00AM in House conference room 423 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
2026-01-26 H
Referred to ECD, FIN, referral sheet 1
2026-01-21 H
Introduced and Pass First Reading.
2026-01-16 H
Prefiled.

Official Summary Text

RELATING TO THE HAWAII TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION.
HTDC; Advanced Manufacturing and Cybersecurity Specialist; Marketing and Branding Specialist; Positions; Appropriations ($)
Appropriates funds for the Hawaii Technology Development Corporation to establish advanced manufacturing and cybersecurity specialist and marketing and branding specialist positions. Effective 7/1/3050. (SD1)

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

HB1613

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

1613

THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026

STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

relating
to the hawaii technology development corporation
.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

����
SECTION
1.
�
The legislature finds that the Hawaii
technology development corporation's statutory mandate includes facilitating
the growth of the technology industry, supporting startups, developing
technology infrastructure, encouraging commercialization, coordinating
statewide innovation efforts, and promoting Hawaii as a location for
technology-based economic activity.

����
The
legislature adopted House Concurrent Resolution No. 156, Regular Session of
2025, requesting the Hawaii technology development corporation to increase its
focus on advanced manufacturing and cybersecurity to build a stronger,
diversified economy, create high-wage job opportunities, and position Hawaii as
a leader in innovation and national security in the Pacific.
�
This direction reflects the legislature's
recognition that advanced manufacturing and cybersecurity are critical enablers
of economic resilience, supply-chain security, workforce development, and
national competitiveness.

����
The
legislature further finds that the Hawaii technology development corporation
previously relied on federal funding through the National Institute of
Standards and Technology's Manufacturing Extension Partnership to support
advanced manufacturing initiatives statewide.
�
With the termination of this funding, the Hawaii
technology development corporation lacks sufficient internal capacity to
continue these efforts, respond to legislative direction, and support Hawaii
manufacturers, defense-adjacent industries, and emerging technology companies.

����
The
legislature also finds that effective ecosystem development also requires
sustained investment in marketing, branding, and outreach to increase awareness
of Hawaii's technology programs, attract talent and investment, and ensure
participation across all islands.

����
The
purpose of this Act is to strengthen Hawaii's technology and innovation
ecosystem by appropriating funds to establish advanced manufacturing and
cybersecurity specialist and marketing and branding specialist positions.

����
SECTION
2.
�
There is appropriated out of the
general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $100,000 or so much thereof
as may be necessary for fiscal year 2026-2027 for the Hawaii technology
development corporation to establish one full‑time equivalent (1.0 FTE)
permanent advanced manufacturing and cybersecurity specialist position to lead
statewide initiatives, including but not limited to:

����
(1)
�
Supporting activities formerly funded through
the National Institute of Standards and Technology's Manufacturing Extension
Partnership;

����
(2)
�
Advancing legislative priorities related to
advanced manufacturing and cybersecurity, including ecosystem coordination and
industry support;

����
(3)
�
Providing technical assistance to Hawaii
manufacturers, suppliers, and technology companies to improve productivity,
security, and resilience; and

����
(4)
�
Supporting workforce development,
cybersecurity readiness, and federal grant competitiveness in advanced
manufacturing and related sectors.

����
The sum
appropriated shall be expended by the Hawaii technology development corporation
for the purposes of this Act.

����
SECTION
3.
�
There is appropriated out of the
general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $100,000 or so much thereof
as may be necessary for fiscal year 2026-2027 for
the Hawaii technology development corporation to establish one
full‑time equivalent (1.0 FTE) permanent marketing and branding
specialist position to support the corporation's strategic plan, including but
not limited to:

����
(1)
�
Marketing
technology programs, facilities, and funding opportunities administered or
supported by the corporation;

����
(2)
�
Developing
and managing statewide branding efforts to strengthen Hawaii's technology and
innovation ecosystem;

����
(3)
�
Managing
public information, outreach, communications, and stakeholder engagement;

����
(4)
�
Supporting
conferences, events, talent-attraction initiatives, and ecosystem convenings;
and

����
(5)
�
Advancing
the objectives of the corporation's strategic plan and legislative priorities.

����
The sum
appropriated shall be expended by the Hawaii technology development corporation
for the purposes of this Act.

����
SECTION 4.
�
This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2026.

INTRODUCED BY:

_____________________________

Report Title:

HTDC;
Advanced
Manufacturing and Cybersecurity Specialist;
Marketing
and Branding Specialist; Appropriations

Description:

Appropriates
funds for the Hawaii Technology Development Corporation to establish
Advanced
Manufacturing and Cybersecurity Specialist and
Marketing
and Branding Specialist positions.

The summary description
of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is
not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.