RELATING TO PERMITTING.

HB1968

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

1968

THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026

STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

relating
to permitting
.

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

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SECTION
1.
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The legislature finds that the
Simplifying Permitting for Enhanced Economic Development (SPEED) task force was
established pursuant to Act 133, Session Laws of Hawaii 2025.
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The SPEED task force brought together various
state and county agencies and stakeholders to address issues related to
obtaining permits for housing, infrastructure, and other projects.
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The legislature further finds that the SPEED
task force is responsible for identifying actions taken, challenges
encountered, and legislative measures needed to facilitate, expedite, and
coordinate state and intergovernmental permitting processes.

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In its
initial phase, the SPEED task force split into three permitted interaction
groups, each focused on a specific, high-impact segment of the permitting
system.
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The SPEED task force then submitted
to the legislature a December 2025 final report of the permitted interaction
groups, representing a combined report of the three permitted interaction
groups, which outlined findings regarding existing actions and persistent
challenges and presented initial recommendations for legislative and
administrative measures to improve permitting processes statewide.

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The December
2025 final report identifies lengthy waiting times as a common issue in the
permitting process and finds that applicants, staff, and the process itself
share responsibility for these delays.
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However, a major delay in the process occurs before state and county
personnel can even begin their substantive technical review, in the form of
incomplete or incorrect submissions, misrouted applications, and poor quality
plans.
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The final report suggests that a digital
system or intake portal could be used to prevent the submission of incomplete
applications and standardize data across jurisdictions.
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The legislature additionally finds that some
counties have already begun to implement artificial intelligence tools as part
of the application screening process to reduce repetitive tasks for staff while
preserving professional judgement.

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The final
report also notes that counties currently use incompatible data standards to
represent permit status, key dates, valuations, and categories, which can lead
to confusion amongst contractors working in more than one county and degrade
application quality.
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A statewide
platform that ensures consistent data, shared metrics, and public-facing
information could therefore help ensure a more cohesive permitting process
across jurisdictions.

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Accordingly,
the purpose of this Act is to require the department of business, economic
development, and tourism to develop a statewide permitting intake platform.

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SECTION
2.
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The department of business, economic
development, and tourism shall develop a statewide permitting intake platform.
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The statewide permitting intake platform
shall:

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(1)
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Utilize artificial intelligence to support the
permit intake, routing, and review process;

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(2)
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Be shared, or at minimum interoperable,
amongst counties and state permitting agencies;

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(3)
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Screen applications for completeness, missing
documentation, and inconsistencies;

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(4)
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Enforce required fields at intake;

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(5)
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Validate basic parcel and zoning information;

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(6)
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Route applications concurrently to all
relevant agencies;

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(7)
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Offer guidance to applicants through an
applicant-facing chat and frequently asked questions resources; and

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(8)
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Preserve the use of in-person assistance and
phone support and ensure that any use of automation or artificial intelligence
enhances, rather than replaces, human service.

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SECTION
3.
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There is appropriated out of the
general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $50,000 or so much thereof
as may be necessary for fiscal year 2026-2027 for the department of business,
economic development, and tourism to develop a statewide permitting intake
platform pursuant to section 2 of this Act; provided that no funds shall be
made available under this Act unless each county provides matching funds in the
sum of $12,500 per county.

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The sum
appropriated shall be expended by the department of business, economic
development, and tourism for the purposes of this Act.

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

INTRODUCED BY:

_____________________________

Report Title:

DBEDT;
Counties; Permitting; Statewide Permitting Intake Platform; Appropriation

Description:

Implements
certain recommendations of the SPEED Task Force.
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Requires the Department of Business, Economic
Development, and Tourism to develop a statewide permitting intake platform.
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Appropriates funds for the development of the
platform, subject to a matching funds requirement from the counties.

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