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HB2211 • 2026

RELATING TO TECHNOLOGY ENABLEMENT.

RELATING TO TECHNOLOGY ENABLEMENT.

Budget Technology
Active

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

Sponsor
QUINLAN
Last action
2026-01-30
Official status
Referred to ECD/TOU, FIN, referral sheet 5
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source does not provide specific details on the amount each business might receive or the number of businesses that could be helped.

Helping Small Businesses with Tech

This bill gives money to help small businesses in Hawaii, especially those related to tourism, use new technology like artificial intelligence.

What This Bill Does

  • Appropriates $300,000 from the state's budget to the Hawaii Technology Development Corporation (HTDC) to assist small businesses with adopting advanced digital tools and artificial intelligence.
  • The HTDC will collaborate with other agencies as necessary for implementing projects using these funds.
  • Requires the HTDC to submit a report to the Legislature on how they used the money before the next legislative session.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Small businesses in Hawaii, especially those related to tourism.
  • The Hawaii Technology Development Corporation (HTDC).

Terms To Know

Technology Enablement
Helping small businesses use new technology like artificial intelligence and digital tools.
Artificial Intelligence
Computer systems that can do tasks that usually need human intelligence, such as learning from data or making decisions.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill does not specify how the HTDC will choose which businesses to help.
  • It is unclear what specific digital tools and technologies small businesses will receive support for.
  • There are no details on how much money each business might get or how many businesses could be helped.

Bill History

  1. 2026-01-30 H

    Referred to ECD/TOU, FIN, referral sheet 5

  2. 2026-01-28 H

    Introduced and Pass First Reading.

  3. 2026-01-26 H

    Pending introduction.

Official Summary Text

RELATING TO TECHNOLOGY ENABLEMENT.
HTDC; Small Businesses; Artificial Intelligence; Advanced Digital Tools; Technology Enablement; Report; Appropriation ($)
Appropriates funds to the Hawaii Technology Development Corporation to assist small businesses, including those related to the tourism sector, with technology enablement, including the adoption of artificial intelligence and advanced digital tools. Requires the Hawaii Technology Development Corporation to submit a report to the Legislature.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
HB2211

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

2211

THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026

STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

relating
to technology enablement
.

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

����
SECTION
1.
�
The legislature finds that the
tourism sector, a pillar of the State's economy, is highly seasonal and
increasingly exposed to global economic volatility, natural disasters, public
health emergencies, and rapid technological disruption.
�
These dynamics create uneven revenue streams
and heighten operating risks for small businesses, many of which operate on
thin margins and lack the internal capacity to continuously adapt to changing
market conditions.

����
The
legislature further finds that the accelerated adoption of advanced digital
tools, including artificial intelligence, data analytics, automation, and
digital marketing technologies, is reshaping how tourism-related businesses
manage operations, reach customers, price services, forecast demand, and
respond to disruptions.
�
Artificial
intelligence-enabled tools are increasingly used across the visitor industry to
optimize bookings, personalize visitor experiences, manage labor and inventory,
detect fraud, automate customer service, and improve decision-making in real
time.
�
Small businesses that lack access
to these tools risk falling behind competitors within and outside the State.

����
The
legislature additionally finds that for Hawaii-based small businesses,
particularly those in the tourism sector, access to artificial intelligence-enabled
and digital technologies is critical to overcoming geographic isolation,
workforce constraints, and rising operating costs.
�
Strategic technology enablement can improve
productivity, reduce administrative burdens, expand market reach, support
remote and hybrid business models, and enhance resilience during economic or
environmental shocks.
�
Failure to
proactively support technology and artificial intelligence adoption will
exacerbate existing vulnerabilities, limit competitiveness, and constrain
long-term economic growth.

����
The
legislature also finds that the Hawaii technology development corporation was
established to foster innovation, economic diversification, and technology
adoption statewide.
�
With decades of
experience administering state-funded programs, the Hawaii technology development
corporation has demonstrated expertise in managing competitive grants,
supporting small businesses and startups, facilitating public-private
partnerships, and deploying advanced technologies across multiple industries.
�
This experience positions the corporation to
effectively support responsible, practical, and outcome-driven adoption of
artificial intelligence and related technologies tailored to Hawaii's unique
economic and workforce needs.

����
Accordingly,
the purpose of this Act is to promote economic development and strengthen the
resilience and competitiveness of Hawaii's tourism sector by appropriating
funds to the Hawaii technology development corporation to assist small
businesses, including those related to the tourism sector, with technology
enablement, including the adoption of artificial intelligence and advanced
digital tools.

����
SECTION
2.
�
There is appropriated out of the
general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $300,000 or so much thereof
as may be necessary for fiscal year 2026-2027 for the Hawaii technology
development corporation to assist small businesses, including those related to
the tourism sector, with technology enablement, including the adoption of
artificial intelligence and advanced digital tools.

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

����
SECTION
3.
�
(a)
�

The Hawaii technology development corporation may collaborate with other
state or county agencies as necessary for the implementation of any projects
using the funds appropriated pursuant to this Act.

����
(b)
�
The Hawaii technology development corporation
shall submit a report to the legislature on the status of assisting small
businesses, including those related to the tourism sector, with technology
enablement using the funds appropriated pursuant to this Act no later than
twenty days prior to the convening of the regular session of 2027.

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

INTRODUCED BY:

_____________________________

Report Title:

HTDC;
Small Businesses; Artificial Intelligence; Advanced Digital Tools; Technology
Enablement; Report; Appropriation

Description:

Appropriates
funds to the Hawaii Technology Development Corporation to assist small
businesses, including those related to the tourism sector, with technology
enablement, including the adoption of artificial intelligence and advanced
digital tools.
�
Requires the Hawaii Technology
Development Corporation to submit a report to the Legislature.

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not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.