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SB1061 • 2026
RELATING TO DIGITAL EQUITY.
RELATING TO DIGITAL EQUITY.
Budget
Active
The official status still shows this bill as active or still awaiting another formal step.
- Sponsor
- AQUINO
- Last action
- 2025-12-08
- Official status
- Carried over to 2026 Regular Session.
- Effective date
- Not listed
Plain English Breakdown
Using official source text because the generated explanation was unavailable or could not be confirmed against the official bill text.
RELATING TO DIGITAL EQUITY.
RELATING TO DIGITAL EQUITY.
What This Bill Does
- RELATING TO DIGITAL EQUITY.
- Digital Equity; Digital Navigator Pilot Program; Report; Appropriations ($)
Establishes and appropriates funds for a digital navigator pilot program to offer technical assistance with computers and electronic devices for the members of the public Requires a report to the Legislature.
- Effective 7/1/2050.
- (SD1)
Limits and Unknowns
- This entry is temporarily using official source text because the generated explanation could not be confirmed against the official bill text during the last sync.
Amendments
These notes stay tied to the official amendment files and metadata from the legislature.
Hawaii published version SD1
Plain English: SB1061 SD1
THE SENATE
S.B.
- SB1061 SD1
THE SENATE
S.B.
- NO.
- 1061
THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2025
S.D.
- 1
STATE OF HAWAII
A BILL FOR AN ACT
RELATING TO DIGITAL EQUITY
.
Bill History
-
2025-12-08
D
Carried over to 2026 Regular Session.
-
2025-02-13
S
Report adopted; Passed Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referred to WAM.
-
2025-02-13
S
Reported from EDT (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 478) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to WAM.
-
2025-02-11
S
The committee(s) on EDT recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in EDT were as follows: 5 Aye(s): Senator(s) DeCoite, Wakai, Fukunaga, Kim, Awa; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 0 Excused: none.
-
2025-02-07
S
The committee(s) on EDT has scheduled a public hearing on 02-11-25 1:00PM; Conference Room 229 & Videoconference.
-
2025-01-23
S
Referred to EDT, WAM.
-
2025-01-21
S
Passed First Reading.
-
2025-01-17
S
Introduced.
Official Summary Text
RELATING TO DIGITAL EQUITY.
Digital Equity; Digital Navigator Pilot Program; Report; Appropriations ($)
Establishes and appropriates funds for a digital navigator pilot program to offer technical assistance with computers and electronic devices for the members of the public Requires a report to the Legislature. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)
Current Bill Text
Read the full stored bill text
SB1061
THE SENATE
S.B. NO.
1061
THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2025
STATE OF HAWAII
A BILL FOR AN ACT
relating
to digital equity
.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:
����
SECTION
1.
�
The
legislature finds that digital equity in every community across the State is essential
to the well-being and economic reality of the State's residents.
�
The lack of digital equity is a pressing
community issue in Hawaii, and isolates those in rural and socio-economically
disadvantaged communities.
�
This
inequality creates a digital divide, which is especially exacerbated amongst
the State's
most vulnerable and underserved populations.
����
The
legislature also finds that digital equity has meant the difference between an
employee being able to work remotely and an employee possibly facing
unemployment.
�
Additionally, digital
literacy and broadband access are critical tools for persons seeking to access
social services, such as unemployment claims; supplemental nutrition assistance
program benefits; vital records; and other essential government, educational,
and medical services.
����
The
legislature further finds that digital equity in the State will enhance
Hawaii's overall economic development and education, health care, and emergency
services.
����
The
purpose of this Act is to establish and appropriate funds for a digital
navigator pilot program to offer technical assistance with computers and
electronic devices to residents.
����
SECTION
2.
�
(a)
�
The Hawaii broadband and digital equity office shall establish a two-year
navigator pilot program that offers technical assistance with computers and
electronic devices for members of the public.
����
(b)
�
The Hawaii broadband and digital equity
office may partner with the Hawaii state public library system and other state
agencies for the purposes of the pilot program.
����
(c)
�
The digital navigator pilot program shall
have two locations on the island of Oahu, two locations on the island of Hawaii,
one location on the island of Kauai, and one location on the island of Maui.
����
(d)
�
The Hawaii broadband and digital equity
office shall submit a shall submit a report of the pilot program's feasibility
and impact, including any proposed legislation, to the legislature no later
than twenty days prior to the convening of the regular session of
2027.
����
SECTION 3.
�
There is appropriated out of the broadband
and digital equity special fund established pursuant to Act ,
Session Laws of Hawaii 2025, the sum of $
or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2025-2026 and the same
sum or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2026-2027 to
establish a digital navigator pilot program pursuant to this Act.
����
The sums
appropriated shall be expended by the Hawaii
broadband and digital equity office for the purposes of this Act.
����
SECTION 4.
�
This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2025.
INTRODUCED BY:
_____________________________
Report Title:
Digital
Equity; Digital Navigator Pilot Program; Appropriation
Description:
Establishes and appropriates funds for a digital navigator
pilot program to offer technical assistance with computers and electronic
devices to residents.
The summary description
of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is
not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.