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SB3329
THE SENATE
S.B. NO.
3329
THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026
STATE OF HAWAII
A BILL FOR AN ACT
relating to public testimony
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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 public
testimony submitted to the legislature and to state and county boards, including
commissions and councils, is a vital component of governance and informed
decision-making, allowing individuals to share their perspectives and inform
public policy.
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The
legislature further finds that advances in artificial intelligence and
automated technologies have significantly increased the ability to generate
large volumes of written and oral content quickly and at low cost.
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Reports that seventy‑eight per cent of
businesses and as many as three hundred seventy-eight million people used
artificial intelligence tools in 2025 demonstrate the widespread usage of these
technologies.
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The
legislature determines that existing testimony procedures implemented by the
legislature and state and county boards do not always require sufficient information
to confirm that written testimony is from actual individuals.
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Reasonable verification measures, along with
strong privacy protections, are needed to maintain public trust.
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Accordingly,
the purpose of this Act is to maintain meaningful public participation in
public meetings and hearings by requiring the legislature and state and county boards
to collect certain identifying information from individuals submitting written
public testimony to ensure that the testimony is from actual individuals, while
protecting the privacy of those who submit testimony.
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SECTION
2.
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Chapter 92, Hawaii Revised Statutes,
is amended by adding a new section to part I to be appropriately designated and
to read as follows:
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�92-
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Written testimony; requirements;
protection of personal information.
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(a)
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No board shall consider written
testimony submitted by an individual member of the public unless the written
testimony includes or is accompanied by:
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(1)
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The testifier's full legal name;
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(2)
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The testifier's residential address;
and
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(3)
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Any other information deemed
necessary by the board for the purposes described in subsection (b).
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(b)
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T
he board shall use personal
information of a testifier obtained pursuant to subsection (a) solely to verify
the authenticity of the testimony and communicate with the testifier, as needed.
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(c)
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Unless authorized by the testifier, no board shall
disclose any personal information obtained pursuant to subsection (a), except
the name of the testifier.
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(d)
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For the purposes of this section,
"personal information" has the same meaning as defined in section 487D-1;
provided that "personal information" does not include publicly
available information that is lawfully made available to the general public
from federal, state, or local government records.
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SECTION
3.
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Each house of the legislature shall
adopt or amend its rules to apply the provisions of section 92- to
written public testimony submitted on measures subject to a public hearing by its
standing committees, including governor's messages and judicial communications
pertaining to appointment of nominees subject to the advice and consent of the
senate.
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SECTION
4.
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New statutory material is
underscored.
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SECTION
5
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This Act shall take effect on January 1,
2028.
INTRODUCED BY:
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Report Title:
State and
Counties; Boards and Commissions; Legislature; Written Testimony; Authentication;
Personal Information; Protection
Description:
Prohibits
state and county boards from considering written testimony submitted by an
individual member of the public unless the written testimony includes certain
information necessary for the board to verify the authenticity of the testimony
and communicate with the testifier.
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Prohibits boards from disclosing any personal information obtained through
written public testimony, except the name of the testifier, unless authorized
by the testifier.
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Requires each house of
the Legislature to adopt or amend rules to apply the written public testimony verification
process to certain hearings conducted by its standing committees.
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Effective 1/1/2028.
The summary description
of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is
not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.