STAND.
COM. REP. NO. 148
Honolulu, Hawaii
, 2025
RE: H.B. No. 546
H.D. 1
Honorable Nadine K. Nakamura
Speaker, House of Representatives
Thirty-Third State Legislature
Regular Session of 2025
State of Hawaii
Madame:
Your Committee on Higher Education, to which was referred H.B. No. 546 entitled:
"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE,"
begs leave to report as follows:
Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the University of Hawaiʻi System and University of Hawaii Professional Assembly. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from two individuals. Your Committee received comments on this measure from one individual.
Your Committee finds that artificial intelligence technologies are rapidly transforming industries and societies globally by enabling machines and computers to simulate human learning, comprehension, problem solving, decision making, creativity, and autonomy. Your Committee further finds that the University of Hawaii has the unique capacity to draw upon its academic disciplines, research strengths, and professional programs to serve as the hub for artificial intelligence development in the State. Your Committee recognizes the importance of artificial intelligence to the State and believes that funding an institute dedicated to research, governance and ethics, development, and applications of artificial intelligence and related technologies is in the public interest and will be of great benefit to Hawaii.
Your Committee has amended this measure by:
(1) Changing the amounts appropriated and amount of positions to be funded to unspecified amounts; and
(2) Changing the effective date to July 1, 3000, to encourage further discussion.
Your Committee respectfully requests your Committee on Finance, should it choose to deliberate on this measure, to consider appropriating funds, as follows:
(1) $2,000,000 for fiscal year 2025-2026 to establish faculty of practice and administrative professional technical positions within the Aloha Intelligence Institute and to develop, support, and advance artificial intelligence initiatives statewide, as follows:
(A) $1,500,000 for ten full-time equivalent (10.0 FTE) permanent positions; and
(B) $500,000 for seven full-time equivalent (7.0 FTE) non-recurring positions and start-up expenses; and
(2) $2,000,000 for fiscal year 2026-2027 to establish faculty of practice and administrative professional technical positions within the Aloha Intelligence Institute and to develop, support, and advance artificial intelligence initiatives statewide, as follows:
(A) $1,500,000 for ten full-time equivalent (10.0 FTE) permanent positions; and
(B) $500,000 for non-recurring start-up expenses.
As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Higher Education that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 546, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 546, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Economic Development & Technology.
Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Higher Education,
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____________________________ ANDREW TAKUYA GARRETT, Chair |
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