STAND. COM. REP. NO. 401-26

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2026

RE: H.B. No. 1676

H.D. 1

Honorable Nadine K. Nakamura

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2026

State of Hawaii

Madame:

Your Committees on Higher Education and Education, to which was referred H.B. No. 1676 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE,"

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to establish and appropriate funds for an Artificial Intelligence in Education Task Force to develop guidelines and recommendations for the use of artificial intelligence in state public education.

Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the University of Hawaiʻi System; State Public Charter School Commission; University of Hawaii Professional Assembly; and three individuals. Your Committees received testimony in opposition to this measure from one individual. Your Committees received comments on this measure from Department of Education; Hawaiʻi Government Employee Association, AFSCME Local 152, AFL-CIO; and one individual.

Your Committees find that artificial intelligence has the potential to support personalized learning, but it also has potential to exacerbate existing disparities, undermine student privacy, and reduce human interaction in the learning process. Your Committees believe this measure will help develop necessary guidelines and safeguards to support the responsible integration of artificial intelligence in Hawaii's public schools and public institutions of higher education.

Your Committees have amended this measure by:

(1) Clarifying that this measure involves a matter of statewide concern;

(2) Establishing the Artificial Intelligence in Education Task Force within the University of Hawaii, rather than the Department of Education;

(3) Removing language relating to procurement;

(4) Designating the Executive Director of Hawaiʻi P-20 Partnerships for Education as Chair of the Artificial Intelligence in Education Task Force;

(5) Amending the composition of the Artificial Intelligence in Education Task Force to include the State Chief Information Officer, Department of Education, Hawaiʻi Government Employees Association, University of Hawaii Professional Assembly, Hawaii Association of Independent Schools, and Hawaii Public Charter School Commission and allowing the Chair to invite other individuals to serve as members;

(6) Adding a civil rights expert to the list of individuals the Chair may invite to participate;

(7) Clarifying that the appropriation shall be expended by the University of Hawaii;

(8) Changing the effective date to July 1, 3000, to encourage further discussion; and

(9) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Higher Education and Education that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1676, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1676, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Finance.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Higher Education and Education,

____________________________ JUSTIN H. WOODSON, Chair

____________________________ ANDREW TAKUYA GARRETT, Chair