HawaiiAI chat services would disclose their identity and protect minors
Operators of public AI chat services would have to disclose when users are talking with AI, follow safety steps, and report limited information to the state.
What it does
Operators would have to clearly tell users they are interacting with AI when the service could lead a reasonable person to think it is human. For minors, the notice must stay visible or appear at the start and at least hourly during a continuous chat.
Operators would have to respond to self-harm prompts with reasonable efforts to refer users to crisis services and take steps to prevent self-harm content. For minors, they must also limit certain sexual or human-like content, avoid engagement rewards, and offer privacy and account tools.
Operators would have to send the state yearly reports on crisis referrals and safety steps, without personal user information. The attorney general could seek court orders and financial penalties for violations.
Argument forCrisis referrals and privacy tools could help users, especially minors, find support and manage their accounts.
Argument againstOperators may need to spend time building crisis response steps and filing yearly reports, and could face court orders or financial penalties for violations.
More detail
Operators would have to tell users when they are talking with AI if the service could seem human. This applies to operators of conversational AI services available to the public. If an operator knows or has reasonable certainty that a user is a minor, the operator must use a visible disclaimer or repeat notices during the chat.
Operators would have to adopt safety steps for self-harm content and offer added protections to minors. The rules cover operators of public conversational AI services and users of those services. Operators must use evidence-based ways to measure suicidal thoughts and may not knowingly or intentionally claim the service is designed to provide professional mental or behavioral health care. The minor protections apply when the operator knows or has reasonable certainty that the user is under 18. Parent or guardian access to account tools is required for users under 16 and, for older minors, when appropriate based on relevant risks.
Operators would have to report yearly to the state, and the attorney general could bring enforcement cases. The reporting and enforcement rules apply to operators of covered services. Reports may include only the listed information and no user identifiers or personal information. The attorney general may seek an order to stop violations, damages or a civil penalty, and legal costs. The section does not create a private right to sue. Annual reports begin January 1, 2027. The Act takes effect upon approval.
Where do you stand?
Choose your position
Tell your reps
Take a position to see your representatives and ways to contact them.
Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed Senate
- Passed House
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- Jul 14Act 248, 07/14/2026 (Gov. Msg. No. 1350).Latest
- Jul 14Act 248, on 07/14/2026 (Gov. Msg. No. 1350).Became Law
- May 8Received notice of passage on Final Reading in House (Hse. Com. No. 888).Minor
- May 8Enrolled to Governor.To Governor
- May 6Passed Final Reading, as amended (CD 1). Ayes, 25; Aye(s) with reservations: none. Noes, 0 (none). Excused, 0 (none).Major
- Vote recorded Passed Final Reading, as amended (CD 1). Result: pass.Upper
- Vote recorded Passed Final Reading as amended in CD 1. Result: pass.Lower
- May 6Passed Final Reading as amended in CD 1 with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and none excused (0).Major
- May 6Received notice of Final Reading (Sen. Com. No. 816).Minor
- Apr 29The Conference committee recommends that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes of the Senate Conference Managers were as follows: 4 Aye(s): Senator(s) Keohokalole, Elefante, Rhoads, McKelvey; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 1 Excused: Senator(s) Awa.Minor
- Vote recorded The Conference Committee recommends that the measure be Passed, with Amendments. Result: pass.Lower
- Vote recorded The Conference committee recommends that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. Result: pass.Upper
- Apr 29The Conference Committee recommends that the measure be Passed, with Amendments. The votes were as follows: 5 Ayes: Representative(s) Matayoshi, Ilagan, Tarnas, Tam, Gedeon; Ayes with reservations: none; 0 Noes: none; and 0 Excused: none.Minor
- Apr 29Reported from Conference Committee as amended CD 1 (Conf. Com. Rep. No. 95-26).
- Apr 2948 Hrs. Notice (as amended CD 1) 05-06-26.
- Apr 29Reported from Conference Committee (Conf Com. Rep. No. 95-26) as amended in (CD 1).
- Apr 29Forty-eight (48) hours notice Wednesday, 05-06-26.
- Apr 28Conference committee meeting to reconvene on 04-29-26 2:40PM; CR 224.
- Apr 27Conference committee meeting to reconvene on 04-28-26 2:40PM; Conference Room 224.
- Apr 24Conference committee meeting to reconvene on 04-27-26 2:40PM; CR 224.
- Apr 23Received notice of change in conferees (Hse. Com. No. 812).Minor
- Apr 23Conference committee meeting scheduled for 04-24-26 3:30PM; Conference Room 224.
- Apr 22Re-referred to CPC, ECD, JHA, referral sheet 32Minor
- Apr 22House Conferees Changed: Representative Matayoshi added as lead Co-Chair.
- Apr 22Senate Conferees Appointed: Keohokalole Chair; Elefante, Rhoads Co-Chairs; McKelvey, Awa.
- Apr 22Received notice of Senate conferees (Sen. Com. No. 723).Minor
- Apr 20House Conferees Appointed: Ilagan, Matayoshi, Tarnas Co-Chairs; Tam, Gedeon.
- Apr 20Received notice of appointment of House conferees (Hse. Com. No. 787).Minor
- Apr 16Received from House (Hse. Com. No. 725).Minor
- Apr 16Senate disagrees with House amendments.Minor
- Apr 16Received notice of disagreement (Sen. Com. No. 710).Minor
- Apr 14Passed Third Reading as amended in HD 3 with Representative(s) Cochran, Garcia, Shimizu voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and none excused (0). Transmitted to Senate.Passed House
- Vote recorded Passed Third Reading as amended in HD 3. Result: pass.Lower
- Apr 10Deferred one day 04-14-26.Minor
- Apr 8Reported from JHA (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1829-26) as amended in HD 3, recommending passage on Third Reading.
- Apr 8Forty-eight (48) hours notice Friday, 04-10-26.
- Apr 1The committee on JHA recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 8 Ayes: Representative(s) Tarnas, Poepoe, Belatti, Kahaloa, Takayama; Ayes with reservations: Representative(s) Cochran, Garcia, Shimizu; 0 Noes: none; and 2 Excused: Representative(s) Hashem, Sayama.Minor
- Vote recorded The committee on JHA recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. Result: pass.Lower
- Mar 30Reported from CPC (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1484-26) as amended in HD 2, recommending referral to JHA.
- Vote recorded Report adopted; referred to the committee(s) on JHA as amended in HD 2. Result: pass.Lower
- Mar 30Report adopted; referred to the committee(s) on JHA as amended in HD 2 with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Cochran, Lowen, Perruso, Quinlan excused (4).Minor
- Mar 30Bill scheduled to be heard by JHA on Wednesday, 04-01-26 2:00PM in House conference room 325 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
- Mar 24The committee on CPC recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 11 Ayes: Representative(s) Matayoshi, Grandinetti, Chun, Ilagan, Ichiyama, Iwamoto, Kong, Lowen, Marten, Tam, Pierick; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and Excused: none.Minor
- Vote recorded The committee on CPC recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. Result: pass.Lower
- Mar 20Reported from ECD (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1269-26) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to CPC.
- Vote recorded Passed Second Reading as amended in HD 1 and referred to the committee(s) on CPC. Result: pass.Lower
- Mar 20Passed Second Reading as amended in HD 1 and referred to the committee(s) on CPC with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Quinlan excused (1).Minor
- Mar 20Bill scheduled to be heard by CPC on Tuesday, 03-24-26 2:00PM in House conference room 329 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
- Mar 18The committee on ECD recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 6 Ayes: Representative(s) Ilagan, Hussey, Tam, Templo, Yamashita, Gedeon; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and Excused: none.Minor
- Vote recorded The committee on ECD recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. Result: pass.Lower
- Mar 12Pass First ReadingMinor
- Mar 12Referred to ECD, CPC, JHA, referral sheet 17Minor
- Mar 12Bill scheduled to be heard by ECD on Wednesday, 03-18-26 8:30AM in House conference room 423 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
- Mar 10Report adopted; Passed Third Reading, as amended (SD 2). Ayes, 25; Aye(s) with reservations: none . Noes, 0 (none). Excused, 0 (none). Transmitted to House.Passed Senate
- Vote recorded Report adopted; Passed Third Reading, as amended (SD 2). Result: pass.Upper
- Mar 10Received from Senate (Sen. Com. No. 338) in amended form (SD 2).Minor
- Mar 6Reported from JDC (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 3078) with recommendation of passage on Third Reading, as amended (SD 2).
- Mar 648 Hrs. Notice 03-10-26.
- Mar 4The committee(s) on JDC recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in JDC were as follows: 5 Aye(s): Senator(s) Rhoads, Gabbard, Chang, San Buenaventura, Awa; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 0 Excused: none.Minor
- Vote recorded The committee(s) on JDC recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. Result: pass.Upper
- Feb 24The committee(s) on JDC will hold a public decision making on 03-04-26 9:40AM; Conference Room 016 & Videoconference.
- Feb 19Reported from CPN/LBT (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 2388) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to JDC.
- Feb 19Report adopted; Passed Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referred to JDC.Minor
- Feb 10The committee(s) on CPN recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in CPN were as follows: 3 Aye(s): Senator(s) Keohokalole, Fukunaga, Awa; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 2 Excused: Senator(s) Lamosao, McKelvey.Minor
- Vote recorded The committee(s) on LBT recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. Result: pass.Upper
- Vote recorded The committee(s) on CPN recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. Result: pass.Upper
- Feb 10The committee(s) on LBT recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in LBT were as follows: 3 Aye(s): Senator(s) Elefante, Moriwaki, Fevella; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 2 Excused: Senator(s) Lamosao, Ihara.Minor
- Feb 5The committee(s) on CPN/LBT has scheduled a public hearing on 02-10-26 9:28AM; Conference Room 229 & Videoconference.
- Jan 30Referred to CPN/LBT, JDC.Minor
- Jan 26Passed First Reading.Minor
- Jan 23Introduced.Introduced
TechnologyAI & PrivacyMental Health