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Committee backs creation of University of Hawai‘i AI Institute, removes appropriation from bill
Summary
The Senate Committee on Higher Education voted to pass HB546 HD1 with amendments to remove the appropriation and allow the proposed Artificial Intelligence Institute at the University of Hawai‘i to seek funding from other sources while the university pursues establishment.
The Senate Committee on Higher Education on March 18 passed HB546 HD1, a bill that would establish an Artificial Intelligence Institute at the University of Hawai‘i and authorize the university to develop and support AI initiatives statewide. Committee leaders amended the measure to remove the specific appropriation from the bill and to add language allowing the institute to seek federal and other external funding.
No university witnesses were available in the room for questioning, but the committee discussed the institution’s preference that the appropriation section be deleted and that the institute pursue federal grants and other funding sources. The committee’s recommendation would remove the appropriation language from page 6, lines 15 through page 7 and add wording on seeking grant funding.
Senators expressed support for establishing AI capacity at the university while acknowledging funding constraints. The committee voted to pass the bill as amended; Chair Kim and Vice Chair Kidani voted aye; Senator Hashimoto and Senator Fevella voted aye; Senator Fukunaga was excused. The measure will move forward without a direct state appropriation in the draft passed by the committee.
