HI SB2908

Requires the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism to develop a statewide permitting intake platform that utilizes artificial intelligence for permit intake, routing, and review processes.

Platform must be shared or interoperable among all counties and state permitting agencies, screening applications for completeness, validating parcel and zoning information, and routing applications concurrently to relevant agencies.

Mandates the platform preserve in-person assistance and phone support, ensuring automation and AI enhance rather than replace human service, while offering applicant-facing chat and FAQ resources.

Appropriates $50,000 in state general revenues for fiscal year 2026-2027, contingent on each of the four counties providing matching funds of $12,500 each (totaling $50,000 in county contributions).

Implements recommendations from the SPEED (Simplifying Permitting for Enhanced Economic Development) task force established under Act 133 (2025) to address delays caused by incomplete applications and incompatible data standards across jurisdictions.