Hawaii · House Bill · Thirty-Third Legislature, 2026
HB2357
Hawaii HB 2357 — Relating to Artificial Intelligence (Artificial Intelligence Music Artists)

Status ● Introduced Effective Jul 1, 3000 Passage Likelihood M

How Is This Bill Enforced

Enforcement Authority
The Department of the Attorney General has exclusive authority to enforce this chapter. No private right of action. Violations constitute unfair methods of competition and unfair and deceptive acts or practices under HRS § 480-2.
Private Right of Action
No private right of action. Enforcement is exclusive to the designated authority.
Penalties
Violations are classified as unfair methods of competition and unfair and deceptive acts or practices under HRS § 480-2. Remedies available under chapter 480 would apply, including potential injunctive relief and penalties available to the attorney general under that chapter. No bill-specific damages are specified.

What This Bill Requires

Verbatim statutory text on the left; plain-language analysis and a per-section checklist on the right. Numbered markers cross-link to the matching checklist row.

Statutory Text
Analysis & Obligations
§ -1
Definitions

As used in this chapter: "Artificial intelligenceArtificial intelligence"Artificial intelligence" means a machine-based system that, for explicit or implicit objectives, infers from inputs how to generate outputs, such as predictions, content, recommendations, or decisions, that influence real or virtual environments.§ -1" means a machine-based system that, for explicit or implicit objectives, infers from inputs how to generate outputs, such as predictions, content, recommendations, or decisions, that influence real or virtual environments. "Artificial intelligence music artistArtificial intelligence music artist"Artificial intelligence music artist" means a persona that is not a natural person, created through artificial intelligence, and marketed, distributed, or promoted as a musical performer or recording artist.§ -1" means a persona that is not a natural person, created through artificial intelligenceArtificial intelligence"Artificial intelligence" means a machine-based system that, for explicit or implicit objectives, infers from inputs how to generate outputs, such as predictions, content, recommendations, or decisions, that influence real or virtual environments.§ -1, and marketed, distributed, or promoted as a musical performer or recording artist. "Music streaming platformMusic streaming platform"Music streaming platform" means a website, application, or other digital interface accessible to the public that offers a catalogue of music or other audio-based content.§ -1" means a website, application, or other digital interface accessible to the public that offers a catalogue of music or other audio-based content.

This section establishes the three defined terms used throughout the new chapter: artificial intelligence, artificial intelligence music artist, and music streaming platform. The AI definition tracks the OECD/NIST formulation. The AI music artist definition is notable for its breadth — it covers any non-human persona created through AI that is marketed, distributed, or promoted as a musical performer, regardless of whether the underlying audio content itself is AI-generated. The music streaming platform definition is similarly broad, encompassing any public-facing digital interface offering a music catalogue.

§ -2
Artificial intelligence music artists; streaming platforms; prohibited
Deployer

1 No music streaming platformMusic streaming platform"Music streaming platform" means a website, application, or other digital interface accessible to the public that offers a catalogue of music or other audio-based content.§ -1 shall host, distribute, or otherwise make available in the State music performed or attributed to an artificial intelligence music artistArtificial intelligence music artist"Artificial intelligence music artist" means a persona that is not a natural person, created through artificial intelligence, and marketed, distributed, or promoted as a musical performer or recording artist.§ -1.

This section imposes the bill's sole operative prohibition: music streaming platforms may not host, distribute, or otherwise make available in Hawaii music performed by or attributed to an artificial intelligence music artist. The prohibition is categorical — there is no disclosure alternative, no exception for labeled content, and no carve-out for AI-assisted human artists. The restriction applies to making the content available "in the State," raising questions about territorial scope for internet-accessible platforms.

Compliance actions 1 item
1
Music streaming platformsMusic streaming platform"Music streaming platform" means a website, application, or other digital interface accessible to the public that offers a catalogue of music or other audio-based content.§ -1 must not host, distribute, or otherwise make available in Hawaii any music performed by or attributed to an artificial intelligence music artistArtificial intelligence music artist"Artificial intelligence music artist" means a persona that is not a natural person, created through artificial intelligence, and marketed, distributed, or promoted as a musical performer or recording artist.§ -1.
§ -3
Rules; enforcement

(a) The department of the attorney general shall have exclusive authority to enforce this chapter and adopt rules pursuant to chapter 91 necessary to carry out the purposes of this chapter.

(b) Any violation of this chapter shall constitute an unfair method of competition and an unfair and deceptive act or practice in the conduct of any trade or commerce under section 480-2.

This section designates the Department of the Attorney General as the exclusive enforcement authority and grants rulemaking power under HRS chapter 91. It further provides that any violation of the chapter constitutes an unfair method of competition and an unfair and deceptive act or practice under HRS § 480-2, incorporating the full remedial apparatus of Hawaii's consumer protection statute without creating any independent private right of action under this chapter.

Section 2
Effective date

This Act shall take effect on July 1, 3000.

The bill uses a placeholder effective date of July 1, 3000, a standard Hawaii legislative convention indicating the bill is not intended to take immediate effect and is likely a vehicle for further amendment or negotiation during the legislative session.

Passage Likelihood

Medium
Status Introduced
Chamber No passage
Committee No action
Majority party (No data)
Bipartisan Yes
Prior session None

Legislative History

2026-01-27 Pending introduction.
2026-01-28 Introduced and Pass First Reading.
2026-02-02 Referred to ECD/AGR, JHA, FIN, referral sheet 6
2026-02-03 Re-referred to ECD, JHA, FIN, referral sheet 7
2026-02-03 Bill scheduled to be heard by ECD on Friday, 02-06-26 8:30AM in House conference room 423 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
2026-02-06 The committee on ECD recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 7 Ayes: Representative(s) Ilagan, Hussey, Holt, Tam, Templo, Yamashita, Gedeon; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and Excused: none.
2026-02-11 Reported from ECD (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 148-26) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to JHA.
2026-02-11 Passed Second Reading as amended in HD 1 and referred to the committee(s) on JHA with none voting aye with reservations; Representative(s) Pierick voting no (1) and Representative(s) Holt excused (1).
2026-02-13 Bill scheduled to be heard by JHA on Wednesday, 02-18-26 2:00PM in House conference room 325 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
2026-02-18 The committee(s) on JHA recommend(s) that the measure be deferred.

Entry Last Reviewed

2026-05-20
AI generated