For our State Legislator Spotlight series, ACT | The App Association highlights state legislators who promote technological innovation, support small businesses, invest government resources in the digital economy, and narrow the digital divide. These lawmakers envision a role for state governments to support and enable App Association members to revolutionize the industries in which they compete and leverage cloud, mobile devices, and digital platforms to solve problems and improve lives.

For our September edition, we highlight Senator Bennette Misalucha (D – HI) for her work to promote and support technological innovation, and small businesses around Hawai’i. In 2020, the estimated workforce in the app economy in Hawai’i was 11,880, and this number is slated to grow. The anticipated increase in employees contributing to the app economy depends in part on the work legislators, like Senator Misalucha, do to promote innovation and growth.

Senator Misalucha’s focus on jobs as vice chair of the Senate Committee on Energy, Economic Development, and Tourism, has led her to propose creative solutions that would enhance prospects of recruiting top talent for tech-driven companies like App Association members. She shares our goals of investing in education at all levels to ensure the workforce is ready to take on 21st century challenges.

Biography excerpt (from the Hawai’i State Legislature website): “Senator Misalucha is a community leader in Hawai’i who has held key executive positions in banking, marketing, public policy and community outreach sectors, often pioneering roles for women and minorities which have brought her a number of awards and distinction. Born in the Philippines, she is fluent in three languages and has embraced Hawai’i as her home for over thirty years.

She is a graduate of the University of Hawai’i, the Graduate School of Retail Banking at the University of Wisconsin at Madison and attended the University of Washington Pacific Coast Banking School.”

Senator Misalucha helped lead the charge and supported the passage of over 18 bills promoting innovation, supporting small businesses, investing in the future of the digital economy, and narrowing the digital divide. Below are five of these bills:

  • SB 2808 –Appropriate funds to the Hawai’i Technology Development Corporation for the State Small Business Credit Initiative Program.
  • SB 2214 – Establishes a digital literacy program to be overseen by the Board of Education and implemented by the state librarian to promote digital literacy through programmatic activities, including making digital technology accessible to individuals with disabilities.
  • SB 2076 – Requires University of Hawai’i and the Hawai’i Broadband and Digital Equity Office (Office) to convene a working group to determine the appropriate governance structure to operate, maintain, and oversee broadband assets. Appropriates funds for three full-time positions for the Office and a statewide broadband initiative to be administered by the University of Hawai’i.
  • SB 2695 –Establishes a blockchain and cryptocurrency task force.
  • SB 242 – Requires public and charter schools to offer education in computer science.

The App Association strives to promote an environment that inspires and rewards innovation, and we applaud Senator Misalucha’s dedication to promote innovation, to support small businesses, to invest in the future of the digital economy, and to narrow the digital divide in Hawai’i.