HB 2053: Campaign Spending Commission Package; State Elected Officials; Campaign Contributions; Solicitation; Acceptance

A BILL FOR AN ACT

RELATING TO CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTIONS.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

     SECTION 1.  Section 11-357, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:

     "[[]§11-357[]]  Contributions to candidate committees; limits[.]; contributions to state elected officials; when prohibited.  (a)  No person shall make contributions to:

     (1)  A candidate seeking nomination or election to a two‑year office or to a candidate committee in an aggregate amount greater than $2,000 during an election period;

     (2)  A candidate seeking nomination or election to a four‑year nonstatewide office or to a candidate committee in an aggregate amount greater than $4,000 during an election period; or

     (3)  A candidate seeking nomination or election to a four‑year statewide office or to a candidate committee in an aggregate amount greater than $6,000 during an election period.

     (b)  For purposes of this section, the length of term of an office shall be the usual length of term of the office as unaffected by reapportionment, a special election to fill a vacancy, or any other factor causing the term of the office the candidate is seeking to be less than the usual length of term of that office.

     (c)  No state elected official shall solicit or accept campaign contributions during any regular session or special session of the legislature, including any extension of any regular session or special session, and any legislative recess day, holiday, or weekend.

     (d)  For purposes of this section:

     "Session" means a period in which both legislative houses are in session.

     "State elected official" means an individual who currently holds an elected state office, including the governor, lieutenant governor, state senator, state representative, trustee of the office of Hawaiian affairs, and any individual appointed to serve in any of the aforementioned offices."

     SECTION 2.  This Act does not affect rights and duties that matured, penalties that were incurred, and proceedings that were begun before its effective date.

     SECTION 3.  Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken.  New statutory material is underscored.

     SECTION 4.  This Act shall take effect on July 1, 3000.

Report Title:

Campaign Spending Commission Package; State Elected Officials; Campaign Contributions; Solicitation; Acceptance

Description:

Prohibits state elected officials from soliciting or accepting campaign contributions during any Regular Session or Special Session of the Legislature, including any extension of any Regular Session or Special Session or any legislative recess day, holiday, or weekend.  Effective 7/1/3000.  (HD1)

The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.

A BILL FOR AN ACT

RELATING TO CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTIONS.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

     SECTION 1.  Section 11-357, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:

     "[[]§11-357[]]  Contributions to candidate committees; limits[.]; contributions to elected officials; when prohibited.  (a)  No person shall make contributions to:

     (1)  A candidate seeking nomination or election to a two‑year office or to a candidate committee in an aggregate amount greater than $2,000 during an election period;

     (2)  A candidate seeking nomination or election to a four‑year nonstatewide office or to a candidate committee in an aggregate amount greater than $4,000 during an election period; or

     (3)  A candidate seeking nomination or election to a four‑year statewide office or to a candidate committee in an aggregate amount greater than $6,000 during an election period.

     (b)  For purposes of this section, the length of term of an office shall be the usual length of term of the office as unaffected by reapportionment, a special election to fill a vacancy, or any other factor causing the term of the office the candidate is seeking to be less than the usual length of term of that office.

     (c)  No elected official, as defined in section 11-342(d), shall solicit or accept campaign contributions during any regular session or special session of the legislature, including any extension of any regular session or special session, and any legislative recess day, holiday, or weekend.

     (d)  For purposes of this section, "session" means a period in which both legislative houses are in session."

     SECTION 2.  This Act does not affect rights and duties that matured, penalties that were incurred, and proceedings that were begun before its effective date.

     SECTION 3.  Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken.  New statutory material is underscored.

     SECTION 4.  This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

Report Title:

Campaign Spending Commission Package; Solicitation; Acceptance Campaign Contributions; Candidate Committees

Description:

Amends section 11-357, Hawaii Revised Statutes (HRS), to prohibit state and county elected officials as defined in section 11-342(d), HRS, from soliciting or accepting campaign contributions during any Regular Session or Special Session of the state Legislature, including any extension of any Regular Session or Special Session or any legislative recess day, holiday, or weekend.

The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.

STAND. COM. REP. NO.  105-26

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2026

RE:   H.B. No. 2053

      H.D. 1

Honorable Nadine K. Nakamura

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2026

State of Hawaii

Madame:

     Your Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs, to which was referred H.B. No. 2053 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTIONS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to prohibit state and county elected officials from soliciting or accepting campaign contributions during any Regular Session or Special Session of the Legislature, including any extension of any Regular Session or Special Session or any legislative recess day, holiday, or weekend.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Campaign Spending Commission; League of Women Voters of Hawaii; and one individual.  Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from eight individuals.  Your Committee received comments on this measure from one individual.

     Your Committee finds that prohibiting elected officials from soliciting or accepting campaign contributions while the Legislature is in session would reduce the financial advantage of incumbents and promote a fairer electoral system.  Your Committee believes that narrowing the prohibition initially to state elected officials will allow the Legislature to take a measured first step in evaluating the effectiveness and impacts of restricting campaign fundraising during legislative sessions, before considering whether similar restrictions should be extended to county elected officials in the future.

     Accordingly, your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Narrowing the scope of the prohibition to only state elected officials;

     (2)  Adding a definition for the term "state elected official";

     (3)  Changing the effective date to July 1, 3000, to encourage further discussion; and

     (4)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2053, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2053, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Finance.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs,