THE SENATE

S.B. NO.

2532

THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 

 

 

 

 

 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

 

RELATING TO THE CAMPAIGN SPENDING COMMISSION'S ELECTRONIC FILING SYSTEM.

 

 

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

 


     SECTION 1.  Section 11-321, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsection (b) to read as follows:

     "(b)  Before filing the organizational report, each candidate committee or noncandidate committee shall [mail or deliver] electronically file an electronic filing form [to] with the commission."

     SECTION 2.  Section 11-326, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:

     "[[11-326[]]  Termination of candidate committee's or noncandidate committee's registration.  A candidate committee or noncandidate committee may terminate its registration if:

     (1)  The candidate committee or noncandidate committee:

          (A)  Files a request for registration termination form;

          (B)  [Files] Electronically files a report disclosing contributions and expenditures not previously reported by the committee, and the committee has no surplus or deficit; and

          (C)  Mails or delivers to the commission a copy of the committee's closing bank statement; and

     (2)  The request is approved by the commission."

     SECTION 3.  Section 11-333, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsection (b) to read as follows:

     "(b)  Schedules filed with the reports shall include the following additional information:

     (1)  The amount and date of deposit of each contribution and the name and address of each contributor who makes contributions aggregating more than $100 in an election period; provided that if all the information is not on file, the contribution shall be returned to the contributor within thirty days of deposit;

     (2)  The amount and date of deposit of each contribution and the name, address, occupation, and employer of each contributor who makes contributions aggregating $1,000 or more during an election period; provided that if all the information is not on file, the contribution shall be returned to the contributor within thirty days of deposit;

     (3)  All expenditures, including the name and address of each payee and the amount, date, and purpose of each expenditure.  Expenditures for consultants, advertising agencies and similar firms, credit card payments, salaries, and committee reimbursements to the candidate or other individuals shall be itemized to permit a reasonable person to determine the ultimate intended recipient of the expenditure and its purpose;

     (4)  The amount, date of deposit, and description of other receipts and the name and address of the source of each of the other receipts;

     (5)  Information about each loan received by the committee, together with the names and addresses of the lender and each person liable directly, and the amount of each loan.  A copy of the executed loan document shall be [received by] electronically filed with the commission by [mail or delivery] on or before the filing date for the report covering the reporting period when the loan was received.  The document shall contain the terms of the loan, including the interest and repayment schedule.  Failure to disclose the loan or to provide documentation of the loan to the commission shall cause the loan to be treated as a contribution, subject to all relevant provisions of this part;

     (6)  A description of each durable asset, the date of acquisition, value at the time of acquisition, and the name and address of the vendor or contributor of the asset; and

     (7)  The date of disposition of each durable asset, value at the time of disposition, the method of disposition, and the name and address of the person receiving the asset."

     SECTION 4.  Section 11-342, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsection (a) and (b) to read as follows:

     "(a)  No fundraiser shall be held unless a notice of intent to hold the fundraiser is electronically filed with the commission setting forth the name and address of the person in charge, the price per person, the date, hour, and place of the fundraiser, and the method thereof.

     (b)  The person in charge of the fundraiser shall electronically file the notice with the commission prior to the fundraiser."

     SECTION 5.  Section 11-428, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:

     "[[11-428[]]  Eligibility requirements for public funds.  In order to be eligible to receive public funds for an election, a candidate shall certify that the candidate will meet all the following requirements:

     (1)  The candidate and any candidate committee authorized by the candidate shall not incur campaign expenses in excess of the expenditure limitations imposed by section 11-423;

     (2)  The candidate has qualified to be on the election ballot in a primary or general election;

     (3)  The candidate has electronically filed a statement of intent to seek qualifying contributions.  A contribution received before the filing of a statement of intent to seek public funds shall not be considered a qualifying contribution;

     (4)  The candidate or candidate committee authorized by the candidate has received the minimum qualifying contribution amounts for the office sought by the candidate as set forth in section 11-429;

     (5)  The aggregate of contributions certified with respect to any person under paragraph (4) does not exceed $100;

     (6)  The candidate agrees to obtain and furnish any evidence relating to expenditures that the commission may request;

     (7)  The candidate agrees to keep and furnish records, books, and other information that the commission may request;

     (8)  The candidate agrees to an audit and examination by the commission pursuant to section 11-434 and to pay any amounts required to be paid pursuant to that section; and

     (9)  Each candidate and candidate committee in receipt of qualifying contributions that may be taken into account for purposes of public funding shall maintain, on a form prescribed by the commission, records that show the date and amount of each qualifying contribution and the full name and mailing address of the person making the contribution.  The candidate and the candidate committee authorized by the candidate shall transmit to the commission all reports with respect to these contributions that the commission may require."

     SECTION 6.  Section 11-430, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsection (a) to read as follows:

     "(a)  Each application for public funds shall be signed by the candidate and notarized, and accompanied by the electronically filed qualifying campaign contribution statement or statements."

     SECTION 7.  Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken.  New statutory material is underscored.

     SECTION 8.  This Act shall take effect on November 4, 2026.

 

INTRODUCED BY:

_____________________________

 

By Request


 



 

Report Title:

Campaign Spending Commission Package; Electronic Filing System

 

Description:

Amends various sections of Hawaii's campaign spending laws by requiring designated campaign finance forms to be submitted electronically through the Campaign Spending Commission's upgraded electronic filing system.

 

 

 

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