STAND. COM. REP. NO. 908-26

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2026

RE: H.B. No. 1520

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. 1520 entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to provide that the period of limitations for criminal prosecutions under campaign finance laws commences upon discovery of the offense by the Campaign Spending Commission, rather than being limited to five years from the violation date or report filing date.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Campaign Spending Commission; Hawaiʻi Alliance for Progressive Action; and numerous individuals.

Your Committee finds that violations of campaign finance laws may involve complex reporting requirements and concealed or delayed conduct that is not readily detectable at the time a violation occurs. Your Committee further finds that commencing the statute of limitations for criminal prosecutions only from the date of the alleged violation or the filing of a report may impede effective enforcement where unlawful conduct is discovered substantially later. Your Committee believes that initiating the period of limitations upon discovery of an offense by the Campaign Spending Commission more appropriately accounts for the investigative realities associated with campaign finance enforcement.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Clarifying that the five‑year limitations period begins upon discovery of the offense by the Campaign Spending Commission rather than from the occurrence of the violation;

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

(3) 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. 1520, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1520, H.D. 1, and be placed on the calendar for Third Reading.

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

____________________________

DAVID A. TARNAS, Chair