HB1520 • 2026

RELATING TO CAMPAIGN FINANCE.

Crime

Active

The official status still shows this bill as active or still awaiting another formal step.

Sponsor: TARNAS, AMATO, EVSLIN, GARRETT, GRANDINETTI, ILAGAN, IWAMOTO, KEOHOKAPU-LEE LOY, KILA, KUSCH, MARTEN, MATSUMOTO, MORIKAWA, OLDS, PERRUSO, PIERICK, POEPOE, REYES ODA, SHIMIZU, SOUZA, TAKAYAMA, TAM
Last action: 2026-04-07
Official status: The committee on WAM deferred the measure.
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not provide information on how the change will affect ongoing investigations or cases before the effective date, nor does it specify what happens if a violation is discovered close to the five-year limit.

Campaign Finance Law Changes

This bill changes when the time limit starts for prosecuting campaign finance violations, making it begin from when the Campaign Spending Commission finds out about a violation.

What This Bill Does

Changes the law so that the five-year period to start criminal cases for breaking campaign finance rules begins when the Campaign Spending Commission discovers the offense.

Who It Names or Affects

The Campaign Spending Commission, which will be responsible for discovering offenses.
People or organizations who violate campaign finance laws in Hawaii.

Terms To Know

Campaign Finance: Rules and regulations about how money is raised and spent during political campaigns.
Statute of Limitations: The time period within which legal action must be taken after a crime or offense has been committed.

Limits and Unknowns

This bill does not specify what happens if the Commission discovers an old violation that is close to the five-year limit.
It's unclear how this change will affect ongoing investigations or cases before the effective date of March 22, 2075.

Amendments

These notes stay tied to the official amendment files and metadata from the legislature.

HD1

Hawaii published version HD1

Plain English: This amendment changes the start date for when prosecutors can begin investigating campaign finance violations to be five years after the Campaign Spending Commission discovers the violation.

Changes the statute of limitations for prosecuting campaign finance violations from starting on the date of the violation or filing of the report to starting on the discovery of the offense by the Campaign Spending Commission.

The amendment text does not provide details about how the Campaign Spending Commission will discover offenses, which could affect when prosecutions can begin.
The effective date is set for July 1, 3000, which seems unusual and may be a placeholder or error.

SD1

Hawaii published version SD1

Plain English: This amendment changes the start date for when criminal prosecutions can begin for campaign finance violations to be five years after the Campaign Spending Commission discovers the violation.

Changes the statute of limitations for starting criminal prosecutions related to campaign finance violations from the original wording to five years after the discovery by the Campaign Spending Commission.

The amendment text does not provide details on how the Campaign Spending Commission will discover offenses or what happens if they do not discover an offense within five years.

Bill History

2026-04-07 S
The committee on WAM deferred the measure.
2026-04-02 S
The committee(s) on WAM will hold a public decision making on 04-07-26 10:31AM; Conference Room 211 & Videoconference.
2026-03-30 S
Report adopted; Passed Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referred to WAM.
2026-03-30 S
Reported from JDC (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 3282) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to WAM.
2026-03-24 S
Re-Referred to JDC, WAM.
2026-03-24 S
The committee(s) on JDC recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in JDC were as follows: 5 Aye(s): Senator(s) Rhoads, Gabbard, Chang, Awa; Aye(s) with reservations: Senator(s) San Buenaventura ; 0 No(es): none; and 0 Excused: none.
2026-03-20 S
The committee(s) on JDC has scheduled a public hearing on 03-24-26 9:45AM; Conference Room 016 & Videoconference.
2026-03-16 S
Re-Referred to JDC.
2026-03-12 S
Referred to JDC/WAM.
2026-03-12 S
Passed First Reading.
2026-03-12 S
Received from House (Hse. Com. No. 237).
2026-03-10 H
Passed Third Reading with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and none excused (0). Transmitted to Senate.
2026-03-05 H
Passed Second Reading as amended in HD 1; placed on the calendar for Third Reading with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Perruso excused (1).
2026-03-05 H
Reported from JHA (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 908-26) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and placement on the calendar for Third Reading.
2026-02-10 H
The committee on JHA recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 10 Ayes: Representative(s) Tarnas, Poepoe, Belatti, Cochran, Hashem, Kahaloa, Sayama, Takayama, Garcia, Shimizu; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and Excused: none.
2026-02-06 H
Bill scheduled for decision making on Tuesday, 02-10-26 3:30PM in conference room 325 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
2026-02-05 H
The committee(s) on JHA recommend(s) that the measure be deferred until 02-10-26.
2026-02-03 H
Bill scheduled to be heard by JHA on Thursday, 02-05-26 2:00PM in House conference room 325 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
2026-01-26 H
Referred to JHA, referral sheet 1
2026-01-21 H
Introduced and Pass First Reading.
2026-01-14 H
Prefiled.

Official Summary Text

RELATING TO CAMPAIGN FINANCE.
CSC; Campaign Finance; Criminal Prosecution; Period of Limitations
Clarifies that the five‑year statute of limitations for criminal prosecutions of campaign finance violations begins upon discovery of the offense by the Campaign Spending Commission. Effective 3/22/2075. (SD1)

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

HB1520

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

1520

THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026

STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

RELATING
TO CAMPAIGN FINANCE
.

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

����
SECTION
1
.
�
Section 11-412, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is
amended by amending subsection (g) to read as follows:

����
"(g)
�
[
Prosecution for violations of this part
shall not commence after five years have elapsed from the date of the violation
or date of filing of the report covering the period in which the violation
occurred, whichever is later.
]

The applicable period of limitations for a criminal prosecution under this
section shall not commence until discovery of the offense by the commission.
"

����
SECTION
2
.
�
Section 701-108, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is
amended by amending subsection (2) to read as follows:

����
"(2)
�
Except as otherwise provided [
in this
section,
]
by law,
prosecutions for other offenses [
are
]
shall
be
subject to the following periods of limitation:

����
(a)
�
A prosecution for
manslaughter where the death was not caused by the operation of a motor vehicle
[
must
]
shall
be commenced within ten years after it is committed;

����
(b)
�
A prosecution for
a class A felony [
must
]
shall
be commenced within six years after
it is committed;

����
(c)
�
A prosecution for
any felony under part IX of chapter 708 [
must
]
shall
be commenced
within five years after it is committed;

����
(d)
�
A prosecution for
any other felony [
must
]
shall
be commenced within three years
after it is committed;

����
(e)
�
A prosecution for
a misdemeanor or parking violation [
must
]
shall
be commenced
within two years after it is committed; and

����
(f)
�
A prosecution for
a petty misdemeanor or a violation other than a parking violation [
must
]

shall
be commenced within one year after it is committed[
.
]
;

provided that the period of limitations for a prosecution
pursuant to section 11-412 shall not commence until discovery of the offense by
the campaign spending commission.
"

����
SECTION 3.
�
This Act does not affect rights and duties
that matured, penalties that were incurred, and proceedings that were begun
before its effective date.

����
SECTION 4.
�
Statutory material to be repealed is
bracketed and stricken.
�
New statutory
material is underscored.

����
SECTION 5.
�
This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

INTRODUCED BY:

_____________________________

Report Title:

CSC;
Campaign Finance; Criminal Prosecution; Period of Limitations

Description:

Provides
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.

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