HB2053 • 2026

RELATING TO CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTIONS.

Active

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

Sponsor: NAKAMURA (Introduced by request of another party)
Last action: 2026-02-10
Official status: Passed Second Reading as amended in HD 1 and referred to the committee(s) on FIN with Representative(s) Garcia, Poepoe, Shimizu voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and none excused (0).
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The bill text and summary do not provide information about the enforcement mechanisms or penalties for violations of this rule.

Campaign Contribution Ban During Legislative Sessions

This bill stops state elected officials from asking for or getting campaign contributions during regular and special sessions of the legislature, including extensions and breaks.

What This Bill Does

Adds a new rule that says state elected officials cannot ask for or get campaign contributions during legislative sessions.
Defines 'session' as when both houses of the legislature are meeting together.

Who It Names or Affects

State elected officials who seek campaign contributions during legislative sessions.

Terms To Know

Campaign Contributions: Money or gifts given to help a political candidate get elected.
Legislative Session: The time when the state legislature meets to make laws.

Limits and Unknowns

Does not specify what happens if someone breaks this rule.
It is unclear how this will be enforced or policed.

Amendments

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

HD1

Hawaii published version HD1

Plain English: This amendment prohibits state elected officials from asking for or receiving campaign contributions during regular and special legislative sessions, including extensions and recess days.

State elected officials cannot solicit or accept campaign contributions during any regular session, special session, extension of a session, or recess day.

The amendment does not specify what happens if state elected officials violate this rule.

Bill History

2026-02-10 H
Passed Second Reading as amended in HD 1 and referred to the committee(s) on FIN with Representative(s) Garcia, Poepoe, Shimizu voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and none excused (0).
2026-02-09 H
Reported from JHA (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 105-26) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to FIN.
2026-02-03 H
The committee on JHA recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 9 Ayes: Representative(s) Tarnas, Belatti, Cochran, Kahaloa, Sayama, Takayama; Ayes with reservations: Representative(s) Poepoe, Garcia, Shimizu; Noes: none; and 1 Excused: Representative(s) Hashem.
2026-01-30 H
Bill scheduled to be heard by JHA on Tuesday, 02-03-26 2:00PM in House conference room 325 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
2026-01-28 H
Referred to JHA, FIN, referral sheet 3
2026-01-26 H
Introduced and Pass First Reading.
2026-01-23 H
Pending introduction.

Official Summary Text

RELATING TO CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTIONS.
Campaign Spending Commission Package; State Elected Officials; Campaign Contributions; Solicitation; Acceptance
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)

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

HB2053

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

2053

THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026

STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

RELATING
TO CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTIONS
.

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

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

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[
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11-357[
]
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Contributions to candidate committees; limits
[
.
]
; contributions to elected
officials; when prohibited.

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(a)
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No
person shall make contributions to:

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(1)
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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;

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(2)
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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

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(3)
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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.

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(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.

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(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.

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

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

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

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

INTRODUCED
BY:

_____________________________

By
Request

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.