RELATING TO POLITICAL FUNDRAISING BY EXECUTIVE BRANCH EMPLOYEES.

Labor

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: 2026-03-12
Official status: Referred to JDC/WAM.
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The bill summary does not provide details on the specific consequences of violating the fundraising prohibitions.

Rules for Political Fundraising by Certain State Workers

This bill stops certain high-level state workers from organizing, attending, hosting, or soliciting contributions at political fundraisers.

What This Bill Does

Prohibits executive branch employees with procurement authority who are nominated or appointed by the Governor to a compensated position subject to Senate confirmation from engaging in political fundraising activities.

Who It Names or Affects

Executive branch employees nominated or appointed by the Governor to a paid job that needs Senate approval, especially those with procurement authority.

Terms To Know

Procurement Authority: The power to buy goods and services for the government.
Senate Confirmation: When the Senate must approve a Governor's appointment before it becomes official.

Limits and Unknowns

Does not apply to all state workers, only those with specific roles.
The bill does not specify consequences for breaking these rules.
It is still being reviewed by committees and has not yet been approved or signed into law.

Amendments

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

HD1

Hawaii published version HD1

Plain English: This amendment adds a new section to Hawaii Revised Statutes that prohibits high-level executive branch employees with procurement authority from participating in political fundraising activities.

Adds a new section to Chapter 84, Hawaii Revised Statutes, which bans certain high-level executive branch employees from organizing, attending, hosting, or soliciting contributions for political fundraisers and directly or indirectly soliciting campaign contributions.

The amendment text does not specify the exact penalties for violating this prohibition.
It is unclear how compliance with this new rule will be enforced.

Bill History

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. 359).
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. 904-26) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and placement on the calendar for Third Reading.
2026-02-19 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.
2026-02-13 H
Bill scheduled to be heard by JHA on Thursday, 02-19-26 2:00PM in House conference room 325 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
2026-01-28 H
Referred to JHA, referral sheet 4
2026-01-26 H
Introduced and Pass First Reading.
2026-01-23 H
Pending introduction.

Official Summary Text

RELATING TO POLITICAL FUNDRAISING BY EXECUTIVE BRANCH EMPLOYEES.
State Ethics Commission Package; Executive Branch Officials; Contributions; Solicitation
Prohibits any Executive Branch employee with procurement authority who is nominated or appointed by the Governor to a compensated position subject to confirmation by the Senate from engaging in certain campaign fundraising activities. (HD1)

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

HB2107

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

2107

THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026

STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

RELATING
TO POLITICAL FUNDRAISING BY EXECUTIVE BRANCH EMPLOYEES
.

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

����
SECTION
1.
�
The legislature finds that public
confidence in the integrity of state government depends on the assurance that
decisions about state contracts are made free from political influence.
�
When high-level executive branch employees
engage in political fundraising, it creates a risk � or the appearance � that
such authority could be used to reward political supporters instead of acting
in the public�s best interest.

����
The
legislature further finds that preventing "pay-to-play" practices, or
even the perception of such practices, is essential to preserving the trust of
the people of Hawaii in their government.

����
The
legislature further finds that this Act is narrowly tailored to apply only to a
small and clearly defined group of high-level executive branch employees, those
nominated or appointed by the governor to compensated positions subject to
senate confirmation, whose position has influence on procurement decisions and
contract management.
�
The mere presence
of such officials at political fundraising events may reasonably create an
appearance of undue influence or preferential treatment, regardless of their
actual intent.
�
Further, it may send an
indirect solicitation signal to contractors, encouraging them to donate to
preferred candidates in order to receive governmental contracts.

����
Accordingly,
the legislature finds it necessary to prohibit this limited class of employees
from attending or participating in political fundraising activities, while
preserving their constitutional rights to vote, make personal political
contributions, and express political opinions as private citizens.

����
SECTION
2.
�
Chapter 84, Hawaii Revised Statutes,
is amended by adding a new section to part II to be appropriately designated
and to read as follows:

����
"
�84-
��

��
Political fundraising;
executive branch employees with procurement authority; prohibition.
�
(a)
�
No executive branch employee who is nominated
or appointed by the governor to a compensated position subject to confirmation
by the senate shall:

����
(1)
�
Organize, attend, host, or solicit
contributions for any political fundraiser for any candidate for elective
office; or

����
(2)
�
Directly or indirectly solicit campaign
contributions from any individual or entity.

����
(b)
�
Nothing in this section shall be construed to
prohibit an individual from exercising the individual's rights as a citizen to
express opinions, make a personal political donation, or cast votes.
"

����
SECTION
3.
�
New statutory material is
underscored.

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

INTRODUCED BY:

_____________________________

By Request

Report Title:

State
Ethics Commission Package; Contributions; Solicitation

Description:

Prohibits
any Executive Branch employee who is nominated or appointed by the Governor to
a compensated position subject to confirmation by the Senate from engaging in
certain campaign fundraising activities.

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