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HB2131 • 2026

RELATING TO CAMPAIGN FINANCE.

RELATING TO CAMPAIGN FINANCE.

Active

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

Sponsor
BELATTI, COCHRAN, GRANDINETTI, HASHEM, KAPELA, KUSCH, MARTEN, MATSUMOTO, OLDS, PERRUSO, SHIMIZU, SOUZA
Last action
2026-01-28
Official status
Referred to JHA, referral sheet 4
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material did not provide information on updates to other parts of the law beyond the specific sections mentioned.

Campaign Finance Law Changes

This bill changes when the time limit for starting a criminal case begins under campaign finance rules.

What This Bill Does

  • Changes when the period of limitations for criminal prosecutions starts to be upon discovery by the Campaign Spending Commission, rather than being limited to five years from the violation date or report filing date.

Who It Names or Affects

  • The Campaign Spending Commission
  • People or groups who violate campaign finance laws

Terms To Know

Campaign Finance Laws
Rules that control how money is raised and spent in political campaigns.
Period of Limitations
The time frame within which a legal action must be taken, such as starting a criminal case.

Limits and Unknowns

  • This bill only affects how long after an offense can a prosecution start; it doesn't affect other parts of campaign finance laws.
  • It does not change any rights or duties that have already matured before the bill is approved.

Bill History

  1. 2026-01-28 H

    Referred to JHA, referral sheet 4

  2. 2026-01-26 H

    Introduced and Pass First Reading.

  3. 2026-01-23 H

    Pending introduction.

Official Summary Text

RELATING TO CAMPAIGN FINANCE.
CSC; Campaign Finance; Criminal Prosecution; Period of Limitations
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.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
HB2131

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

2131

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
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not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.