HB372 • 2026

RELATING TO CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTIONS.

Elections

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: 2025-12-08
Official status: Carried over to 2026 Regular Session.
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not provide specific details about enforcement mechanisms or future impacts on election practices.

Campaign Contribution Rules for Legislators

This bill prohibits state legislators from soliciting or accepting campaign contributions during regular or special legislative sessions, including extensions and recess days.

What This Bill Does

Prohibits state legislators from asking for or getting campaign donations during any regular session or special session of the Legislature, including any extension of these sessions and any legislative recess day, holiday, or weekend.

Who It Names or Affects

State legislators who solicit or accept campaign contributions during legislative meetings.

Terms To Know

Campaign Contributions: Money given to help a political candidate win an election.
Legislative Sessions: The time when lawmakers meet to make laws, including regular and special sessions.

Limits and Unknowns

It is unclear how this rule will be enforced or its impact on future election practices.
Does not affect existing limits on campaign contributions during election periods.

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 rule that state legislators cannot ask for or receive campaign contributions during any regular or special session of the legislature, including extensions and recess days.

Adds a new section (c) to Section 11-357 of Hawaii Revised Statutes, which prohibits state senators and representatives from soliciting or accepting campaign contributions during legislative sessions.

The amendment does not specify any exceptions or penalties for violating this rule.

Bill History

2025-12-08 D
Carried over to 2026 Regular Session.
2025-03-06 S
Referred to JDC, WAM.
2025-03-06 S
Passed First Reading.
2025-03-06 S
Received from House (Hse. Com. No. 220).
2025-03-04 H
Passed Third Reading with Representative(s) Amato voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Kapela, Pierick, Ward excused (3). Transmitted to Senate.
2025-02-27 H
Passed Second Reading as amended in HD 1; placed on the calendar for Third Reading with Representative(s) Shimizu voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Cochran, Pierick, Templo, Ward excused (4).
2025-02-27 H
Reported from JHA (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 823) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and placement on the calendar for Third Reading.
2025-01-28 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, Hashem, Kahaloa, Perruso, Takayama, Todd, Garcia; Ayes with reservations: Representative(s) Shimizu; Noes: none; and 1 Excused: Representative(s) Cochran.
2025-01-23 H
Bill scheduled to be heard by JHA on Tuesday, 01-28-25 2:00PM in House conference room 325 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
2025-01-21 H
Referred to JHA, referral sheet 1
2025-01-17 H
Introduced and Pass First Reading.
2025-01-16 H
Pending introduction.

Official Summary Text

RELATING TO CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTIONS.
Campaign Spending Commission Package; Solicitation and Acceptance; Campaign Contributions; State Legislators
Prohibits state legislators from soliciting and 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. (HD1)

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

HB372

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

372

THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2025

STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

Relating
to Campaign Contributions
.

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

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

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"
[
[
]�
11-357[
]
]
�

Contributions to candidate committees; limits[
.
]
;
contributions to elected officials; when prohibited.
�
(a)
�
No
person shall make contributions to:

����
(1)
�
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;

����
(2)
�
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

����
(3)
�
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.

����
(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.

����
(c)
�

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, no elected official as defined in
section 11-342(d) shall solicit or accept campaign contributions.
"

����
SECTION 2.
�

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.
�
New statutory material is underscored.

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SECTION 4.
�

This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

INTRODUCED BY:

_____________________________

By
Request

Report Title:

Campaign
Spending Commission Package; Solicitation and Acceptance; Campaign
Contributions; Candidate Committees.

Description:

Prohibits
state and county elected officials from soliciting and 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.