SB2040 • 2026

PROPOSING AN AMENDMENT TO THE CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE OF HAWAII REGARDING THE FREEDOM OF SPEECH.

Elections

Active

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

Sponsor: KEOHOKALOLE, CHANG, KIDANI, RICHARDS, SAN BUENAVENTURA, Ihara
Last action: 2026-02-06
Official status: The committee(s) on JDC deleted the measure from the public hearing scheduled on 02-10-26 9:15AM; CR 016 & Videoconference.
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

Using official source text because the generated explanation was unavailable or could not be confirmed against the official bill text.

PROPOSING AN AMENDMENT TO THE CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE OF HAWAII REGARDING THE FREEDOM OF SPEECH.

What This Bill Does

PROPOSING AN AMENDMENT TO THE CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE OF HAWAII REGARDING THE FREEDOM OF SPEECH.
Constitutional Amendment; Speech; Elections; Non-Natural Persons; Business Entities (ConAm) Proposes an amendment to Article I, Section 4, of the Constitution of the State of Hawaii to provide that the participation of non-natural persons in election activities and campaign finance activities may be regulated, restricted, or prohibited as provided by law.

Limits and Unknowns

This entry is temporarily using official source text because the generated explanation could not be confirmed against the official bill text during the last sync.

Bill History

2026-02-06 S
The committee(s) on JDC deleted the measure from the public hearing scheduled on 02-10-26 9:15AM; CR 016 & Videoconference.
2026-02-05 S
The committee(s) on JDC has scheduled a public hearing on 02-10-26 9:15AM; Conference Room 016 & Videoconference.
2026-01-22 S
Referred to JDC, WAM.
2026-01-21 S
Introduced and passed First Reading.
2026-01-14 S
Pending Introduction.

Official Summary Text

PROPOSING AN AMENDMENT TO THE CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE OF HAWAII REGARDING THE FREEDOM OF SPEECH.
Constitutional Amendment; Speech; Elections; Non-Natural Persons; Business Entities (ConAm)
Proposes an amendment to Article I, Section 4, of the Constitution of the State of Hawaii to provide that the participation of non-natural persons in election activities and campaign finance activities may be regulated, restricted, or prohibited as provided by law.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

SB2040

THE SENATE

S.B. NO.

2040

THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026

STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

PROPOSING
AN AMENDMENT TO THE CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE OF HAWAII REGARDING THE FREEDOM
OF SPEECH
.

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

����
SECTION 1.
�
The purpose of
this Act is to propose an amendment to article I, section 4, of the
Constitution of the State of Hawaii to provide that the participation of non-natural
persons in election activities and campaign finance activities may be
regulated, restricted, or prohibited as provided by law.

����
SECTION
2
.
�
Article I, section 4, of the Constitution of
the State of Hawaii is amended to read as follows:

"
FREEDOM
OF RELIGION, SPEECH, PRESS,

ASSEMBLY AND PETITION

����
Section 4.
�
No law shall be enacted respecting an
establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof, or
abridging the freedom of speech or of the press or the right of the people
peaceably to assemble and to petition the government for a redress of
grievances[
.
]
; provided that the participation of non-natural persons
in election activities and campaign finance activities may be regulated,
restricted or prohibited as provided by law.
"

����
SECTION 3.
�

The question to be printed on the ballot shall be as follows:

����
����
"Shall
the provision of the Constitution of the State of Hawaii that protects the
freedom of speech be amended to provide that the participation of non-natural
persons in election activities and campaign finance activities may be
regulated, restricted, or prohibited as provided by law?"

����
SECTION 4.
�

Constitutional material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken.
�
New constitutional material is underscored.

����
SECTION 5.
�

This amendment shall take effect upon compliance with article XVII,
section 3, of the Constitution of the State of Hawaii.

INTRODUCED BY:

_____________________________

Report Title:

Constitutional
Amendment; Speech; Elections; Non-Natural Persons; Business Entities

Description:

Proposes
an amendment to Article I, Section 4, of the Constitution of the State of
Hawaii to provide that the participation of non-natural persons in election
activities and campaign finance activities may be regulated, restricted, or
prohibited as provided by law.

The summary description
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not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.