SB2247 • 2026

RELATING TO POLITICAL FUNDRAISING BY EXECUTIVE BRANCH EMPLOYEES.

Labor

Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor: KOUCHI (Introduced by request of another party)
Last action: 2026-05-08
Official status: Enrolled to Governor.
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.

RELATING TO POLITICAL FUNDRAISING BY EXECUTIVE BRANCH EMPLOYEES.

What This Bill Does

RELATING TO POLITICAL FUNDRAISING BY EXECUTIVE BRANCH EMPLOYEES.
State Ethics Commission Package; Contributions; Solicitation 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.
(CD1)

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.

Amendments

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

CD1

Hawaii published version CD1

Plain English: SB2247 CD1 THE SENATE S.B.

SB2247 CD1 THE SENATE S.B.
NO.
2247 THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026 S.D.
1 STATE OF HAWAII H.D.

HD1

Hawaii published version HD1

Plain English: SB2247 HD1 THE SENATE S.B.

SB2247 HD1 THE SENATE S.B.
NO.
2247 THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026 S.D.
1 STATE OF HAWAII H.D.

SD1

Hawaii published version SD1

Plain English: SB2247 SD1 THE SENATE S.B.

SB2247 SD1 THE SENATE S.B.
NO.
2247 THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026 S.D.
1 STATE OF HAWAII A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO POLITICAL FUNDRAISING BY EXECUTIVE BRANCH EMPLOYEES .

Bill History

2026-05-08 S
Enrolled to Governor.
2026-05-08 S
Received notice of passage on Final Reading in House (Hse. Com. No. 888).
2026-05-06 H
Received notice of Final Reading (Sen. Com. No. 816).
2026-05-06 H
Passed Final Reading as amended in CD 1 with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and none excused (0).
2026-05-06 S
Passed Final Reading, as amended (CD 1). Ayes, 25; Aye(s) with reservations: none . 0 No(es): none. 0 Excused: none.
2026-05-01 H
Forty-eight (48) hours notice Wednesday, 05-06-26.
2026-05-01 H
Reported from Conference Committee (Conf Com. Rep. No. 162-26) as amended in (CD 1).
2026-05-01 S
48 Hrs. Notice (as amended CD 1) 05-06-26.
2026-05-01 S
Reported from Conference Committee as amended CD 1 (Conf. Com. Rep. No. 162-26).
2026-05-01 S
The Conference committee recommends that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes of the Senate Conference Managers were as follows: 3 Aye(s): Senator(s) Rhoads, Lee, C., Awa; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 0 Excused: none.
2026-05-01 H
The Conference Committee recommends that the measure be Passed, with Amendments. The votes were as follows: 4 Ayes: Representative(s) Tarnas, Keohokapu-Lee Loy, Poepoe, Garcia; Ayes with reservations: none; 0 Noes: none; and 0 Excused: none.
2026-05-01 S
The Conference committee reconsidered its previous decision.
2026-04-30 S
Conference committee meeting to reconvene on 05-01-26 2:05PM; Conference Room 325.
2026-04-29 H
The Conference Committee recommends that the measure be Passed, with Amendments. The votes were as follows: 4 Ayes: Representative(s) Tarnas, Keohokapu-Lee Loy, Poepoe, Garcia; Ayes with reservations: none; 0 Noes: none; and 0 Excused: none.
2026-04-29 S
The Conference committee recommends that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes of the Senate Conference Managers were as follows: 3 Aye(s): Senator(s) Rhoads, Lee, C., Awa; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 0 Excused: none.
2026-04-28 S
Conference committee meeting to reconvene on 04-29-26 2:00PM; CR 325.
2026-04-27 H
Conference Committee Meeting will reconvene on Tuesday 04-28-26 2:00PM in conference room 325.
2026-04-24 H
Conference Committee Meeting will reconvene on Monday 04-27-26 2:00PM in conference room 325.
2026-04-23 S
Conference committee meeting to reconvene on 04-24-26 3:10PM; Conference Room 325.
2026-04-22 S
Conference committee meeting to reconvene on 04-23-26 2:00PM; Conference Room 325.
2026-04-21 H
Bill scheduled for Conference Committee Meeting on Wednesday, 04-22-26 2:00PM in conference room 325.
2026-04-20 H
Received notice of Senate conferees (Sen. Com. No. 714).
2026-04-20 S
Senate Conferees Appointed: Rhoads Chair; Lee, C. Co-Chairs; Awa.
2026-04-20 S
Received notice of appointment of House conferees (Hse. Com. No. 787).
2026-04-20 H
House Conferees Appointed: Tarnas, Keohokapu-Lee Loy Co-Chairs; Poepoe, Garcia.
2026-04-20 H
Re-referred to JHA, FIN, referral sheet 30
2026-04-16 H
Received notice of disagreement (Sen. Com. No. 710).
2026-04-16 S
Senate disagrees with House amendments.
2026-04-16 S
Received from House (Hse. Com. No. 638).
2026-04-14 H
Passed Third Reading with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Quinlan excused (1). Transmitted to Senate.
2026-04-09 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) Cochran excused (1).
2026-04-09 H
Reported from JHA (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1980-26) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and placement on the calendar for Third Reading.
2026-03-17 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; 0 Noes: none; and 0 Excused: none.
2026-03-12 H
Bill scheduled to be heard by JHA on Tuesday, 03-17-26 2:00PM in House conference room 325 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
2026-03-10 H
Referred to JHA, referral sheet 16
2026-03-10 H
Pass First Reading
2026-03-06 H
Received from Senate (Sen. Com. No. 44) in amended form (SD 1).
2026-03-06 S
Report Adopted; Passed Third Reading. Ayes, 24; Aye(s) with reservations: none. Noes, 0 (none). Excused, 1 (Senator(s) Ihara). Transmitted to House.
2026-03-05 S
One Day Notice 03-06-26.
2026-03-05 S
Reported from WAM (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 2874) with recommendation of passage on Third Reading.
2026-03-02 S
The committee(s) on WAM recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes in WAM were as follows: 12 Aye(s): Senator(s) Dela Cruz, Moriwaki, DeCoite, Elefante, Hashimoto, Inouye, Kanuha, Kidani, Kim, Lee, C., Richards, Wakai; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 1 No(es): Senator(s) Fevella; and 0 Excused: none.
2026-02-27 S
The committee on WAM has rescheduled its decision making to 03-02-26 10:02AM; CR 211 & Videoconference.
2026-02-23 S
The committee(s) on WAM will hold a public decision making on 03-02-26 10:31AM; Conference Room 211 & Videoconference.
2026-02-19 S
Report adopted; Passed Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referred to WAM.
2026-02-19 S
Reported from JDC (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 2467) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to WAM.
2026-02-18 S
The committee(s) on JDC recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in JDC were as follows: 4 Aye(s): Senator(s) Rhoads, Gabbard, Chang, Awa; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 1 Excused: Senator(s) San Buenaventura.
2026-02-13 S
The committee(s) on JDC has scheduled a public hearing on 02-18-26 9:04AM; CR 016 & Videoconference.
2026-01-30 S
Re-Referred to JDC, WAM.
2026-01-26 S
Referred to GVO, JDC/WAM.
2026-01-21 S
Introduced and passed First Reading.
2026-01-14 S
Pending Introduction.

Official Summary Text

RELATING TO POLITICAL FUNDRAISING BY EXECUTIVE BRANCH EMPLOYEES.
State Ethics Commission Package; Contributions; Solicitation
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. (CD1)

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

SB2247

THE SENATE

S.B. NO.

2247

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.