SB2982 • 2026

RELATING TO CAMPAIGN FINANCE.

Elections

Active

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

Sponsor: LEE, C., CHANG, MCKELVEY, RHOADS, Ihara, Moriwaki, San Buenaventura
Last action: 2026-03-25
Official status: Passed Second Reading as amended in HD 1 and referred to the committee(s) on FIN with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Matsumoto, Perruso excused (2).
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 CAMPAIGN FINANCE.

What This Bill Does

RELATING TO CAMPAIGN FINANCE.
CSC; Campaign Finance; Foreign Entities; Foreign-Influenced Business Entities; Exemption; Cargo Carriers Prohibits foreign nationals, foreign corporations, and foreign-influenced business entities from making contributions, expenditures, electioneering communications, or donations for election purposes.
Requires every for-profit business entity that contributes or expends funds in a state election to certify that the entity was not a foreign corporation or foreign-influenced business entity when the contribution or expenditure was made.
Specifies that if the conditions that determine whether a business entity qualifies as a foreign‑influenced business entity are held unconstitutional by a final judgment, including all appeals, the Campaign Spending Commission is required to establish revised conditions that are constitutional.

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.

HD1

Hawaii published version HD1

Plain English: SB2982 HD1 THE SENATE S.B.

SB2982 HD1 THE SENATE S.B.
NO.
2982 THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026 S.D.
2 STATE OF HAWAII H.D.

SD1

Hawaii published version SD1

Plain English: SB2982 SD1 THE SENATE S.B.

SB2982 SD1 THE SENATE S.B.
NO.
2982 THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026 S.D.
1 STATE OF HAWAII A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO CAMPAIGN FINANCE .

SD2

Hawaii published version SD2

Plain English: SB2982 SD2 THE SENATE S.B.

SB2982 SD2 THE SENATE S.B.
NO.
2982 THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026 S.D.
2 STATE OF HAWAII A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO CAMPAIGN FINANCE .

Bill History

2026-03-25 H
Passed Second Reading as amended in HD 1 and referred to the committee(s) on FIN with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Matsumoto, Perruso excused (2).
2026-03-25 H
Reported from JHA (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1414-26) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to FIN.
2026-03-18 H
The committee on JHA recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 7 Ayes: Representative(s) Tarnas, Poepoe, Belatti, Kahaloa, Takayama, Garcia, Shimizu; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and 3 Excused: Representative(s) Hashem, Sayama, Cochran.
2026-03-16 H
Bill scheduled to be heard by JHA on Wednesday, 03-18-26 2:00PM in House conference room 325 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
2026-03-12 H
Referred to JHA, FIN, referral sheet 17
2026-03-12 H
Pass First Reading
2026-03-10 H
Received from Senate (Sen. Com. No. 333) in amended form (SD 2).
2026-03-10 S
Report adopted; Passed Third Reading, as amended (SD 2). Ayes, 25; Aye(s) with reservations: none . Noes, 0 (none). Excused, 0 (none). Transmitted to House.
2026-03-06 S
48 Hrs. Notice 03-10-26.
2026-03-06 S
Reported from JDC (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 3023) with recommendation of passage on Third Reading, as amended (SD 2).
2026-03-04 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.
2026-02-24 S
The committee(s) on JDC will hold a public decision making on 03-04-26 9:40AM; Conference Room 016 & Videoconference.
2026-02-20 S
Report adopted; Passed Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referred to JDC.
2026-02-20 S
Reported from WLA (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 2518) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to JDC.
2026-02-06 S
The committee(s) on WLA recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in WLA were as follows: 4 Aye(s): Senator(s) Lee, C., Inouye, Lamosao, DeCorte; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 1 Excused: Senator(s) Chang.
2026-02-03 S
The committee(s) on WLA has scheduled a public hearing on 02-06-26 1:00PM; CR 224 & Videoconference.
2026-01-30 S
Referred to WLA, JDC.
2026-01-26 S
Passed First Reading.
2026-01-23 S
Introduced.

Official Summary Text

RELATING TO CAMPAIGN FINANCE.
CSC; Campaign Finance; Foreign Entities; Foreign-Influenced Business Entities; Exemption; Cargo Carriers
Prohibits foreign nationals, foreign corporations, and foreign-influenced business entities from making contributions, expenditures, electioneering communications, or donations for election purposes. Requires every for-profit business entity that contributes or expends funds in a state election to certify that the entity was not a foreign corporation or foreign-influenced business entity when the contribution or expenditure was made. Specifies that if the conditions that determine whether a business entity qualifies as a foreign‑influenced business entity are held unconstitutional by a final judgment, including all appeals, the Campaign Spending Commission is required to establish revised conditions that are constitutional. Requires noncandidate committees making only independent expenditures to obtain a statement of certification from each top contributor required to be listed in an advertisement avowing that no funds were derived from foreign nationals, foreign corporations, or foreign-influenced business entities. Exempts entities engaged in transporting cargo and subject to section 27 of the Merchant Marine Act of 1920. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

SB2982

THE SENATE

S.B. NO.

2982

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.
�
The legislature finds that the State has a
compelling interest in securing its democratic self-governance from foreign
influence.
�
The State welcomes
immigrants, visitors, and investors from around the world; however, its
elections should be decided by the people of Hawaii and not by foreign
entities.

����
The
legislature further finds that the United States government has concluded that
Russia, China, Iran, and other foreign actors are engaged in ongoing campaigns
to undermine democratic institutions, as set forth in the joint statement
"Combating Foreign Influence in United States Elections", issued by
the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, United States Department
of Justice, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and United States Department
of Homeland Security on October 19, 2018.
�

The FBI has also concluded that foreign-influenced activities include
"criminal efforts to suppress voting and provide illegal campaign
financing", as set forth in FBI Director Christopher Wray's press briefing
on election security on August 2, 2018.

����
T
he
legislature also finds that the United States Congress recognized the need to
protect American elections from foreign influence through the ban on
contributions and expenditures by foreign nationals imposed by title 52 United
States Code section 30121, upheld in
Bluman v. Federal Election Commission
,
800 F.Supp.2d 281 (D.D.C. 2011), summarily affirmed, 565 U.S.
1104 (2012).
�
Several states, including
Hawaii, have enacted similar laws that ban foreign nationals from making
contributions or expenditures in connection with state or local elections.

����
The
legislature further finds that former President Barack Obama warned of foreign
corporate spending in state elections.
�
Political
spending by foreign entities can weaken, interfere with, or disrupt a state's
democratic self-government and the trust that the electorate has in its elected
representatives.
�
In Hawaii, both foreign
nationals and foreign corporations are prohibited from making contributions or
expenditures to or on behalf of a candidate, candidate committee, or
noncandidate committee.
�
However, more
can be done to protect the integrity of Hawaii's democratic self-government
from foreign entities that seek to influence Hawaii's elections through
political spending.

����
The
purpose of this Act is to protect the State's democratic self-governance by:

����
(1)
�
Prohibiting foreign entities and
foreign-influenced business entities from making contributions, expenditures,
electioneering communications, or donations for election purposes;

����
(2)
�
Requiring every business entity that
contributes or expends funds in a state election to certify that the entity was
not a foreign corporation or foreign-influenced business entity when the
contribution or expenditure was made;

����
(3)
�
Specifying that if the conditions that
determine whether a business entity qualifies as a foreign‑influenced
business entity are held unconstitutional by a final judgment, including all
appeals, the campaign spending commission is required to establish revised
conditions that are constitutional
; and

����
(4)
�
Requiring noncandidate committees
making only independent expenditures to obtain a statement of certification
from each top contributor required to be listed in an advertisement
avowing that none of the funds contributed were derived
from foreign entities or foreign-influenced business entities
.

����
SECTION

2
.
�
Section 11-302,
Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding three new definitions to be
appropriately inserted and to read as follows:

����
"
"Business
entity" means a for-profit corporation, company, limited liability
company, limited partnership, business trust, or business association, or other
similar for-profit business entity.

����
"Foreign-influenced
business entity" means a business entity that meets at least one of the
following conditions:

����
(1)
�
A single foreign investor holds,
owns, controls, or otherwise has direct or indirect beneficial ownership of one
per cent or more of the total equity, outstanding voting shares, membership
units, or other applicable ownership interests of the business entity;

����
(2)
�
Six or more foreign investors, in
aggregate, hold, own, control, or otherwise have direct or indirect beneficial
ownership of five per cent or more of the total equity, outstanding voting
shares, membership units, or other applicable ownership interests of the
business entity; or

����
(3)
�
A foreign investor participates
directly or indirectly in the business entity's decision-making process with
respect to the business entity's political activities in the United States.

����
"Foreign
investor" means a person or entity that:

����
(1)
�
Holds, owns, controls, or otherwise
has direct or indirect beneficial ownership of equity, outstanding voting
shares, membership units, or other applicable ownership interests of a business
entity; and

����
(2)
�
Is:

���������
(A)
�
A government or subdivision of a
foreign country;

���������
(B)
�
A foreign political party;

���������
(C)
�
An individual outside the United
States who is not a citizen of the United States or a national of the United
States and who is not lawfully admitted for permanent residence; or

���������
(D)
�
A business entity:

��������������
(i)
�
That is organized under the laws of
or having its principal place of business in a foreign country; or

�������������
(ii)
�
In which
a person or entity described in
subparagraph (A), (B), or (C) holds, owns, controls, or otherwise has directly
or indirectly acquired a beneficial ownership of equity, voting shares,
membership units, or other applicable ownership interests of the business
entity in an amount that is equal to or greater than fifty per cent of the
total equity, outstanding voting shares, membership units, or other applicable
ownership interests of the business entity.
"

����
SECTION

3
.
�
Section 11-356,
Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:

����
"
[
[
]�
11-356[
]
]
�
Contributions
and expenditures
by
a

foreign national [
or
]
,
foreign corporation
, or
foreign-influenced business entity;
prohibited.
�
(a)
�
[
Except
as provided in subsection (b), no
]
No
contributions or expenditures
shall be made to or on behalf of a candidate, candidate committee, or noncandidate
committee[
,
] by a foreign national [
or
]
,
foreign
corporation,
or foreign-influenced business entity,
including a domestic
subsidiary of a foreign corporation, [
a
] domestic corporation that is
owned by a foreign national, or [
a
] local subsidiary where
administrative control is retained by the foreign corporation[
, and in the
same manner prohibited under 2 United States Code section 441e and 11 Code of
Federal Regulations section 110.20, as amended.

����
(b)
�
A foreign-owned domestic corporation may make
contributions if:

����
(1)
�
Foreign national individuals do not
participate in election-related activities, including decisions concerning
contributions or the administration of a candidate committee or noncandidate
committee; or

����
(2)
�
The contributions are
domestically-derived
].

����
(b)
�
No independent expenditures or electioneering
communications shall be made by a foreign national, foreign corporation, or foreign-influenced
business entity.

����
(c)
�
No contribution or donation shall be
made to any person by a foreign national, foreign corporation, or foreign‑influenced
business entity if the contribution or donation is earmarked for the recipient
to make a campaign finance contribution or expenditure, including independent
expenditure or electioneering communication.

����
(d)
�
Within
seven
calendar days, a for-profit business entity that makes a contribution or
expenditure, including an independent expenditure, shall file with the campaign
spending commission a statement of certification signed by the business
entity�s chief executive officer avowing under penalty of perjury that, after
due inquiry, the business entity was not a foreign corporation or
foreign-influenced business entity on the date the contribution or expenditure
was made.

����
(e)
�
If a business entity intends to make
more than one contribution to or expenditure on behalf of a candidate,
candidate committee, or noncandidate committee, including independent
expenditures or electioneering communications, within an election cycle, that
business entity may, within seven days after making its first contribution or
expenditure of an election cycle, file with the commission a statement of
certification signed by the business entity's chief executive officer avowing
under penalty of perjury that:

����
(1)
�
After due inquiry, the business entity was
not a foreign corporation or foreign-influenced business entity on the date the
contribution or expenditure was made;

����
(2)
�
The business entity will conduct due
inquiry before any future contribution or expenditure to determine if the
business entity has become a foreign corporation or foreign-influenced business
entity; and

����
(3)
�
Any future contribution or expenditure shall
only be made if the commission determines, after due inquiry, that the business
entity is not a foreign corporation or foreign‑influenced business
entity.

����
(f)
�
If a business entity does not file a
certificate with the campaign spending commission that complies with subsection
(e) of this section, then the business entity shall file a certificate that
complies with subsection (d) of this section within seven days of each one of
its contributions or expenditures, including independent expenditures.

����
(g)
�
If a business entity files a certificate in
compliance with subsection (e) of this section within the course of an election
cycle and later in that election cycle determines that it has become a foreign
corporation or foreign-influenced business entity, then within seven days it shall
file with a commission a statement signed by the business entity�s chief
executive officer avowing under penalty of perjury that it has become a foreign
corporation or foreign-influenced business entity.

����
(h)
�
For the purposes of certification under
subsection (d), the business entity shall ascertain beneficial ownership in a
manner:

����
(1)
�
C
onsistent
with the Hawaii Business Corporation Act, chapter 414; or

����
(2)
�
If it is registered on a national
securities exchange, as set forth in title 17 Code of Federal Regulations
sections 240.13d-3 and 240.13d-5.

����
(i)
�
If the conditions that determine
whether a business entity qualifies as a foreign-influenced business entity
pursuant to section 11-302 are held to be unconstitutional by a binding final
judgment of court, inclusive of all appeals, the commission shall establish
revised conditions that are constitutional and further the State's interest as
set forth in Act , Session Laws of Hawaii 2026; provided that
the revised conditions shall be relied upon by business entities in determining
whether they are foreign-influenced business entities pursuant to this section.

����
(j)
�
A contribution made by a foreign national,
foreign corporation, or foreign-influenced business entity, or a contribution
made by any entity that received funds from a foreign national, foreign
corporation, or foreign-influenced business entity in violation of subsection
(c) of this section, shall escheat to the Hawaii election campaign fund.

����
(k)
�
For the purposes of this section:

����
"Chief
executive officer" means the highest-ranking officer or individual having
authority to make decisions regarding a business entity's affairs.

����
"Earmarked"
means a designation or instruction, whether direct or indirect, express or
implied, oral or written, that results in all or any part of the contribution or
donation being expended in a manner that would be prohibited by this section if
made by a foreign national, foreign corporation, or foreign‑influenced
business entity.
"

����
SECTION

4
.
�
Section 11-393,
Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:

����
"
�11-393
�

Identification of certain top contributors to noncandidate committees
making only independent expenditures.
�
(a)
�
An advertisement shall contain an additional
notice in a prominent location immediately after or below the notices required
by section 11-391, if the advertisement is broadcast, televised, circulated, or
published, including by electronic means, and is paid for by a noncandidate
committee that certifies to the commission that it makes only independent
expenditures.
�
This additional notice
shall start with the words, "The three top contributors for this
advertisement are", followed by the names of the three top contributors[
,
as defined in subsection (e),
] who made the highest aggregate contributions
to the noncandidate committee for the purpose of funding the advertisement;
provided that:

����
(1)
�
If a noncandidate committee is only
able to identify two top contributors who made contributions for the purpose of
funding the advertisement, the additional notice shall start with the words, "The
two top contributors for this advertisement are", followed by the names of
the two top contributors;

����
(2)
�
If a noncandidate committee is able to
identify only one top contributor who made contributions for the purpose of
funding the advertisement, the additional notice shall start with the words, "The
top contributor for this advertisement is", followed by the name of the
top contributor;

����
(3)
�
If a noncandidate committee is unable
to identify any top contributors who made contributions for the purpose of
funding the advertisement, the additional notice shall start with the words, "The
three top contributors for this noncandidate committee are", followed by
the names of the three top contributors who made the highest aggregate
contributions to the noncandidate committee; and

����
(4)
�
If there are no top contributors to the
noncandidate committee, the noncandidate committee shall not be subject to this
section.

In no case
shall a noncandidate committee be required to identify more than three top
contributors pursuant to this section.

����
(b)
�
If a noncandidate committee has more than
three top contributors who contributed in equal amounts, the noncandidate
committee may select which of the top contributors to identify in the
advertisement; provided that the top contributors not identified in the
advertisement did not make a higher aggregate contribution than those top
contributors who are identified in the advertisement.
�
The additional notice required for noncandidate
committees described under this subsection shall start with the words "Three
of the top contributors for this advertisement are" or "Three of the
top contributors to this noncandidate committee are", as appropriate,
followed by the names of the three top contributors.

����
(c)
�
This section shall not apply to
advertisements broadcast by radio or television of [
such
] short duration
that including a list of top contributors in the advertisement would constitute
a hardship to the noncandidate committee paying for the advertisement.
�
A noncandidate committee shall be subject to
all other requirements under this part regardless of whether a hardship exists
pursuant to this subsection.
�
The
commission shall adopt rules pursuant to chapter 91 to establish criteria to
determine when including a list of top contributors in an advertisement of
short duration constitutes a hardship to a noncandidate committee under this
subsection.

����
(d)
�
A noncandidate committee shall obtain a
statement of certification, signed under oath as defined in, and on a form as
described in, section 710-1000, from each top contributor required to be listed
in an advertisement pursuant to this section avowing under penalty of law that,
after due inquiry, none of the funds contributed by the top contributor were
derived from a foreign national, foreign corporation, or foreign-influenced
business entity.
�
If a noncandidate
committee does not receive a statement of certification from a top contributor,
the advertisement shall include the following statement:
�
"Some of the funds used to pay for this
message may have been provided by foreign corporations or foreign-influenced
business entities".
�
A noncandidate
committee may rely on a statement of certification provided by a top
contributor unless the noncandidate committee has actual knowledge that the
statement of certification is false.

����
[
(d)
]

(e)
�
Any noncandidate committee
that violates this section shall be subject to a minimum fine of $1,000 per
violation.

����
[
(e)
]

(f)
�
For purposes of this section,
"top contributor" means a contributor who has contributed an
aggregate amount of $10,000 or more to a noncandidate committee within a twelve-month
period before the purchase of an advertisement."

����
SECTION
5.
�
Nothing in this Act shall be
construed to diminish or infringe upon any right protected under the First
Amendment of the Constitution of the United States or conflict with any federal
statute or regulation.

����
SECTION
6.
�
If any provision of this Act, or the
application thereof to any person or circumstance, is held invalid, the
invalidity does not affect other provisions or applications of the Act that can
be given effect without the invalid provision or application, and to this end
the provisions of this Act are severable.

����
SECTION
7.
�
This Act does not affect rights and
duties that matured, penalties that were incurred, and proceedings that were
begun before its effective date.

����
SECTION
8.
�
Statutory material to be repealed is
bracketed and stricken.
�
New statutory
material is underscored.

����
SECTION
9.
�
This Act shall take effect upon its
approval.

INTRODUCED BY:

_____________________________

Report Title:

CSC; Campaign
Finance; Foreign Entities; Foreign-Influenced Business Entities

Description:

Prohibits
foreign entities and foreign-influenced business entities from making
contributions, expenditures, electioneering communications, or donations for
election purposes.
�
Requires every
business entity that contributes or expends funds in a state election to
certify that the entity was not a foreign corporation or foreign-influenced
business entity when the contribution or expenditure was made.
�
Specifies that if the conditions that
determine whether a business entity qualifies as a foreign‑influenced
business entity are held unconstitutional by a final judgment, including all
appeals, the Campaign Spending Commission is required to establish revised
conditions that are constitutional.
�
Requires
noncandidate committees making only independent expenditures to obtain a
statement of certification from each top contributor required to be listed in
an advertisement avowing that no funds were derived from foreign entities or
foreign-influenced business entities.

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