HawaiiHawaii law sets campaign spending limits and public funding rules
Starting November 4, 2026, candidates who meet contribution rules may receive public campaign funds, while the state sets aside money for the program.
What it does
Candidates who agree to limit campaign spending must stay within per-voter limits. They may shift some of their combined primary and general election limit to either election.
Candidates who qualify may receive public funds up to a set share of their spending limit. They may shift some funding between the primary and general election, within the combined maximum.
Candidates who meet office-specific contribution minimums may receive public funds, including matching payments for extra qualifying contributions. They must have an opponent and agree to limit campaign spending.
The law sets aside about $2.27 million for the state election campaign fund for fiscal year 2026–2027.
Argument forCandidates who meet the contribution rules could receive matching public funds, which may help them compete for office.
Argument againstThe state could spend more public money on campaigns, leaving less available for other state needs.
More detail
Candidates who agree to limit campaign spending must stay within the per-voter limits for their office. The limits cover candidates for state and county offices, the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, and other offices. The limits count spending by the candidate, the candidate’s committees, and other committees spending on the candidate’s behalf. Candidates may use up to 75 percent of their combined primary and general election limit in either election, but may not exceed the combined limit. Limits apply from January 1 of the year of a primary, special, or general election.
Candidates who qualify may receive public funds up to set shares of their spending limits. The limits cover candidates for the listed state and county offices and the Office of Hawaiian Affairs. The maximum is 12.5 percent for governor, lieutenant governor, and mayors of Honolulu and Hawaii; 18.75 percent for state senator, state representative, mayors of Kauai and Maui, county council, and prosecuting attorney; and 7.5 percent for the Office of Hawaiian Affairs. Candidates may shift up to 75 percent of their combined primary and general election funding to either election, but may not exceed the combined maximum. A candidate who qualified for the maximum in a primary must apply to qualify for the maximum in the general election.
Candidates who meet the contribution rules may receive public funds, including $2 for each $1 in qualifying contributions above the minimum. The rules cover candidates for state and county offices, the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, and other offices. Contributions must come from individual Hawaii residents. Candidates must have an opponent in the election for which they seek funds and file an affidavit agreeing to limit campaign spending. Candidates must meet the office-specific minimum contribution amount once during the election period. A candidate seeking maximum funds for a general election after qualifying for maximum primary funds must apply again. Candidates must meet the minimum contribution amount once during the election period.
The law sets aside $2,267,021.06, or as much as necessary, for the Hawaii election campaign fund. The appropriation is for Hawaii’s election campaign fund. The Campaign Spending Commission must use the money for the purposes of the Act. This appropriation takes effect July 1, 2026. The other sections take effect November 4, 2026.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed House
- Passed Senate
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- Jun 24Act 136, 06/24/2026 (Gov. Msg. No. 1237).Latest
- Jun 24Act 136, on 06/24/2026 (Gov. Msg. No. 1237).Became Law
- May 8Received notice of passage on Final Reading in House (Hse. Com. No. 888).Minor
- May 7Transmitted to Governor.
- May 6Passed Final Reading, as amended (CD 1). Ayes, 25; Aye(s) with reservations: none. Noes, 0 (none). Excused, 0 (none).Major
- Vote recorded Passed Final Reading, as amended (CD 1). Result: pass.Upper
- Vote recorded Passed Final Reading as amended in CD 1. Result: pass.Lower
- May 6Passed Final Reading as amended in CD 1 with none voting aye with reservations; Representative(s) Alcos, Cochran, Garcia, Gedeon, Kitagawa, Matsumoto, Pierick, Reyes Oda voting no (8) and none excused (0).Major
- May 6Received notice of Final Reading (Sen. Com. No. 816).Minor
- May 1The Conference Committee recommends that the measure be Passed, with Amendments. The votes were as follows: 4 Ayes: Representative(s) Tarnas, Perruso, Belatti, Poepoe; Ayes with reservations: none; 1 Noes: Representative(s) Garcia; and 0 Excused: none.Minor
- Vote recorded The Conference committee recommends that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. Result: pass.Upper
- Vote recorded The Conference Committee recommends that the measure be Passed, with Amendments. Result: pass.Lower
- May 1The Conference committee recommends that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes of the Senate Conference Managers were as follows: 2 Aye(s): Senator(s) Rhoads, Kim; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 1 Excused: Senator(s) Awa.Minor
- May 1Reported from Conference Committee (Conf Com. Rep. No. 159-26) as amended in (CD 1).
- May 1Forty-eight (48) hours notice Wednesday, 05-06-26.
- May 1Reported from Conference Committee as amended CD 1 (Conf. Com. Rep. No. 159-26).
- May 148 Hrs. Notice (as amended CD 1) 05-06-26
- Apr 30Conference Committee Meeting will reconvene on Friday 05-01-26 2:00PM in conference room 325.
- Apr 29Conference committee meeting to reconvene on 04-30-26 2:00PM; Conference Room 325.
- Apr 28Conference committee meeting to reconvene on 04-29-26 2:00PM; CR 325.
- Apr 27Conference Committee Meeting will reconvene on Tuesday 04-28-26 2:00PM in conference room 325.
- Apr 24Conference Committee Meeting will reconvene on Monday 04-27-26 2:00PM in conference room 325.
- Apr 23Conference committee meeting to reconvene on 04-24-26 3:10PM; Conference Room 325.
- Apr 22Conference committee meeting to reconvene on 04-23-26 2:00PM; Conference Room 325.
- Apr 21Bill scheduled for Conference Committee Meeting on Wednesday, 04-22-26 2:00PM in conference room 325.
- Apr 20House Conferees Appointed: Tarnas, Perruso Co-Chairs; Belatti, Poepoe, Garcia.
- Apr 20Received notice of appointment of House conferees (Hse. Com. No. 786).Minor
- Apr 20Senate Conferees Appointed: Rhoads Chair; Kim Co-Chair; Awa.
- Apr 20Received notice of Senate conferees (Sen. Com. No. 713).Minor
- Apr 16Received notice of disagreement (Hse. Com. No. 599).Minor
- Apr 14House disagrees with Senate amendment (s).Minor
- Apr 10Report Adopted; Passed Third Reading. Ayes, 25; Aye(s) with reservations: none. Noes, 0 (none). Excused, 0 (none). Transmitted to House.Passed Senate
- Vote recorded Report Adopted; Passed Third Reading. Result: pass.Upper
- Apr 10Returned from Senate (Sen. Com. No. 543) in amended form (SD 1).
- Apr 9Reported from WAM (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 3618) with recommendation of passage on Third Reading.
- Apr 9One Day Notice 04-10-26.
- Apr 6The 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, Richards, Wakai, Fevella; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 1 Excused: Senator(s) Lee, C..Minor
- Vote recorded The committee(s) on WAM recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. Result: pass.Upper
- Apr 1The committee(s) on WAM deferred the measure until 04-06-26 10:31AM; Conference Room 211 & Videoconference.Minor
- Mar 30Reported from JDC (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 3284) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to WAM.
- Mar 30The committee(s) on WAM will hold a public decision making on 04-01-26 10:03AM; Conference Room 211 & Videoconference.
- Mar 30Report adopted; Passed Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referred to WAM.Minor
- Mar 24The committee(s) on JDC recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in JDC were as follows: 5 Aye(s): Senator(s) Rhoads, Gabbard, Chang, San Buenaventura, Awa; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 0 Excused: none.Minor
- Vote recorded The committee(s) on JDC recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. Result: pass.Upper
- Mar 20The committee(s) on JDC has scheduled a public hearing on 03-24-26 9:45AM; Conference Room 016 & Videoconference.
- Mar 10Received from House (Hse. Com. No. 180).Minor
- Mar 10Passed First Reading.Minor
- Mar 10Referred to JDC, WAM.Minor
- Mar 6Reported from FIN (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1009-26), recommending passage on Third Reading.
- Vote recorded Passed Third Reading. Result: pass.Lower
- Mar 6Passed Third Reading with Representative(s) Matsumoto, Shimizu voting aye with reservations; Representative(s) Alcos, Garcia, Gedeon, Kitagawa, Lee, M., Muraoka, Pierick, Reyes Oda voting no (8) and Representative(s) Perruso, Quinlan, Sayama excused (3). Transmitted to Senate.Passed House
- Feb 26The committee on FIN recommend that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes were as follows: 15 Ayes: Representative(s) Todd, Takenouchi, Hartsfield, Hussey, Kusch, Miyake, Morikawa, Perruso, Templo, Yamashita; Ayes with reservations: Representative(s) Keohokapu-Lee Loy, Kitagawa, Lee, M., Alcos, Gedeon; 1 Noes: Representative(s) Reyes Oda; and Excused: none.Minor
- Vote recorded The committee on FIN recommend that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. Result: pass.Lower
- Feb 24Bill scheduled to be heard by FIN on Thursday, 02-26-26 2:00PM in House conference room 308 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
- Feb 10Passed Second Reading as amended in HD 1 and referred to the committee(s) on FIN with Representative(s) Alcos, Gedeon voting aye with reservations; Representative(s) Garcia, Muraoka, Pierick, Reyes Oda voting no (4) and none excused (0).Minor
- Vote recorded Passed Second Reading as amended in HD 1 and referred to the committee(s) on FIN. Result: pass.Lower
- Feb 9Reported from JHA (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 103-26) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to FIN.
- Feb 3The committee on JHA recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 9 Ayes: Representative(s) Tarnas, Poepoe, Belatti, Cochran, Kahaloa, Sayama, Takayama; Ayes with reservations: Representative(s) Garcia, Shimizu; 0 Noes: none; and 1 Excused: Representative(s) Hashem.Minor
- Vote recorded The committee on JHA recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. Result: pass.Lower
- Jan 30Bill scheduled to be heard by JHA on Tuesday, 02-03-26 2:00PM in House conference room 325 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
- Jan 28Referred to JHA, FIN, referral sheet 3Minor
- Jan 26Introduced and Pass First Reading.Minor
- Jan 23Pending introduction.Introduced
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