HawaiiHawaii campaign committees would file key forms online
If it takes effect November 4, 2026, this measure would require committees and candidates seeking public funds to file certain campaign records electronically.
What it does
Before filing an organizational report, candidate and noncandidate committees file the required form electronically with the commission.
A committee seeking to end its registration electronically files a report of previously unreported contributions and spending. It must have no surplus or deficit, send its closing bank statement, and receive commission approval.
Committees electronically file loan documents by the due date for the report covering when they received the loan. If they fail to disclose the loan or provide its documents, the loan counts as a contribution.
The person in charge files a fundraiser notice electronically before the event. Candidates seeking public funds electronically file a statement of intent and qualifying contribution statements, while meeting the program's other eligibility rules.
Argument forElectronic filing could make it easier for candidates and committees to send required campaign records to the commission.
Argument againstCommittees may have more filing work because they would need to submit several records electronically, including before fundraisers and when seeking to end registration.
More detail
Candidate and noncandidate committees file the organizational form electronically with the commission. This applies before a candidate or noncandidate committee files its organizational report. The electronic form is due before the committee files its organizational report.
Committees seeking to end their registration electronically file an updated report with the commission. This applies to candidate and noncandidate committees seeking to end their registration. The committee must report contributions and spending not previously reported and have no surplus or deficit. It must file a termination request, send the commission a copy of its closing bank statement, and receive commission approval. The report and other required materials are part of the request to end registration; the request takes effect only if the commission approves it.
Committees electronically file executed loan documents with the commission. This applies to loans received by a committee and to the report covering the period when it received the loan. The document must give the loan terms, including interest and repayment schedule. If a committee fails to disclose a loan or provide its documents, the loan is treated as a contribution under the applicable campaign finance rules. The loan document is due on or before the filing date for the report covering the period when the committee received the loan.
The person in charge files fundraiser notices electronically, and candidates seeking public funds electronically file specified forms. The fundraiser rule applies to the person in charge; the public funding forms apply to candidates seeking public funds. A fundraiser notice must list the person in charge, price, date, time, place, and method; a fundraiser cannot be held without a notice on file. Candidates seeking public funds must still meet the other eligibility requirements, including contribution rules. The fundraiser notice must be filed before the fundraiser. The electronic statements apply when candidates seek public funding.
Where do you stand?
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed Senate
- Passed House
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- Jul 10Act 227, 07/10/2026 (Gov. Msg. No. 1329).Latest
- Jul 10Act 227, on 07/10/2026 (Gov. Msg. No. 1329).Became Law
- May 8Received notice of passage on Final Reading in House (Hse. Com. No. 888).Minor
- May 7Enrolled to Governor.To Governor
- May 6Passed Final Reading as amended in CD 1 with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and none excused (0).Major
- Vote recorded Passed Final Reading as amended in CD 1. Result: pass.Lower
- May 5Received notice of Final Reading (Sen. Com. No. 814).Minor
- May 1Deferred one day 05-06-26.Minor
- Vote recorded Passed Final Reading, as amended (CD 1). Result: pass.Upper
- May 1Passed Final Reading, as amended (CD 1). Ayes, 24; Aye(s) with reservations: none. Noes, 0 (none). Excused, 1 (Senator(s) Fukunaga).Major
- Apr 29Reported from Conference Committee as amended CD 1 (Conf. Com. Rep. No. 21-26).
- Apr 2948 Hrs. Notice (as amended CD 1) 05-01-26.
- Apr 29Reported from Conference Committee (Conf Com. Rep. No. 21-26) as amended in (CD 1).
- Apr 29Forty-eight (48) hours notice Friday, 05-01-26.
- Apr 24The 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.Minor
- Vote recorded The Conference Committee recommends that the measure be Passed, with Amendments. Result: pass.Lower
- Vote recorded The Conference committee recommends that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. Result: pass.Upper
- Apr 24The Conference Committee recommends that the measure be Passed, with Amendments. The votes were as follows: 4 Ayes: Representative(s) Tarnas, Hartsfield, Poepoe, Garcia; Ayes with reservations: none; 0 Noes: none; and 0 Excused: none.Minor
- 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, Hartsfield Co-Chairs; Poepoe, Garcia.
- Apr 20Received notice of appointment of House conferees (Hse. Com. No. 787).Minor
- Apr 20Senate Conferees Appointed: Rhoads Chair; Lee, C. Co-Chairs; Awa.
- Apr 20Received notice of Senate conferees (Sen. Com. No. 714).Minor
- Apr 16Received from House (Hse. Com. No. 669).Minor
- Apr 16Senate disagrees with House amendments.Minor
- Apr 16Received notice of disagreement (Sen. Com. No. 710).Minor
- Apr 14Passed Third Reading with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and none excused (0). Transmitted to Senate.Passed House
- Vote recorded Passed Third Reading. Result: pass.Lower
- Apr 10Reported from FIN (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 2074-26), recommending passage on Third Reading.
- Apr 10Deferred one day 04-14-26.Minor
- Apr 7The committee on FIN recommend that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes were as follows: 15 Ayes: Representative(s) Todd, Takenouchi, Hartsfield, Hussey, Keohokapu-Lee Loy, Kitagawa, Kusch, Lee, M., Miyake, Perruso, Templo, Yamashita, Alcos, Gedeon, Reyes Oda; Ayes with reservations: none; 0 Noes: none; and 1 Excused: Representative(s) Morikawa.Minor
- Vote recorded The committee on FIN recommend that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. Result: pass.Lower
- Apr 2The committee(s) on FIN recommend(s) that the measure be deferred until 04-07-26.Minor
- Apr 2Bill scheduled for decision making on Tuesday, 04-07-26 10:10AM in conference room 308 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
- Mar 31Bill scheduled to be heard by FIN on Thursday, 04-02-26 2:00PM in House conference room 308 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
- Mar 25Reported from JHA (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1408-26) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to FIN.
- Vote recorded Passed Second Reading as amended in HD 1 and referred to the committee(s) on FIN. Result: pass.Lower
- Mar 25Passed 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).Minor
- Mar 17The 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.Minor
- Vote recorded The committee on JHA recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. Result: pass.Lower
- Mar 12Bill scheduled to be heard by JHA on Tuesday, 03-17-26 2:00PM in House conference room 325 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
- Mar 10Pass First ReadingMinor
- Mar 10Referred to JHA, FIN, referral sheet 16Minor
- Mar 6Report Adopted; Passed Third Reading. Ayes, 24; Aye(s) with reservations: none. Noes, 0 (none). Excused, 1 (Senator(s) Ihara). Transmitted to House.Passed Senate
- Vote recorded Report Adopted; Passed Third Reading. Result: pass.Upper
- Mar 6Received from Senate (Sen. Com. No. 60).Minor
- Mar 5Reported from WAM (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 2824) with recommendation of passage on Third Reading.
- Mar 5One Day Notice 03-06-26.
- Mar 2The committee(s) on WAM recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes in WAM were as follows: 13 Aye(s): Senator(s) Dela Cruz, Moriwaki, DeCoite, Elefante, Hashimoto, Inouye, Kanuha, Kidani, Kim, Lee, C., Richards, Wakai, Fevella; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 0 Excused: none.Minor
- Vote recorded The committee(s) on WAM recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. Result: pass.Upper
- Feb 27The committee on WAM has rescheduled its decision making to 03-02-26 10:02AM; CR 211 & Videoconference.
- Feb 23The committee(s) on WAM will hold a public decision making on 03-02-26 10:31AM; Conference Room 211 & Videoconference.
- Feb 19Reported from JDC (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 2439) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading and referral to WAM.
- Feb 19Report adopted; Passed Second Reading and referred to WAM.Minor
- Feb 6The committee(s) on JDC recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. 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, UNAMENDED. Result: pass.Upper
- Feb 2The committee(s) on JDC has scheduled a public hearing on 02-06-26 9:00AM; Conference Room 016 & Videoconference.
- Jan 28Referred to JDC, WAM.Minor
- Jan 23Introduced.Minor
- Jan 23Passed First Reading.Introduced
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