SB2531 amends Hawaii’s campaign finance law governing contributions to candidate committees and elected officials. The bill keeps the existing contribution limits in place: $2,000 for candidates for two-year offices, $4,000 for candidates for four-year nonstatewide offices, and $6,000 for candidates for four-year statewide offices during an election period. It also clarifies that the applicable office term is the usual term of the office, even if a special election, reapportionment, or another factor shortens the term being contested.
The main substantive change is a new prohibition on elected officials, as defined in existing law, soliciting or accepting campaign contributions during any regular or special legislative session, including extensions, recess days, holidays, and weekends. The bill defines “session” as any period when both legislative houses are in session. The measure would take effect upon approval and applies prospectively, without affecting prior rights, duties, penalties, or proceedings.
Impact
If enacted, SB2531 would amend section 11-357 of the Hawaii Revised Statutes to impose a session-based blackout period on campaign fundraising by state and county elected officials while the Legislature is in session. It would not change the dollar limits on contributions to candidate committees, but it would expand the circumstances under which elected officials may not solicit or accept contributions. The bill would therefore affect elected officials, donors, and campaign committees by restricting fundraising activity during legislative sessions and related breaks.
Sentiment
Based on the bill text and available context, the measure appears to be part of the Campaign Spending Commission package and is framed as a campaign finance ethics reform. There are no recorded committee transcripts or votes in the provided material, so no formal opposition or support is documented here. The referral to Judiciary and Ways and Means suggests the bill was still under committee consideration at the time of the last action.
Contention
The likely point of contention is the new prohibition on soliciting or accepting campaign contributions during legislative sessions, which could be viewed as a transparency and anti-corruption safeguard by supporters but as a restriction on political fundraising by opponents. Another possible issue is the breadth of the blackout period, which extends beyond floor sessions to recess days, holidays, weekends, and session extensions. Because the bill applies to elected officials generally, not only legislators, questions may arise about how broadly the restriction should reach and how it would be enforced.