Gov. Green signs transparency, accountability bills into Hawaiʻi state law

Hawaiʻi Gov. Josh Green last week signed seven “Good Government” bills into law to advance the goals of ethics, lobbying and campaign spending laws in Hawai‘i.

“The bills I have signed into law … were crafted by many great and collaborative minds and will allow even more sunshine into the executive and legislative branches of government,” Green said in a press release. “They will increase our transparency and accountability to our residents.”

The legislation was proposed by the State Campaign Spending Commission, the State Ethics Commission, and the State Office of Elections; and the bills were introduced by House Speaker Scott Saiki by request of the entities.

Green, legislative leaders, including Big Island Rep. David Tarnas, House Judiciary and Hawaiian Affairs Committee chair, and Sen. Karl Rhoads, chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, addressed reporters and the livestreaming audience. Their remarks can be found here. 

The bills that were signed into law:

HB90, Relating to committee fundraisers

Amends the definition of “fundraiser” under Election Laws to include all functions held for the benefit of candidates, candidate committees and noncandidate committees, regardless of the price or suggested contribution for attending the function.

HB93, Relating to organizational reports

Requires the Campaign Spending Commission to publish on its website the names of candidate and persons who qualify as noncandidate committees who fail to file an organizational report or a corrected organizational report with the Commission.

HB99, Relating to limiting a campaign’s acceptance of cash contributions

Limits to $100 the total amount of cash a candidate, candidate committee or noncandidate committee may accept from a single person during each election period.

HB130, HD1, Relating to validation of ballots

Shortens the deadline for the validation of ballots following an election.

This aligns the deadline by which voters must cure any deficiency with the return envelope with the deadline for the county election divisions to validate ballots. 

HB137, HD1, Relating to lobbyists³

Beginning Jan. 1, 2025, requires the statement of expenditures filed by lobbyists and other persons who engage in lobbying activities to include certain information on the identity of the legislative or administrative action that was commented on, supported by or opposed by the person filing the statement during the statement period.

This will provide greater transparency on lobbying activities by requiring specific information on the legislative or administrative action lobbied on, instead of a broad subject area.

HB140, Relating to record disposition

Provides the State Ethics Commission with the discretion to maintain or destroy records of financial disclosure statements beyond the current 6-year statutory requirement.  Applies retroactively to applicable disclosures that are in the Commission’s possession and control.

HB142, Relating to gifts from lobbyists

Prohibits lobbyists from making gifts that are prohibited under state ethics law.