SB 2528 Hawaii Senate · 2026 Regular Session

RELATING TO PARTIAL PUBLIC FINANCING OF ELECTIONS.

Summary

Increases the expenditure limit and the amount of partial public campaign financing available for all elective offices. Adjusts the minimum amount of qualifying contributions certain candidates must receive to participate in the program. Increases the matching fund payments for excess qualifying contributions. Appropriates funds for the program. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Issues: ✓ Budget & Taxes

Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2026

Committee Review

Mar 2026

Senate Passage

Mar 2026

House Passage

Governor

Introduced Jan 23, 2026 Last action Mar 25, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

SB2528_HD1 → SB2528_SD1 · 5 edits

MODERATE

This bill updates Hawaii's partial public financing program to increase funding limits and matching rates for candidates while adjusting minimum contribution thresholds. It raises the maximum public funds available for most offices from 15% to 25% of expenditure limits and increases the matching fund rate from $1 to $4 for every dollar of excess qualifying contributions. The bill also adjusts specific dollar thresholds for qualifying contributions and sets a new effective date of March 22, 2075.

Scope change

The bill expands the scope of funding eligibility to include all candidates running for state or county offices, explicitly adding the board of trustees for the office of Hawaiian affairs to the list of covered positions.

FISCAL

Increased the maximum percentage of public funds available for state and county offices from 15% to 25% of the voluntary expenditure limit.

Raised the matching fund payment rate from $1 to $4 for every $1 of qualifying contributions that exceed the minimum threshold.

REQUIREMENT

Adjusted the minimum qualifying contribution amounts required for candidates to receive public matching funds for various offices.

TIMELINE

Changed the effective date of the Act from July 1, 3000, to March 22, 2075.

SCOPE

Explicitly included candidates for the board of trustees for the office of Hawaiian affairs in the public financing program.

Floor votes

How they voted

This bill passed the Senate by voice vote (no roll call recorded).

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Mar 25, 2026

Committee

Reported from JHA (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1415-26) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to FIN.

lower

Mar 18, 2026

Lower · Passed

The committee on JHA recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 6 Ayes: Representative(s) Tarnas, Poepoe, Belatti, Kahaloa, Takayama; Ayes with reservations: Representative(s) Shimizu; 1 Noes: Representative(s) Garcia; and 3 Excused: Representative(s) Hashem, Sayama, Cochran.

lower

Mar 10, 2026

Committee

Referred to JHA, FIN, referral sheet 16

lower

Mar 6, 2026

Introduced

Received from Senate (Sen. Com. No. 59) in amended form (SD 1).

lower

Mar 6, 2026

Upper · Passed

Report Adopted; Passed Third Reading. Ayes, 24; Aye(s) with reservations: none. Noes, 0 (none). Excused, 1 (Senator(s) Ihara). Transmitted to House.

upper

Mar 2, 2026

Upper · Passed

The 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.

upper

Feb 27, 2026

Upper · Passed

The committee on WAM has rescheduled its decision making to 03-02-26 10:02AM; CR 211 & Videoconference.

upper

Feb 23, 2026

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on WAM will hold a public decision making on 03-02-26 10:31AM; Conference Room 211 & Videoconference.

upper

Feb 19, 2026

Upper · Passed

Report adopted; Passed Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referred to WAM.

upper

Feb 19, 2026

Committee

Reported from JDC (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 2440) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to WAM.

upper

Feb 12, 2026

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on JDC recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in JDC were as follows: 3 Aye(s): Senator(s) Rhoads, Gabbard, Awa; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 2 Excused: Senator(s) Chang, San Buenaventura.

upper

Feb 2, 2026

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on JDC has scheduled a public hearing on 02-06-26 9:00AM; Conference Room 016 & Videoconference.

upper

Jan 28, 2026

Committee

Referred to JDC, WAM.

upper

Jan 23, 2026

Introduced

Introduced.

upper

1 primary · 0 co-sponsors