# Hawaii SB 2528: RELATING TO PARTIAL PUBLIC FINANCING OF ELECTIONS.

Hawaii SB 2528, RELATING TO PARTIAL PUBLIC FINANCING OF ELECTIONS., is a 2025–2026 Regular Session (Year 2) Senate bill sponsored by Ronald D. Kouchi (Democratic); status failed, last action 2026-03-25 (Reported from JHA (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1415-26) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to FIN.); PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-11-01).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-SB2528-2026
- As of: 2026-11-01
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: Hawaii SB 2528
- State: Hawaii
- Session: 2025–2026 Regular Session (Year 2)
- Title: RELATING TO PARTIAL PUBLIC FINANCING OF ELECTIONS.
- Status: failed
- Chamber: Senate
- Introduced: 2026-01-23
- Last action: 2026-03-25, Reported from JHA (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1415-26) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to FIN.
- Sponsor: Ronald D. Kouchi (Democratic)
- Cosponsors: 0
- Subjects: Campaign Spending Commission Package, Partial Public Financing, Appropriation, JHA, FIN
- Touches household money: yes
- Roll calls: 5 (90 yes, 5 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 0

## 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)

## Bill overview

No economic impacts identified for this bill.

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Ronald D. Kouchi (Democratic), Senate

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2026-03-25 | House | Passed Second Reading as amended in HD 1 and referred to the committee(s) on FIN... | pass | 44 | 4 |   |
| 2026-03-18 | House | The committee on JHA recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The ... | pass | 6 | 1 |   |
| 2026-03-06 | Senate | Senate Floor Vote | pass | 24 | 0 |   |
| 2026-03-02 | Senate | The committee(s) on WAM recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The... | pass | 13 | 0 |   |
| 2026-02-12 | Senate | The committee(s) on JDC recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENT... | pass | 3 | 0 |   |

## Actions (21)

- 2026-03-25: Reported from JHA (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1415-26) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to FIN. (House)
- 2026-03-25: Passed Second Reading as amended in HD 1 and referred to the committee(s) on FIN with Representative(s) Alcos, Gedeon, Muraoka, Reyes Oda, Shimizu voting aye with reservations; Representative(s) Cochran, Garcia, Kitagawa, Pierick voting no (4) and Representative(s) Matsumoto, Perruso excused (2). (House)
- 2026-03-18: 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. (House)
- 2026-03-16: Bill scheduled to be heard by JHA on Wednesday, 03-18-26 2:00PM in House conference room 325 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE. (House)
- 2026-03-10: Pass First Reading (House)
- 2026-03-10: Referred to JHA, FIN, referral sheet 16 (House)
- 2026-03-06: Report Adopted; Passed Third Reading. Ayes, 24; Aye(s) with reservations: none. Noes, 0 (none). Excused, 1 (Senator(s) Ihara). Transmitted to House. (Senate)
- 2026-03-06: Received from Senate (Sen. Com. No. 59) in amended form (SD 1). (House)
- 2026-03-05: Reported from WAM (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 2827) with recommendation of passage on Third Reading. (Senate)
- 2026-03-05: One Day Notice 03-06-26. (Senate)
- 2026-03-02: 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. (Senate)
- 2026-02-27: The committee on WAM has rescheduled its decision making to 03-02-26 10:02AM; CR 211 & Videoconference. (Senate)
- 2026-02-23: The committee(s) on WAM will hold a public decision making on 03-02-26 10:31AM; Conference Room 211 & Videoconference. (Senate)
- 2026-02-19: Reported from JDC (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 2440) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to WAM. (Senate)
- 2026-02-19: Report adopted; Passed Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referred to WAM. (Senate)
- 2026-02-12: 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. (Senate)
- 2026-02-06: The committee(s) on JDC deferred the measure until 02-12-26 9:30AM; Conference Room 016 & Videoconference. (Senate)
- 2026-02-02: The committee(s) on JDC has scheduled a public hearing on 02-06-26 9:00AM; Conference Room 016 & Videoconference. (Senate)
- 2026-01-28: Referred to JDC, WAM. (Senate)
- 2026-01-23: Introduced. (Senate)
- 2026-01-23: Passed First Reading. (Senate)

## Bill text

- Bill Text: [PDF](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/SB2528_HD1_.pdf)
- Original: [HTML](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/SB2528_.HTM), [PDF](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/SB2528_.PDF)
- SB2528_HD1: [HTML](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/SB2528_HD1_.HTM)
- SB2528_SD1: [HTML](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/SB2528_SD1_.HTM)

## Related bills

- SB 847: RELATING TO PSYCHOLOGISTS. (became law)
- SB 2338: RELATING TO HOUSING. (signed)
- HB 2344: RELATING TO SCHOOL FACILITIES. (signed)
- HB 2023: RELATING TO TRANSPORTATION. (signed)
- HB 2021: RELATING TO TRANSPORTATION. (signed)
- SB 2031: RELATING TO CONSUMER PROTECTION. (signed)

## Sources
- [Bill Text (PDF)](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/SB2528_HD1_.pdf)
- [Original (HTML)](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/SB2528_.HTM)
- [Original (PDF)](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/SB2528_.PDF)
- [SB2528_HD1 (HTML)](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/SB2528_HD1_.HTM)
- [SB2528_SD1 (HTML)](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/SB2528_SD1_.HTM)

## Related
- [SB 847: RELATING TO PSYCHOLOGISTS.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-SB847-2026)
- [SB 2338: RELATING TO HOUSING.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-SB2338-2026)
- [HB 2344: RELATING TO SCHOOL FACILITIES.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-HB2344-2026)
- [HB 2023: RELATING TO TRANSPORTATION.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-HB2023-2026)
- [HB 2021: RELATING TO TRANSPORTATION.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-HB2021-2026)
- [SB 2031: RELATING TO CONSUMER PROTECTION.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-SB2031-2026)
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Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-SB2528-2026 (as of 2026-11-01).