# Hawaii SB 289: RELATING TO ETHICS ADMINISTRATIVE FINES.

Hawaii SB 289, RELATING TO ETHICS ADMINISTRATIVE FINES., is a 2025–2026 Regular Session (Year 1) Senate bill sponsored by Ronald D. Kouchi (Democratic); status signed, last action 2025-04-10 (Act 013, 04/10/2025 (Gov. Msg. No. 1113).) (as of 2026-10-28).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-SB289-2025
- As of: 2026-10-28
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: Hawaii SB 289
- State: Hawaii
- Session: 2025–2026 Regular Session (Year 1)
- Title: RELATING TO ETHICS ADMINISTRATIVE FINES.
- Status: signed
- Chamber: Senate
- Introduced: 2025-01-14
- Last action: 2025-04-10, Act 013, 04/10/2025 (Gov. Msg. No. 1113).
- Sponsor: Ronald D. Kouchi (Democratic)
- Cosponsors: 0
- Subjects: State Ethics Commission Package, State Ethics Code, Lobbyist Law, Administrative Fines, JHA
- Touches household money: no
- Roll calls: 5 (133 yes, 0 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 1

## Summary

Establishes uniform provisions for the assessment of administrative penalties under the State Ethics Code and Lobbyist Law.

## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read

- New ethics fines for officials and lobbyists: cost, low. The Hawaii State Ethics Commission can issue ethics or lobbying fine orders for proposed penalties under $1,000. The order becomes final 20 days after service unless the person requests a hearing in writing by then. After a hearing, the commission can affirm, change, or cancel the order; final orde…

## Sponsors and cosponsors

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

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2025-03-28 | House | House Floor Vote | pass | 47 | 0 |   |
| 2025-03-27 | House | House Floor Vote | pass | 48 | 0 |   |
| 2025-03-12 | House | The committee on JHA recommend that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes ... | pass | 10 | 0 |   |
| 2025-02-28 | Senate | Senate Floor Vote | pass | 23 | 0 |   |
| 2025-01-30 | Senate | The committee(s) on JDC recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The... | pass | 5 | 0 |   |

## Actions (22)

- 2025-04-10: Act 013, 04/10/2025 (Gov. Msg. No. 1113). (Senate)
- 2025-04-10: Act 013, on 04/10/2025 (Gov. Msg. No. 1113). (House)
- 2025-03-28: Passed Third Reading with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Cochran, Hussey, Muraoka, Ward excused (4). Transmitted to Senate. (House)
- 2025-03-28: Received from House (Hse. Com. No. 411). (Senate)
- 2025-03-28: Enrolled to Governor. (Senate)
- 2025-03-27: Reported from JHA (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1657), recommending passage on Second Reading and placement on the calendar for Third Reading. (House)
- 2025-03-27: Passed Second Reading; placed on the calendar for Third Reading with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Hussey, Templo, Ward excused (3). (House)
- 2025-03-12: The committee on JHA recommend that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes were as follows: 10 Ayes: Representative(s) Tarnas, Poepoe, Belatti, Hashem, Kahaloa, Perruso, Takayama, Todd, Garcia, Shimizu; Ayes with reservations: none; 0 Noes: none; and 1 Excused: Representative(s) Cochran. (House)
- 2025-03-10: Bill scheduled to be heard by JHA on Wednesday, 03-12-25 2:00PM in House conference room 325 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE. (House)
- 2025-03-04: Pass First Reading (House)
- 2025-03-04: Referred to JHA, referral sheet 18 (House)
- 2025-02-28: Passed Third Reading. Ayes, 23; Aye(s) with reservations: none. Noes, 0 (none). Excused, 2 (Senator(s) Fukunaga, Kidani). Transmitted to House. (Senate)
- 2025-02-28: Received from Senate (Sen. Com. No. 38). (House)
- 2025-02-27: Reported from JDC (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 712) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading and placement on the calendar for Third Reading. (Senate)
- 2025-02-27: Report adopted; Passed Second Reading. (Senate)
- 2025-02-27: One Day Notice 02-28-25. (Senate)
- 2025-01-30: The 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. (Senate)
- 2025-01-29: Re-Referred to JDC. (Senate)
- 2025-01-27: The committee(s) on JDC has scheduled a public hearing on 01-30-25 9:15AM; Conference Room 016 & Videoconference. (Senate)
- 2025-01-21: Referred to JDC, WAM. (Senate)
- 2025-01-15: Introduced and passed First Reading. (Senate)
- 2025-01-14: Pending Introduction. (Senate)

## Bill text

- Original: [HTML](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2025/bills/SB289_.HTM), [PDF](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2025/bills/SB289_.pdf)

## Related bills

- SB 572: RELATING TO HOUSING. (signed)
- HB 431: RELATING TO HOUSING. (signed)
- HB 420: RELATING TO REMEDIES. (signed)
- SB 1296: RELATING TO DISASTER RECOVERY. (signed)
- HB 830: RELATING TO HISTORIC PRESERVATION REVIEWS. (signed)
- HB 1064: RELATING TO FIRE PROTECTION. (signed)

## Sources
- [Original (HTML)](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2025/bills/SB289_.HTM)
- [Original (PDF)](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2025/bills/SB289_.pdf)

## Related
- [SB 572: RELATING TO HOUSING.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-SB572-2025)
- [HB 431: RELATING TO HOUSING.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-HB431-2025)
- [HB 420: RELATING TO REMEDIES.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-HB420-2025)
- [SB 1296: RELATING TO DISASTER RECOVERY.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-SB1296-2025)
- [HB 830: RELATING TO HISTORIC PRESERVATION REVIEWS.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-HB830-2025)
- [HB 1064: RELATING TO FIRE PROTECTION.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-HB1064-2025)
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- [Hawaii state hub](https://policyrisk.com/states/hawaii)
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Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-SB289-2025 (as of 2026-10-28).