# Hawaii SB 2982: RELATING TO CAMPAIGN FINANCE.

Hawaii SB 2982, RELATING TO CAMPAIGN FINANCE., is a 2025–2026 Regular Session (Year 2) Senate bill sponsored by Chris Lee (Democratic); status failed, last action 2026-03-25 (Reported from JHA (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1414-26) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to FIN.) (as of 2026-11-01).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-SB2982-2026
- 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 2982
- State: Hawaii
- Session: 2025–2026 Regular Session (Year 2)
- Title: RELATING TO CAMPAIGN FINANCE.
- Status: failed
- Chamber: Senate
- Introduced: 2026-01-23
- Last action: 2026-03-25, Reported from JHA (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1414-26) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to FIN.
- Sponsor: Chris Lee (Democratic)
- Cosponsors: 7
- Subjects: CSC, Campaign Finance, Foreign Entities, Foreign-Influenced Business Entities, Exemption, Cargo Carriers, JHA, FIN
- Touches household money: no
- Roll calls: 5 (88 yes, 0 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 0

## Summary

Prohibits foreign nationals, foreign corporations, and foreign-influenced business entities from making contributions, expenditures, electioneering communications, or donations for election purposes. Requires every for-profit business entity that contributes or expends funds in a state election to certify that the entity was not a foreign corporation or foreign-influenced business entity when the contribution or expenditure was made. Specifies that if the conditions that determine whether a business entity qualifies as a foreign‑influenced business entity are held unconstitutional by a final judgment, including all appeals, the Campaign Spending Commission is required to establish revised conditions that are constitutional. Requires noncandidate committees making only independent expenditures to obtain a statement of certification from each top contributor required to be listed in an advertisement avowing that no funds were derived from foreign nationals, foreign corporations, or foreign-influenced business entities. Exempts entities engaged in transporting cargo and subject to section 27 of the Merchant Marine Act of 1920. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

## Bill overview

No economic impacts identified for this bill.

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Chris Lee (Democratic), Senate
- Cosponsor: C.
- Cosponsor: Stanley Chang (Democratic), Senate
- Cosponsor: Les Ihara Jr. (Democratic), Senate
- Cosponsor: Angus L.K. McKelvey (Democratic), Senate
- Cosponsor: Sharon Y. Moriwaki (Democratic), Senate
- Cosponsor: Karl Rhoads (Democratic), Senate
- Cosponsor: Joy A. San Buenaventura (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 | 48 | 0 |   |
| 2026-03-18 | House | The committee on JHA recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The ... | pass | 7 | 0 |   |
| 2026-03-10 | Senate | Senate Floor Vote | pass | 25 | 0 |   |
| 2026-03-04 | Senate | The committee(s) on JDC recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENT... | pass | 4 | 0 |   |
| 2026-02-06 | Senate | The committee(s) on WLA recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENT... | pass | 4 | 0 |   |

## Bill text

- Bill Text: [PDF](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/SB2982_HD1_.pdf)
- Original: [HTML](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/SB2982_.HTM), [PDF](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/SB2982_.PDF)
- SB2982_HD1: [HTML](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/SB2982_HD1_.HTM)
- SB2982_SD1: [HTML](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/SB2982_SD1_.HTM)
- SB2982_SD2: [HTML](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/SB2982_SD2_.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 2964: RELATING TO PROPERTY INSURANCE. (signed)

## Sources
- [Bill Text (PDF)](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/SB2982_HD1_.pdf)
- [Original (HTML)](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/SB2982_.HTM)
- [Original (PDF)](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/SB2982_.PDF)
- [SB2982_HD1 (HTML)](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/SB2982_HD1_.HTM)
- [SB2982_SD1 (HTML)](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/SB2982_SD1_.HTM)
- [SB2982_SD2 (HTML)](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/SB2982_SD2_.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 2964: RELATING TO PROPERTY INSURANCE.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-SB2964-2026)
- [Hawaii bills](https://policyrisk.com/states/hawaii/bills)
- [Hawaii state hub](https://policyrisk.com/states/hawaii)
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Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-SB2982-2026 (as of 2026-11-01).