Campaign Spending Commission

Campaign Spending Commission Meeting
Zoom Video Conference
March 18, 2026
10:00 a.m.

*Video recording of this meeting can be found at: Recording

*Meeting materials can be found at: CSC Website

1. [0:00:00] CALL TO ORDER – At 10:03 a.m., Vice-Chair Wong called the meeting to order. Quorum was established with 3 members present. Vice-Chair Wong noted that there are only 4 seated Commissioners due to a vacancy created by the recent gubernatorial appointment of Commissioner Jon Itomura to the State Public Utilities Commission (“PUC”).

Commissioners Present: Danton Wong, Barbara Polk, Caroline Belsom

Commissioner Excused: David Chee

Staff Present: Kristin E. Izumi-Nitao, Kristie Chang, Eunice Park, Terence Lau, Anthony Diep

Deputy Attorney General Present: Candace Park

Guest(s): Chad Blair, Clarence Nishihara, Davin Aoyagi, Elijah Pierick, HNN, Namaka Rawlins

2. [00:05:21] CONSIDERATION AND APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF MEETING ON 2/11/26

[00:06:14] Motion – At 10:09 a.m., Commissioner Polk moved to approve the minutes as submitted. Motion was seconded by Commissioner Belsom.

[00:06:24] Vote – At 10:09 a.m., motion passed unanimously (3-0).

3. [00:06:30] NEW BUSINESS

[00:06:35] Welcome and Introduction of New General Counsel Eunice Park – At 10:10 a.m., Executive Director Izumi-Nitao introduced the Commission’s new General Counsel Eunice Park who started on 3/3/26.

[00:09:16] Docket No. 26-03 – In Re the Matter of Elijah Pierick and Elijah Pierick – District 19 – At 10:12 a.m., Executive Director Izumi-Nitao reported that a complaint was filed in accordance with Hawaii Revised Statutes (“HRS”) §11-404 by Clarence Nishihara (“Complainant”) against Elijah Pierick – District 19 for the failure to report expenditures related to a district-wide campaign mailer in their Supplemental Report and filing a false report in violation of HRS §§ 11-331, 11-333, and 11-410.

Complainant and Respondent Pierick were present remotely via zoom. Complainant was experiencing connectivity issues so was heard later. Respondent Pierick stated his position and responded to the Commissioners’ questions.

[00:33:27] Motion – At 10:36 a.m., Commissioner Belsom moved to go into Executive Session pursuant to HRS §92-5(a)(4) to consult with the Commission’s attorneys on questions and issues pertaining to the Commission’s powers, duties, privileges, immunities, and liability concerning Docket No. 26-03 – In Re the Matter of Elijah Pierick and Elijah Pierick – District 19. Motion was seconded by Commissioner Polk.

[00:33:33] Vote – At 10:36 a.m., motion passed unanimously (3-0).

[00:34:59] At 10:36 a.m., Commission entered Executive Session.

[01:00:47] At 11:03 a.m., Commission returned to Public Session.

[01:01:02] At 11:04 a.m., Complainant was able to connect to the meeting; however, Respondent asked for a recess to permit him to vote at his legislative hearing. Vice-Chair Wong suspended discussion with the Complainant’s permission. In the interim, Vice-Chair Wong said that they would proceed with the Commission’s meeting.

[01:02:34] Presentation, Consideration, and Discussion of Draft Advisory Opinion No. 26-02 – At 11:06 a.m., Associate Director Chang presented for the Commission’s consideration, approval, and adoption of draft advisory opinion #26-02 concerning the applicability of HRS §11-342 to holding fundraiser events by and/or on behalf of a State official to raise contributions for a campaign for elected office. She reported that Belatti for Congress sought a response to various questions of a state representative or state senator who holds office during a regular session of the state legislature from activities related to the state representative’s or state senator’s campaign for election to federal office.

[01:09:18] Motion – At 11:12 a.m., Commissioner Polk moved to approve draft Advisory Opinion No. 26-02. Motion was seconded by Commissioner Belsom.

[01:09:22] Vote – At 11:12 a.m., motion passed unanimously (3-0).

4. [01:09:42] OLD BUSINESS

[01:09:44] Consideration, Discussion, Approval, and/or Update of Commission Legislation and Other Related Bills/Resolutions for the 2026 Legislative Session – At 11:13 a.m., Associate Director Chang provided updates of the Commission’s 2026 legislative package and other related bills for the 2026 legislative session.

[01:10:42] H.B.2050, H.D. 1/S.B.2528, S.D.1 – RELATING TO PARTIAL PUBLIC FINANCING OF ELECTIONS. This bill increases the amount of partial public financing available for all elected offices.

[01:13:00] H.B.2052/S.B.2530, S.D.2 – RELATING TO CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTIONS. This bill amends HRS §11-355 to expand the government contractor ban by including state and county grantees under Chapter 42F in the ban as well as the officers and their immediate family of the government contractor and government grantee.

[01:17:26] At 11:16 a.m., Vice-Chair Wong suspended discussion of this agenda item to return to 3. NEW BUSINESS – Docket No. 26-03 – In Re the Matter of Elijah Pierick and Elijah Pierick – District 19 – At 11:21 a.m., Complainant stated his position and Respondents responded. Vice-Chair Wong asked for Commission staff’s recommendation. Executive Director Izumi-Nitao recommended that the Commission make a preliminary determination, pursuant to HRS §11-405(a), that probable cause exists to believe that a violation of the campaign spending law has been committed, assess an administrative fine of (1) $250 for Respondents’ failure to report their mailer expenditure in their Supplemental Report and (2) $25 for Respondents’ failure to have a proper advertisement disclaimer in their mailer, order that the fine be paid from the candidate’s personal funds if the candidate committee’s funds are insufficient to pay the fine, or if the Commission so orders, and order that any and all administrative penalties be deposited into the general fund pursuant to HRS §11-410(e).

[01:31:00] Motion – At 11:34 a.m., Commissioner Belsom moved to adopt staff’s recommendation. Motion was seconded by Commissioner Polk.

[01:31:10] Vote – At 11:34 a.m., motion passed unanimously (3-0).

[01:34:53] At 11:38 a.m., Vice-Chair Wong resumed 4. OLD BUSINESS – Consideration, Discussion, Approval, and/or Update of Commission Legislation and Other Related Bills/Resolutions for the 2026 Legislative Session.

[01:34:55] H.B.2054, H.D.2/S.B.2532 – RELATING TO THE CAMPAIGN SPENDING COMMISSION’S ELECTRONIC FILING SYSTEM. This bill amends various sections of the Hawaii campaign spending laws to enhance user experience by modernizing and streamlining the filing process by requiring designated campaign finance forms to be submitted electronically through the Campaign Spending Commission’s upgraded electronic filing system.

[01:35:25] H.B.2051/S.B.2529 – RELATING TO CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTIONS. This bill amends HRS §11-364 to provide that an excess contribution of more than $100 in cash, in the aggregate, from a single person during an election period to a candidate, candidate committee, or noncandidate committee shall escheat to the Hawaii election campaign fund if not returned to the contributor within 30 days.

[01:35:57] H.B.2053, H.D.1/S.B.2531 – RELATING TO CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTIONS. This bill amends HRS §11-357 to prohibit state and county elected officials from soliciting and accepting campaign contributions during any regular session or special session of the state legislature, including any extension of any regular session or special session and any legislative recess days, holidays, and weekends.

[01:36:18] H.B.2055, H.D.1/S.B.2533, S.D.1 – RELATING TO THE CAMPAIGN SPENDING COMMISSION. This bill amends HRS §11-314 to adjust the salaries of the Commission’s executive director and associate director to align with similar government offices who have compliance and enforcement responsibilities.

[01:39:00] H.B.772, H.D.1 – RELATING TO CAMPAIGN FINANCE. Disallows the use of campaign funds to purchase up to two tickets for an event or fundraiser held by another candidate or committee.

[01:41:56] H.B.1519, H.D. 1 – RELATING TO CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTIONS. Requires disclosure of the names of compensated officers, and their immediate family members, of state or county contractors and grantees with contracts or grants exceeding $250,000. Prohibits the compensated officers of state or county contractors and state or county grantees, and their immediate family members, from making or soliciting certain campaign contributions for the duration of the contract or grant exceeding $250,000.

[01:51:23] At 11:55 a.m., Vice-Chair Wong called for a recess for 10 minutes.

[02:02:59] At 12:06 p.m., meeting resumed.

[02:05:33] H.B.1520, H.D.1/H.B.2131/S.B.2447, S.D.1 – RELATING TO CAMPAIGN FINANCE. Provides that the period of limitations for criminal prosecutions under campaign finance laws commences upon discovery of the offense by the Campaign Spending Commission, rather than being limited to five years from the violation date or report filing date.

[02:07:21] H.B.2107, H.D.1/ S.B.2247, S.D.1 – RELATING TO POLITICAL FUNDRAISING BY EXECUTIVE BRANCH EMPLOYEES. Prohibits any Executive Branch employee who is nominated or appointed by the Governor to a compensated position subject to confirmation by the Senate from engaging in certain campaign fundraising activities.

[02:08:24] S.B.2313, S.D.1 – RELATING TO PUBLIC FINANCING FOR CANDIDATES TO ELECTED OFFICE. Establishes a comprehensive system of public financing for all candidates seeking election to state and county public offices in the State, to begin with the 2028 general election year. Requires the Campaign Spending Commission to submit reports to the Legislature.

[02:09:20] S.B.2454, S.D.2 – RELATING TO CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTIONS. Requires a candidate or any individual authorized to receive contributions on behalf of a candidate or noncandidate committee to deposit the monetary contribution or other campaign funds into a depository institution within seven days of its receipt. Requires any elected official, candidate, candidate committee, or other individual required to file an organizational report who receives a contribution from a lobbyist to deposit the contribution within seven days of its receipt.

[02:09:47] S.B.2982, S.D.2 – RELATING TO CAMPAIGN FINANCE. Prohibits foreign entities and foreign-influenced business entities from making contributions, expenditures, electioneering communications, or donations for election purposes and requires certification 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 entities or foreign-influenced business entities.

5. [02:11:52] REPORT FROM EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR – At 12:15 p.m., Executive Director Izumi-Nitao reported on the following items.

[02:11:58] Report on Compliance of Filing Timely Disclosure Reports

[02:16:24] Update on Maplight Contract

[02:17:22] Update on CSC Staffing and New Commissioner

[02:19:13] Report on 2026 CSC Training Dates for Candidate Committees and Noncandidate Committees

[02:20:46] Reminder to File 2026 State Ethics Commission Financial Disclosure Form

6. [02:24:18] EXECUTIVE SESSION

[02:24:25] Motion – At 12:28 p.m., Commissioner Polk moved to go into Executive Session pursuant to HRS §92-5(a)(4) to consult with the Commission’s attorneys on questions and issues pertaining to the Commission’s powers, duties, privileges, immunities, and liability concerning The Babylon Bee, LLC and Dawn O’Brien vs. Anne E. Lopez et al, Civil No. CV25-00234 HG-KJM, filed on 6/3/25. Motion was seconded by Commissioner Belsom.

[02:24:29] Vote – At 12:28 a.m., motion passed unanimously (3-0).

[02:24:49] At 12:28 p.m., Commission entered Executive Session.

[02:52:22] At 12:55 p.m., Commission returned to Public Session.

[02:53:41] At 12:57 p.m., Commissioner Belsom reported that in Executive Session, the Commissioners met with their counsel from the Attorney General’s Office and was informed that the court found that the deep fake statute to be unenforceable and that the time to appeal has lapsed.

7. [02:54:31] NEXT MEETING – At 12:58 p.m., Vice-Chair Wong announced that the Commission’s next meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, April 15, 2026.

[02:54:39] Motion – At 12:58 p.m., Commissioner Belsom moved to adjourn the meeting. Motion was seconded by Commissioner Polk.

[02:54:43] Vote – At 12:28 a.m., motion passed unanimously (3-0).

[02:54:47] The meeting was adjourned at 12:50 p.m.