Campaign Spending Commission

Campaign Spending Commission Meeting
Zoom Video Conference
May 13, 2026
10:00 a.m.

*This is a written summary of the Commission’s public meeting held on May 13, 2026.  For a full recording of this meeting, the video can be found at: Youtube

*Meeting materials can be found at: CSC Website

1. [00:00:00] CALL TO ORDER – At 10:02 a.m., Chair Chee called the meeting to order.  Quorum was established with at least 3 members present.

Commissioners Present:  David Chee, Danton Wong, Barbara Polk, Caroline Belsom

Commissioner Excused:  None

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

Deputy Attorney General Present:  Candace Park

Guest(s):  Rep. Susan Lee Loy, Hedwig C.N. Warrington, Mark Ladao, Raiden Yamasaki, Tara Malia

2. [00:03:42] NEW BUSINESS

[00:03:45] Welcome and Introduction of New CSC Investigator Corie Tanida – At 10:06 a.m., Executive Director Izumi-Nitao introduced the Commission’s new CSC Investigator Corie Tanida who started on 5/4/26.

[00:05:55] Docket No. 26-04 – In Re the Matter of Hedwig C.N. Warrington vs. Susan Lee Loy – At 10:08 a.m., General Counsel Park reported that a complaint was filed in accordance with Hawaii Revised Statutes (“HRS”) §11-404 by Hedwig C.N. Warrington (“Complainant”) against Susan Lee Loy (“Respondent”) for the failure to change their name in violation of HRS §574-5.

[00:10:08] Motion – At 10:12 a.m., Vice-Chair Wong 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. 26-04 In Re the Matter of Hedwig C.N. Warrington vs. Susan Lee Loy.  Motion was seconded by Commissioner Belsom.

[00:11:32] Vote – At 10:13 a.m., motion passed unanimously (4-0).

[00:11:41] Complainant requested to address the Commission prior to entering Executive Session.

[00:15:14] At 10:17 a.m., Commission entered Executive Session.

[00:26:15] At 10:28 a.m., Commission returned to Public Session.

Complainant and Respondent were present remotely via zoom.  Complainant and Respondent addressed the Commission and responded to the Commissioners’ questions.

[00:43:45] Motion – At 10:46 a.m., Vice-Chair Wong 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. 26-04 In Re the Matter of Hedwig C.N. Warrington vs. Susan Lee Loy.  Motion was seconded by Commissioner Belsom.

[00:43:53] Vote – At 10:46 a.m., motion passed unanimously (4-0).

[00:44:10] Complainant requested to address the Commission prior to entering Executive Session.

[00:44:59] At 10:47 a.m., Commission entered Executive Session.

[01:09:07] At 11:11 a.m., Commission returned to Public Session.

[01:13:01] Motion – At 11:15 a.m., Commissioner Belsom moved to summarily dismiss Docket No. 26-04 for lack of jurisdiction.  Motion was seconded by Commissioner Polk.

[01:19:21] Vote – At 11:22 a.m., motion passed unanimously (4-0).

3. [01:23:58] OLD BUSINESS

[01:24:13] Consideration, Discussion, Approval, and/or Update of Commission Legislation and Other Related Bills/Resolutions for the 2026 Legislative Session – At 11:28 a.m., Associate Director Chang provided updates of the Commission’s 2026 legislative package and other related bills for the 2026 legislative session.

[01:26:11] H.B.2050, H.D. 1, S.D.1, C.D.1 – RELATING TO PARTIAL PUBLIC FINANCING OF ELECTIONS.
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.

[01:30:25] S.B.2530, S.D.2, H.D.1 – RELATING TO CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTIONS.
Requires disclosure of the names of compensated officers, and their immediate family members, of state contractors with contracts exceeding the small purchase threshold established under the Hawaii Public Procurement Code and grantees with grants exceeding $250,000. Prohibits the compensated officers of state contractors, and their immediate family members, from making, promising, or soliciting certain campaign contributions for the duration of the contract exceeding the small purchase threshold. Prohibits state grantees, including compensated officers and their immediate family members, from making, promising, or soliciting certain contributions for the duration of the grant exceeding $250,000. Requires unlawful contributions to be returned to the contributor or escheat to the Hawaii Election Campaign Fund.  Appropriates funds.

[01:30:25] H.B.1519, H.D. 1, S.D.3 – RELATING TO CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTIONS.
Requires disclosure of the names of compensated officers of state and county contractors and grantees.  Prohibits the compensated officers of state and county contractors and grantees from making, promising, or soliciting certain campaign contributions for the duration of the contract or grant from making, promising, or soliciting certain contributions for the duration of the contract or grant.  Requires unlawful contributions to be returned to the contributor or escheat to the Hawaiʻi Election Campaign Fund.

[01:31:13] S.B.2532, H.D.1, C.D.1 – RELATING TO THE CAMPAIGN SPENDING COMMISSION’S ELECTRONIC FILING SYSTEM.
Amends various sections of the Hawaii campaign spending laws by requiring designated campaign finance forms to be submitted electronically through the Campaign Spending Commission’s upgraded electronic filing system.

[01:31:29] S.B.1032, S.D.2, H.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. Allows every business entity that contributes or expends funds in a state election to certify that the entity is not and will not be a foreign corporation or foreign-influenced business entity if the entity intends to make contributions or expenditures within an election cycle. 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.

[01:32:08] S.B.2247, S.D.1, H.D.1, C.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.

[01:32:25] S.B.2447, S.D.1, H.D. C.D.1 – RELATING TO POLITICAL FUNDRAISING BY EXECUTIVE BRANCH EMPLOYEES.
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.

[01:33:59] S.B.2494, H.D.1, C.D.1 – RELATING TO CORRUPTION.
Establishes a statute of limitations of nine years for a bribery offense.

[01:34:32] S.B.2471, S.D.2, H.D.2, C.D.1 – RELATING TO THE POWERS OF ARTIFICIAL PERSONS.
Reaffirms that artificial persons created under state law possess only those powers that are necessary or convenient to carry out lawful purposes, and that those powers do not include the power to spend money or contribute anything of value to influence elections or ballot measures. Authorizes the Attorney General and the Director of Commerce and Consumer Affairs to impose certain penalties for violations.

[01:39:57] Motion – At 11:42 a.m., Chair Chee 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 S.B.2471, S.D.2, H.D.2, C.D.1.  Motion was seconded by Vice-Chair Wong.

[01:40:20] Vote – At 11:42 a.m., motion passed unanimously (4-0).

[01:40:30] At 11:42 a.m., Commission entered Executive Session.

[02:06:31] At 12:08 p.m., Commission returned to Public Session.

4. [02:06:56] REPORT FROM EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR – At 12:09 p.m., Executive Director Izumi-Nitao reported on the following items.

[02:07:26] Report on Compliance of Filing Timely Disclosure Reports

[02:10:17] Update on Maplight Contract

[02:10:43] Update on CSC Staffing and New Commissioner

[02:11:32] Update on 2026 CSC Training Dates for Candidate Committees and Noncandidate Committees

5. [02:16:08] EXECUTIVE SESSION – Consideration and Approval of Executive Session Minutes of Meeting on 4/15/26. Commissioners did not go into Executive Session.

[02:16:27] Motion – At 12:18 p.m., Vice-Chair Wong moved to accept and approve the minutes from the 4/15/26 Executive Session.  Motion was seconded by Commissioner Belsom.

[02:16:39] Vote – At 12:18 p.m., motion passed unanimously (4-0).

6. [02:16:46] NEXT MEETING – At 12:19 p.m., Chair Chee announced that the Commission’s next meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, June 24, 2026 and that it would be in-person.

[02:17:25] Motion – At 12:19 p.m., Vice-Chair Wong moved to adjourn the meeting.  Motion was seconded by Commissioner Belsom.

[02:17:33] Vote – At 12:19 p.m., motion passed unanimously (4-0).

[02:17:35] The meeting was adjourned at 12:19 p.m.