SB2471Introduced in the Senate
Relating To The Powers Of Artificial Persons.
Introduced by Karl Rhoads, District 13
What does this bill do?
Plain-English breakdown
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Official description
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. Effective 7/1/2027. (CD2)
Where it stands
Act 011, on 05/14/2026 (Gov. Msg. No. 1111).
May 14, 2026
How did lawmakers vote?
House votes
1 recorded vote · each counted separately
Senate votes
3 recorded votes · each counted separately
SenateStage: Senate Conference: Passed, With Amendments · May 1, 2026
3
Yes
0
No
2
Absent or Not Voting
5 senators recorded in this Senate vote. Colors show vote categories only, not whether a vote was good or bad.
See how each senator voted
| Senator | District | Vote |
|---|---|---|
| Angus McKelvey | 6 | Absent |
| Carol Fukunaga | 11 | Absent |
| Karl Rhoads | 13 | Yes |
| Brenton Awa | 23 | Yes |
| Jarrett Keohokalole | 24 | Yes |
Bill history
Introduced.
Passed First Reading.
Referred to CPN, JDC.
The committee(s) on CPN has scheduled a public hearing on 02-03-26 9:31AM; Conference Room 229 & Videoconference.
The committee(s) on CPN deferred the measure until 02-04-26 9:30AM; CR 229 & Videoconference.
The committee(s) on CPN deferred the measure until 02-10-26 9:30AM; Conference Room 229 & Videoconference.
The committee(s) on CPN recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in CPN were as follows: 3 Aye(s): Senator(s) Keohokalole, Fukunaga, Awa; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 2 Excused: Senator(s) Lamosao, McKelvey.
Reported from CPN (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 2429) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to JDC.
Report adopted; Passed Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referred to JDC.
The committee(s) on JDC will hold a public decision making on 02-27-26 10:30AM; Conference Room 016 & Videoconference.
The committee(s) on JDC deferred the measure until 03-05-26 10:02AM; CR 016 & Videoconference.
The committee(s) on JDC recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. 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.
Reported from JDC (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 3094) with recommendation of passage on Third Reading, as amended (SD 2).
48 Hrs. Notice 03-10-26.
Report adopted; Passed Third Reading, as amended (SD 2). Ayes, 25; Aye(s) with reservations: none . Noes, 0 (none). Excused, 0 (none). Transmitted to House.
Received from Senate (Sen. Com. No. 247) in amended form (SD 2).
Pass First Reading
Referred to CPC, JHA, referral sheet 17
Bill scheduled to be heard by CPC on Wednesday, 03-18-26 2:00PM in House conference room 329 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
The committee(s) on CPC recommend(s) that the measure be deferred.
Bill scheduled for decision making on Tuesday, 03-24-26 2:00PM in conference room 329 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
The committee on CPC recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 11 Ayes: Representative(s) Matayoshi, Grandinetti, Chun, Ilagan, Ichiyama, Iwamoto, Kong, Lowen, Marten, Tam, Pierick; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and Excused: none.
Reported from CPC (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1485-26) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to JHA.
Passed Second Reading as amended in HD 1 and referred to the committee(s) on JHA with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Cochran, Lowen, Perruso, Quinlan excused (4).
Bill scheduled to be heard by JHA on Wednesday, 04-08-26 2:00PM in House conference room 325 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
The committee on JHA recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 7 Ayes: Representative(s) Tarnas, Poepoe, Belatti, Hashem, Kahaloa, Takayama; Ayes with reservations: Representative(s) Shimizu; 1 Noes: Representative(s) Garcia; and 2 Excused: Representative(s) Sayama, Cochran.
Reported from JHA (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 2129-26) as amended in HD 2, recommending passage on Third Reading.
Forty-eight (48) hours notice Tuesday, 04-14-26.
Passed Third Reading as amended in HD 2 with Representative(s) Cochran, Garcia voting aye with reservations; Representative(s) Pierick, Shimizu voting no (2) and Representative(s) Quinlan excused (1). Transmitted to Senate.
Received from House (Hse. Com. No. 664).
Senate disagrees with House amendments.
Received notice of disagreement (Sen. Com. No. 710).
House Conferees Appointed: Matayoshi, Tarnas Co-Chairs; Perruso, Pierick.
Senate Conferees Appointed: Keohokalole Chair; Rhoads Co-Chair; Fukunaga, McKelvey, Awa.
Conference committee meeting scheduled for 04-24-26 3:30PM; Conference Room 224.
Received notice of Senate conferees (Sen. Com. No. 739).
Received notice of appointment of House conferees (Hse. Com. No. 819).
Conference committee meeting to reconvene on 04-27-26 2:40PM; CR 224.
Conference committee meeting to reconvene on 04-28-26 2:40PM; Conference Room 224.
Re-referred to CPC, JHA, FIN, referral sheet 35
House Conferees Added: Representative Keohokapu-Lee Loy added as Co-Chair.
Received notice of change in conferees (Hse. Com. No. 872).
Conference committee meeting to reconvene on 04-29-26 2:40PM; CR 224.
Conference committee meeting to reconvene on 04-30-26 2:40PM; Conference Room 224.
Conference committee meeting to reconvene on 05-01-26 2:30PM; Conference Room 224.
Conference committee meeting to reconvene on 05-01-26 5:30 PM; Conference Room 224.
The Conference committee recommends that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes of the Senate Conference Managers were as follows: 3 Aye(s): Senator(s) Keohokalole, Rhoads, Awa; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 2 Excused: Senator(s) Fukunaga, McKelvey.
The Conference Committee recommends that the measure be Passed, with Amendments. The votes were as follows: 3 Ayes: Representative(s) Matayoshi, Tarnas, Keohokapu-Lee Loy; Ayes with reservations: none; 0 Noes: none; and 2 Excused: Representative(s) Perruso, Pierick.
Reported from Conference Committee as amended CD 1 (Conf. Com. Rep. No. 238-26).
48 Hrs. Notice (as amended CD 1) 05-06-26.
Reported from Conference Committee (Conf Com. Rep. No. 238-26) as amended in (CD 1).
Forty-eight (48) hours notice Wednesday, 05-06-26.
Floor Amendment No. 11 offered by Rep. Matayoshi.
Floor amendment adopted as amended CD 2 with none voting no and none excused.
Forty-eight (48) hours notice Friday 05-08-26.
Floor Amendment No. 10 offered.
Floor amendment adopted as amended (CD 2).
Separated Committee Report.
Report filed.
48 Hrs. Notice 05-08-26
Passed Final Reading as amended in CD 2 with Representative(s) Shimizu voting aye with reservations; Representative(s) Muraoka voting no (1) and none excused (0).
Passed Final Reading, as amended (CD 2). Ayes, 24; Aye(s) with reservations: none. Noes, 0 (none). Excused, 1 (Senator(s) San Buenaventura).
Received notice of Final Reading (Sen. Com. No. 820).
Received notice of passage on Final Reading in House (Hse. Com. No. 889).
Enrolled to Governor.
Act 011, 05/14/2026 (Gov. Msg. No. 1111).
Act 011, on 05/14/2026 (Gov. Msg. No. 1111).
Verify the information
- Official page on the Hawaii Legislature website
- Testimony (supplement)
- Committee Report (supplement)
- Testimony (supplement)
- Committee Report (supplement)
- Testimony (supplement)
- Committee Report (supplement)
- Testimony (supplement)
- Committee Report (supplement)
- Committee Report (supplement)
- Introduced (text)
- Amended (text)
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