New Mandatory Lobbyist Training Law (Act 20)

Posted on Jul 3, 2023 in Main

What’s New?
Act 20 (House Bill 138) establishes a mandatory training requirement for all lobbyists who are required to register under chapter 97, Hawaiʻi Revised Statutes.

Effective April 19, 2023, all lobbyists are required to complete a lobbyist training course prior to registering as a lobbyist, and repeat the training at least once every two years.

Act 20 also requires lobbyists to certify that they completed the training and keep a copy of the training certificate or other record of completion for a period of six years after submitting a lobbyist registration.

Current Lobbyists

If you already registered as a lobbyist for 2023-2024, your lobbyist registrations will remain valid through the end of the legislative biennium on December 31, 2024, and you can take the lobbyist training when you renew your registration for 2025-2026.

But if you are hired to lobby for a new client for 2023-2024, then you must file a separate lobbyist registration and complete your mandatory lobbyist training as indicated above.

If you have any questions, please contact the Commission’s office for further assistance.