Informing the Legislature that on July 5, 2024, the Governor signed the following bill into law: SB2693 SD2 HD1 CD1 (ACT 211).

This bill, signed into law on July 5, 2024, creates a new criminal offense called charitable fraud during a state of emergency in Hawaii. It directly affects individuals who solicit or accept donations for disaster relief while a state of emergency is declared by the governor. The law prohibits deceptive practices such as making false promises, hiding information about how funds will be used, or spending contributions on purposes different from those originally promised. Penalties vary based on the amount of money involved, ranging from a misdemeanor for sums of $750 or less to a Class B felony for amounts of $20,000 or more. The statute defines solicitation broadly to include requests made through various channels, including social media, email, and public announcements.