Committee debates lobbyist registration and fines; measure deferred

Board of Ethics staff and the county auditor's audit record showed Maui County lacks a comprehensive lobbyist registration and reporting system; Bill 100 would create one and set penalties for violations.

Registered lobbyist Albert Perez told the committee he supports disclosure but urged aligning county reporting and training requirements with the State Ethics Commission and recommended graduated penalties or warnings for inadvertent violations. "The $5,000 doesn't seem to be... a lot of money, especially for nonprofits," Perez said.

Staff said the proposed maximum matches the state's updated penalty for lobbyist rules and that the higher ceiling is intended to deter paid consultants; members asked how outreach and phased compliance would work before the proposed July 1, 2027 effective date. The committee deferred the measure for subsequent meetings to refine reporting requirements and consider implementation timelines.