STATE ETHICS COMMISSION ISSUES GENERAL ADVISORY OPINIONS ON APPLICATION OF THE FAIR TREAMTENT LAW TO PERSONALIZED GOVERNMENTAL SIGNAGE

News Release from Hawai‘i State Ethics Commission, June 22, 2026 

Today, the Hawai‘i State Ethics Commission published a General Advisory Opinion to address whether legislators may use state property, such as school fences, to post signs that convey a public service message but also prominently feature their headshots, official titles, and names.

The decision concludes that the inclusion of a prominent display of incumbent legislators’ headshots, titles, and names on such signs does not further the public purpose of the underlying message. Instead, it reasonably appears to provide personal and political branding benefits unrelated to any valid state purpose.

Accordingly, the use of state property to display such signs would likely constitute the use of state resources to secure an unwarranted personal advantage or benefit in violation of the Fair Treatment law.

The Commission is authorized to issue public advisory opinions interpreting the State Ethics Code when a matter is of sufficient general interest and importance. The General Advisory Opinion No. 2026-3 can be found at: https://files.hawaii.gov/ethics/advice/GAO2026-3.pdf

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