Chris Lee

State Senator - Kailua, Waimanalo, and Hawaii Kai

Elected as the youngest member of the Hawaii State Legislature in 2008, Chris has led a bold agenda looking to the future to ensure our next generation can make it in Hawaii, and has successfully passed groundbreaking laws making Hawaii a national leader on renewable energy, climate change, equal rights, and building a fair and just 21st century economy that leaves no one behind.

08/09/2026

Mahalo to all for the support this election! It’s truly an honor to be able to work with everyone to help do the right thing for our community. I simply cannot thank all of you enough and can only promise to work as hard as I can to address the many issues before us. Elections aren’t a simple sporting contest - they have real world consequences for families who thrive or suffer as a result. It’s not easy to stand up to run for office. We should give thanks to everyone willing to make the sacrifice taking time away from their families, putting themselves under a public microscope, and subjecting themselves to enormous criticism from all sides no matter what positions or choices they choose to make on our behalf. I’m thankful for everyone who chose to run this year, because we wouldn’t be a democracy without them. And I’d especially like to thank my opponent Bobby Silva who also ran this year. I look forward to continue working together with him and everyone else on the many issues we spoke about throughout the campaign. Thank you again to everyone, and mahalo!

07/24/2026

I’ve fought for years against corruption, to take the corrosive influence of money out of politics, and make it easier for people vote and make a difference. It’s an honor to be named “Defender of Democracy” by Common Cause, a recognition awarded to those leading efforts to strengthen transparency and accountability in government. I’m proud to have introduced and passed groundbreaking laws like HB1147(2013) which forced superPACS to disclose their secret donors, HB2124(2020) which helps close the revolving door of state officials taking jobs to lobby their colleagues, HB452(2014) which makes voting fraud a felony, and advance bills like SB1032(2025) passed by the senate last year to bar foreign money and corporate influence in Hawaii elections, among others. Mahalo for the support!

07/12/2026

We are taking a huge step to guarantee protected spaces for our most endangered species and habitats, and it is now law! I wrote SB3253 to establish a new network of conservation sanctuaries across our islands. Hawaii has more endangered species than the rest of the country combined, and we are losing many of them forever, every year. Yet, here our environment is our economy, our culture, our way of life, and we must do more to protect it.

This model is built on proven successes in other island communities like New Zealand, where native birds and habitats face similar extinction. But they have turned things around by starting community-driven efforts to enclose key areas with predator-proof fences that can let people in, but keep mongooses, rats, and other dangers out.

These safe spaces have allowed endangered birds and other species on the brink of extinction to once again thrive and spread far beyond their sanctuaries. Today native birds that were once functionally extinct and unseen for generations are now a common site in nearby communities and people’s front yards.

We can do the same in Hawaii by adapting proven strategies like these. The Hawaii Conservation Sanctuary established by SB3253 will be a community-driven non-profit organization that works together with the state to create safe spaces where endangered species can recover, native ecosystems can be restored, and future generations can experience Hawaii’s native species found nowhere else in the world. Mahalo to for signing it into law, and everyone who worked together to make this possible!

07/10/2026

This is historic. Our bill I wrote to wipe out local families’ medical debt was just signed into law! SB3025 cancels medical debt for 50,000 Hawaii resident, wiping out $91 million of debt. People don’t choose medical debt. Families with even the best insurance can face bankruptcy when cancer or another medical emergency can suddenly mean huge bills they never expected, forcing many to choose between paying for healthcare, or keeping a roof over their heads.

By purchasing debt in bulk we can cancel it for less than a penny on the dollar. And it will help reduce the burden on taxpayers by wiping financial slates clean so families can access healthcare more easily, and not end up in the ER at taxpayers’ expense. But most of all, giving aloha and real help to others who need it most is just who we are in Hawaii, and I want to share a huge MAHALO to for signing our bill and to everyone who helped us pass this law!

05/15/2026

We just passed a bill to cancel the medical debt owed by 50,000 Hawaii residents. I introduced SB3025 this year and it leverages $500k to buy up $91million of medical debt for pennies on the dollar from debt collectors and creditors, so we can simply cancel it and free local families from that burden. Unlike other purchases, people don’t choose medical debt, and it can be a financial anchor that bankrupts families. This will also help save taxpayers overall since people who can’t afford healthcare and in debt tend to avoid regular doctor visits and often end up in the ER, which everyone ends up paying for. Mahalo to our House and Senate colleagues, office of wellness and resilience in the administration, Holomua Collective, and everyone for your support!

04/23/2026

There have been a ton of false claims made about our bill to lower taxes on most homes for local families and help deter out of state investors from buying up Hawai’i properties. Here’s what’s actually happening.

04/07/2026

Our agricultural lands are a vital part of our community. The March Kona Low storms caused major impacts, including crop loss, infrastructure damage, and disruptions to daily operations. Last week I got to join an aerial assessment of the damage. More than 380 farmers have reported over $23 million in direct damage, with total losses estimated between $46 and $69 million. Over 1,000 farmers have applied for emergency financial assistance. Many farmers lack crop insurance, limiting access to federal aid, and recovery remains difficult without immediate support. We just held a follow-up briefing on the situation, and are working to get resources to those who still need help. More support can be found at these links.

Address

Kailua, HI

Website

http://www.chrisleeforhawaii.com/

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