With the arrival of today’s deadline for lobbyists to report how much money supporters and opponents spent to influence Hawaii’s same-sex marriage decision, critics say the state disclosure system is among the weakest in the nation and prevents a timely and complete tally.

It could be that nothing improper took place, but "if you don’t have the information, then how do you even know to have a concern?" asked state Sen. Les Ihara (D, Moiliili-Kaimuki-Palolo), who has introduced legislation he hopes will strengthen the system.

Ihara’s measures aim to close gaps that allowed more than 90 percent of nearly 200 registered individual lobbyists to report zero expenses over three reporting periods last year, according to reviews by the Associated Press.

According to the current law, lobbyists are required to list expenditures worth more than $25 toward one person in one day or $150 to one person over a reporting period, which is similar to disclosure rules that apply at the federal level.

But Ihara, the majority policy leader, said lobbyists in Hawaii operate under a longtime interpretation of the law by the state Ethics Commission that if the money they spend comes from an organization such as a business or advocacy group, they don’t have to report it in the disclosure system. The ethics panel’s position, Ihara said, holds that requiring that level of reporting would be duplicative. But "the Ethics Commission has misinterpreted the law," he said.

Commission Executive Director Les Kondo declined to comment on the practice.

Lobbyist Scott Matsu­ura, a lobbyist who has reported zero expenditures, said he and his colleagues have been abiding by the rules the state has outlined. "For most of us we’re following what we’ve been told to do," he said.

The Center for Public Integrity, a nonprofit investigative journalism organization, gave Hawaii a D-minus for its lobbying disclosure practices on a 2012 report. The state’s system has not changed since that review.

The public should "know what gifts or entertainment that lobbyist provided to individual legislators," said Gordon Witkin, the center’s managing editor.

Lobbyists must report expenditures each January, March and May. Critics say this reporting schedule creates another problem, one that doesn’t give taxpayers and government watchdogs timely information about the influence exerted on lawmakers.

"When it’s months later people are going to forget," Ihara said.

For instance, gay marriage, an issue that generated heated testimony from thousands of people and raucous rallies on both sides, passed with heavy support during a special session that ended Nov. 12, but based on reporting requirements, disclosures won’t be made until today. Even then, however, critics say, under the ethics panel’s position, taxpayers will likely learn little.

Ihara said government watchdog groups have suggested requiring more complete monthly reports during the regular session. In the rare event of a special session, Ihara suggests that reports be filed 10 days after the session adjourns.

Kondo said changing when reports are due "would certainly add to the already full plate of the commission staff."