Bill Text: HI SB345 | 2025 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Relating To Public Financing.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 4-0)
Status: (Introduced) 2025-01-29 - The committee(s) on JDC has scheduled a public hearing on 02-05-25 9:15AM; Conference Room 016 & Videoconference. [SB345 Detail]
Download: Hawaii-2025-SB345-Introduced.html
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THE SENATE |
S.B. NO. |
345 |
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THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2025 |
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STATE OF HAWAII |
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A BILL FOR AN ACT
relating to public financing.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:
SECTION 1. The legislature finds that the partial public financing program for candidates to state and county elected offices is a valuable component of Hawaiʻi's election process. The program, which provides partial campaign funds to participating candidates who agree to expenditure limits, has been mandated by the Hawaii State Constitution since 1978. The use of public funds to finance election campaigns is in the public interest because it mitigates the outsized influence, and the perception of influence, of large private donors.
Hawaiʻi's partial public financing program is operated by the campaign spending commission and provides dollar for dollar matching funds up to a maximum amount on the qualifying contributions raised by a candidate who has first collected the minimum amount of these contributions for the prescribed office. The legislature further finds that the amount of campaign funds that are available to candidates was last amended two decades ago.
The purpose of this Act is to increase the amount of matching campaign funds available for candidates who participate in the partial public financing program and ensure adequate funding for the program by:
(1) Raising the cap on the maximum amount of matching funds available to candidates, to sixty-seven per cent of the expenditure limit;
(2) Increasing by twenty per cent the cap on the amount of expenditures a candidate can make;
(3) Increasing the matching fund ratio from $1 for each $1 of qualifying contributions raised by a candidate to $2 for each $1 of qualifying contributions raised in excess of the minimum qualifying contributions that a candidate must raise to participate in the program; and
(4) Appropriating funds from the general fund to the election campaign fund to fund the partial public financing program.
SECTION 2. Section 11-423, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsection (d) to read as follows:
"(d) From January 1 of the year of any primary, special, or general election, the aggregate expenditures for each election by a candidate who voluntarily agrees to limit campaign expenditures, inclusive of all expenditures made or authorized by the candidate alone, all treasurers, the candidate committee, and noncandidate committees on the candidate's behalf, shall not exceed the following amounts expressed, respectively multiplied by the number of voters in the last preceding general election registered to vote in each respective voting district:
(1) For the office of governor--[$2.50;]
$3.00;
(2) For the office of lieutenant governor--[$1.40;]
$1.68;
(3) For the office of mayor--[$2.00;]
$2.40;
(4) For the offices of state senator, state
representative, county council member, and prosecuting attorney--[$1.40;]
$1.68; and
(5) For all other offices--[20] 24
cents."
SECTION 3. Section 11-425, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:
"§11-425 Maximum amount
of public funds available to candidate. (a)
The maximum amount of public funds available in each election to a
candidate for the office of governor, lieutenant governor, [or] state
senator, state representative, mayor, county council member, prosecuting
attorney, or Hawaiian affairs shall not exceed [ten] sixty-seven
per cent of the expenditure limit established in section 11-423(d) for each
election[.]; provided that the candidate shall not receive any public
funds that, when combined with the candidate's qualifying contributions, are in
excess of the expenditure fund.
[(b) The maximum amount of public funds available
in each election to a candidate for the office of state senator, state
representative, county council member, and prosecuting attorney shall not
exceed fifteen per cent of the expenditure limit established in section
11-423(d) for each election.
(c)
For the office of Hawaiian affairs, the
maximum amount of public funds available to a candidate shall not exceed $1,500
in any election year.
(d) For all other offices, the maximum amount of
public funds available to a candidate shall not exceed $100 in any election
year.
(e)] (b) Each candidate who qualified for the maximum
amount of public funding in any primary election and who is a candidate for a
subsequent general election shall apply with the commission to be qualified to
receive the maximum amount of public funds as provided in this section for the
respective general election.
(c) For purposes of this section, "qualified" means meeting the qualifying campaign contribution requirements of section 11-429."
SECTION 4. Section 11-429, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsection (b) to read as follows:
"(b) A candidate shall obtain the minimum qualifying contribution amount set forth in subsection (a) once for the election period.
(1) If the candidate obtains the minimum qualifying contribution amount, the candidate is eligible to receive:
(A) The minimum payment in an amount equal to the minimum qualifying contribution amounts; and
(B) Payments of [$1] $2 for
each $1 of qualifying contributions in excess of the minimum qualifying
contribution amounts; and
(2) A candidate shall have at least one other qualified candidate as an opponent for the primary or general election to receive public funds for that election."
SECTION 5. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $16,000,000 or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2025-2026 and the same sum or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2026-2027 to be deposited into the Hawaii election campaign fund.
The sums appropriated shall be expended by the campaign spending commission for the purposes of this Act.
SECTION 6. This Act does not affect rights and duties that matured, penalties that were incurred, and proceedings that were begun before its effective date.
SECTION 7. Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken. New statutory material is underscored.
SECTION 8. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2025.
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INTRODUCED BY: |
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Report Title:
Campaign Spending Commission Package; Partial Public Financing; Maximum Amount of Public Funds Available; Appropriations
Description:
Raises the cap on the maximum amount of matching funds available to candidates for the Hawaii Partial Public Financing Program. Increases the cap on the amount of expenditures a candidate can make in the Program. Increases the matching fund ratio from $1 for each $1 of qualifying contributions raised by a candidate to $2 for each $1 of qualifying contributions raised in excess of the minimum qualifying contributions that a candidate must raise to participate in the Program. Appropriates funds.
The summary description
of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is
not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.
