HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.B. NO.	1499
TWENTY-SEVENTH LEGISLATURE, 2014		H.D. 1
STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

PROPOSING AN AMENDMENT TO THE HAWAII CONSTITUTION REGARDING THE FREEDOM OF SPEECH.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

    SECTION 1.  The purpose of this Act is to propose an amendment to article I, section 4, of the Constitution of the State of Hawaii to provide that the expenditure of money is not a form of speech and not protected under the Hawaii constitution.

    SECTION 2.  Article I, section 4, of the Constitution of the State of Hawaii is amended to read as follows:

"FREEDOM OF RELIGION, SPEECH, PRESS,

ASSEMBLY AND PETITION

Section 4.  No law shall be enacted respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof, or abridging the freedom of speech or of the press or the right of the people peaceably to assemble and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.

The freedom of speech shall not include the expenditure of money to influence elections."

    SECTION 3.  The question to be printed on the ballot shall be as follows:

"Shall the Constitution of the State of Hawaii be amended to provide that free speech does not include the expenditure of money to influence elections?"

     SECTION 4.  New constitutional material is underscored.

     SECTION 5.  This amendment shall take effect upon compliance with article XVII, section 3, of the Constitution of the State of Hawaii.

Report Title:

Freedom of Speech; Monetary Expenditures to Influence Elections

Description:

Proposes a constitutional amendment to provide that freedom of speech does not include the expenditure of money to influence elections.  (HB1499 HD1)

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