STAND. COM. REP. NO. 773

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2021

RE: H.B. No. 674

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2021

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs, to which was referred H.B. No. 674 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO ELECTIONEERING COMMUNICATIONS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to limit statement of information requirements for electioneering communications to noncandidate committees.

Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from the Campaign Spending Commission and Common Cause Hawaii.

Your Committee finds that requiring candidates to file a statement of information within 24 hours of a candidate making an expenditure for electioneering communications in an aggregate amount of more than $2,000 provides opponents of the candidate with an unfair advantage in terms of knowing the candidate's strategy. Although your Committee recognizes the importance of public transparency, it notes that public transparency is already assured when candidates file candidate committee reports, which includes information on expenditures made.

Your Committee additionally finds that electioneering communications by noncandidate committees can include unexpected or unsolicited information. Your Committee believes that statements of information on electioneering communications are best reserved for noncandidate committees.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 674 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be placed on the calendar for Third Reading.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs,

____________________________

MARK M. NAKASHIMA, Chair