STAND. COM. REP. NO. 804

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2023

RE: H.B. No. 726

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2023

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs, to which was referred H.B. No. 726 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTIONS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to prohibit elected officials from soliciting and accepting campaign contributions during any regular session or special session of the Legislature, including any extension of any regular session or special session and any legislative recess day, holiday, or weekend.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Campaign Spending Commission; Commission to Improve Standards of Conduct; HULI PAC; Our Revolution Hawaii; Legislative Committee of the Democratic Party of Hawai‘i; Democratic Party of Hawai‘i; Pono Hawaii Initiative; We Are One, Inc.; and numerous individuals. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from one individual.

Your Committee finds that this measure implements one of the recommendations made by the Commission to Improve Standards of Conduct established pursuant to House Resolution No. 9, Regular Session of 2022. If enacted, this measure would reduce the negative perception of legislators soliciting or accepting contributions from individuals or organizations that have an interest in matters pending before the Legislature during session.

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. 726 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,

____________________________

DAVID A. TARNAS, Chair