STAND. COM. REP. NO. 837

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 1189

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2023

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Judiciary, to which was referred S.B. No. 1189 entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to require incumbent state legislators, or the treasurer of their candidate committee, to file large contribution reports with the Campaign Spending Commission within ten days of receiving a contribution of an amount aggregating more than $500 during a legislative session.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from four individuals. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Campaign Spending Commission.

Your Committee finds that reporting requirements are an essential safeguard to prevent the undue influence of special

interests in the legislative process. By requiring timely disclosure of large campaign contributions, voters are better equipped to make informed decisions about who they choose to

elect to public office. This transparency promotes the integrity of the political process and helps to maintain public trust in democratic institutions. This measure is an important step towards ensuring that the State's campaign finance laws are transparent and accountable and that the influence of big money in politics is kept in check.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Removing language that would have required incumbent state legislators, or the treasurer of their candidate committee, to file large contribution reports with the Campaign Spending Commission within ten days of receiving a contribution of an amount aggregating more than $500 during a legislative session;

(2) Inserting language that requires all state legislators, or the treasurer of their candidate committee, to file a preliminary report on February 28 of the year of a general election;

(3) Inserting an effective date of January 1, 2026; and

(4) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity and consistency.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Judiciary that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 1189, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 1189, S.D. 1, and be placed on the calendar for Third Reading.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Judiciary,

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KARL RHOADS, Chair