STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1128

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.B. No. 369

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2025

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Judiciary, to which was referred H.B. No. 369 entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to require excess contributions of more than $100 in cash, in the aggregate, from a single person during an election period to a candidate, candidate committee, or noncandidate committee to escheat to the Hawaii Election Campaign Fund if not returned to the contributor within thirty days.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Campaign Spending Commission, League of Women Voters of Hawaii, and one individual.

Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from one individual.

Your Committee finds that in 2023, the Legislature amended section 11-351(b), Hawaii Revised Statutes, to prohibit the acceptance of a cash contribution of more than $100, in the aggregate, during an election period. This measure will ensure that the treatment of an excess cash contribution is consistent with other types of excess contributions by requiring the return of an excess cash contribution to the contributor within thirty days of receipt of the excess contribution and depositing any excess cash contribution not returned to the contributor into the Hawaii Election Campaign Fund.

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 H.B. No. 369, and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

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

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KARL RHOADS, Chair