STAND. COM. REP. NO. 823

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2025

RE: H.B. No. 372

H.D. 1

Honorable Nadine K. Nakamura

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2025

State of Hawaii

Madame:

Your Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs, to which was referred H.B. No. 372 entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

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

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Campaign Spending Commission; Hawaiʻi Alliance for Progressive Action; and seven individuals. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from one individual.

Your Committee finds that this measure would promote a fairer electoral system by reducing the financial advantage of incumbents and ensuring that legislators prioritize their duties to constituents over fundraising.

Your Committee has amended this measure by narrowing the scope of the prohibition to only state legislators, rather than all state and county elected officials.

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. 372, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 372, H.D. 1, 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