STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1421

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.B. No. 413

H.D. 1

S.D. 1

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. 413, H.D. 1, entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to:

(1) Clarify administrative oversight of statutory restrictions relating to prohibited lobbyist contributions; and

(2) Clarify that the regular or special sessions in which lobbyist contributions are prohibited are periods during which both houses of the Legislature are in session.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Campaign Spending Commission and one individual.

Your Committee finds that the Legislature enacted Act 128, Session Laws of Hawaii 2023 (Act 128), to reduce the perception that contributions made during certain periods are, or are intended, to influence decisions being made on pending legislation. Act 128 left concurrent administrative oversight to the Campaign Spending Commission and State Ethics Commission. However, your Committee further finds that the statutory provisions created by Act 128 require more clarity to specify the jurisdictions of the Campaign Spending Commission and State Ethics Commission. This measure will reduce ambiguity by clarifying the respective enforcement authority of the Campaign Spending Commission and State Ethics Board or Commission.

Your Committee has amended this measure by making a technical, nonsubstantive amendment 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 H.B. No. 413, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 413, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, and be placed on the calendar for Third Reading.

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

________________________________

KARL RHOADS, Chair