STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1337

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2025

RE: S.B. No. 1202

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 S.B. No. 1202 entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to allow campaign funds to be used for a candidate's child care and vital household dependent care costs under certain conditions.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Campaign Spending Commission; Honolulu County Committee on the Status of Women; Hawaiʻi Family Caregiver Coalition; AAUW of Hawaii; Hawaiʻi State Democratic Women's Caucus; Common Cause Hawaii; and three individuals.

Your Committee finds that the Federal Election Commission and thirty-nine states have already authorized the use of campaign funds for child care expenses. This measure would allow Hawaii to improve access to democracy by enabling parents and caregivers to campaign for public office.

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 S.B. No. 1202 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to your Committee on Finance.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs,

____________________________

DAVID A. TARNAS, Chair