STAND. COM. REP. NO. 719

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 466

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. 466 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 prohibit noncandidate committees from making expenditures on the day of any election and the two-week period preceding any election.

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

Your Committee finds that allowing noncandidate committees to make expenditures on or around the day of an election could create the perception that the expenditures are for the purpose of influencing the outcome of the election. Your Committee further finds that there are concerns of growing apathy and lack of participation in the government process due partially to the lack of faith and trust in the government. This measure imposes limitations on the making of certain expenditures, which will help to restore confidence in state elections.

Your Committee has amended this measure by specifying that a noncandidate committee shall also not make any contribution or disseminate any advertisements on the day of any election, nor during the two-week period preceding any election.

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. 466, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 466, 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