STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1009-26

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2026

RE: H.B. No. 2050

H.D. 1

Honorable Nadine K. Nakamura

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2026

State of Hawaii

Madame:

Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred H.B. No. 2050, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO PARTIAL PUBLIC FINANCING OF ELECTIONS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to:

(1) Increase the expenditure limit and amount of funds available to candidates qualified to participate in the Partial Public Financing Program, including candidates for the Board of Trustees of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, who run statewide;

(2) Encourage participation in the Partial Public Financing Program by providing for the adjustment of the amount of minimum qualifying contributions required for certain offices;

(3) Increase matching fund payments from $1 to $2 for each $1 of qualifying contributions in excess of the minimum qualifying contribution amounts; and

(4) Appropriate general revenues for deposit into the Hawaii Election Campaign Fund to increase the amount of funds available for the Partial Public Financing Program.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Office of Hawaiian Affairs; Campaign Spending Commission; Hawaiʻi Alliance for Progressive Action; Imua Alliance; League of Women Voters of Hawaii; and numerous individuals. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from one individual.

Your Committee notes concerns regarding the lower percentage of the expenditure limit of public funds available to candidates for the Board of Trustees of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs compared to the percentage available to candidates for other public offices that are not statewide offices.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Finance that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2050, H.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

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

____________________________

CHRIS TODD, Chair