STAND. COM. REP. NO. 107-26

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2026

RE: H.B. No. 2055

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 Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs, to which was referred H.B. No. 2055 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE CAMPAIGN SPENDING COMMISSION,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to align the compensation of the Campaign Spending Commission's Executive Director, Associate Director, and staff with that of comparable legislative-branch agencies by authorizing salary adjustments and appropriating funds.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Campaign Spending Commission; League of Women Voters of Hawaii; and Hawaiʻi Alliance for Progressive Action.

Your Committee finds that the Campaign Spending Commission plays a critical role in safeguarding the integrity of the electoral process through compliance, enforcement, and oversight of campaign finance laws. Your Committee further finds that disparities in compensation between the Commission's leadership and similarly situated agencies undermine efforts to recruit and retain experienced and qualified personnel. Your Committee believes that aligning the salaries of the Campaign Spending Commission's Executive Director and Associate Director with comparable officials will strengthen the Commission's independence, capacity, and effectiveness, thereby promoting public trust in state government.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Changing the appropriation to an unspecified amount;

(2) Changing the effective date to July 1, 3000, to encourage further discussion; and

(3) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

Your Committee respectfully requests your Committee on Finance, should it deliberate on this measure, to consider an appropriation amount of $138,679.

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. 2055, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2055, H.D. 1, 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