STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2827

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 2528

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2026

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 2528, S.D. 1, entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to facilitate the partial public financing of elections by making certain amendments to applicable law.

Specifically, the measure:

(1) Increases the aggregate expenditure limits for candidates whose campaigns are partially publicly financed;

(2) Increases the maximum amount of public funding available to candidates;

(3) Changes minimum qualifying contribution requirements for candidates for certain offices; and

(4) Appropriates an unspecified sum into the Hawaii election campaign fund.

Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the Campaign Spending Commission, Hawaii Alliance for Progressive Action, League of Women Voters of Hawaii, HULI PAC, Imua Alliance, Indivisible Hawaii Statewide Network, and numerous individuals.

Your Committee received written comments in opposition to this measure from KahuPuna and one individual.

Your Committee finds that that the public financing of campaigns allows a broader array of candidates to seek public office and to focus on voter outreach instead of the solicitation of funds from donors. Your Committee believes that the amendments made by this measure to the State's partial public financing program will help to further equalize the electoral playing field.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2528, S.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,

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DONOVAN M. DELA CRUZ, Chair