STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2159

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 2533

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2026

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Judiciary and Labor and Technology, to which was referred S.B. No. 2533 entitled:

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

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to adjust the salaries of the Campaign Spending Commission's Executive Director and Associate Director to align with similar government officials who have compliance and enforcement responsibilities.

Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Campaign Spending Commission and Hawaiʻi Alliance for Progressive Action.

Your Committees received testimony in opposition to this measure from one individual.

Your Committees find that public trust in government relies on strong, independent oversight. Government agencies such as the Campaign Spending Commission, State Ethics Commission, Auditor, Office of the Ombudsman, and Legislative Reference Bureau have important compliance and enforcement duties that require expertise, independence, and professionalism. Your Committees further find that existing staff salaries for the Campaign Spending Commission remain below those of comparable offices performing similar duties across the State. Without competitive compensation, the Campaign Spending Commission risks losing experienced personnel to better-paying agencies, which may undermine the continuity and effectiveness of the Commission's services. This measure will provide additional funding to bring the salaries of the Campaign Spending Commission's existing staff in line with similar government agencies to ensure equity, stability, and sustained excellence within the Commission.

Your Committees note that considering the size and enforcement duties of the Ethics Commission and the Campaign Spending Commission, it would be more congruent to tie the salary of the Executive Director of the Campaign Spending Commission to that of the Executive Director of the Ethics Commission rather than that of the Director of Health.

Accordingly, your Committees have amended this measure by:

(1) Specifying that the salary of the Executive Director of the Campaign Spending Commission shall be the same as the salary of the Executive Director of the Ethics Commission, rather than the salary of the Director of Health;

(2) Inserting a blank appropriation amount; and

(3) Making a technical, nonsubstantive amendment for the purposes of clarity and consistency.

Your Committees note that this measure, as amended, contains unspecified appropriation amounts. Should your Committee on Ways and Means choose to deliberate on this measure, your Committees respectfully request that it consider inserting an appropriation amount of $138,679.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Judiciary and Labor and Technology that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2533, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2533, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Judiciary and Labor and Technology,

________________________________ BRANDON J.C. ELEFANTE, Chair

________________________________ KARL RHOADS, Chair