RELATING TO PARTIAL PUBLIC FINANCING OF ELECTIONS.

HB2050

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

2050

THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026

STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

RELATING
TO PARTIAL PUBLIC FINANCING OF ELECTIONS
.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

����
SECTION
1.
�
The amounts available to candidates
in Hawaii's partial public financing program was last amended in 1995.
�
The legislature finds that since 1995-1996,
the value of the dollar has risen to approximately $2.12.

����
The
purpose of this Act is to increase the expenditure limit and the amount of
funds available to candidates qualified to participate in the partial public
financing program.
�
This Act increases
the amount of funds available to all candidates running for state or county
office including for the board of trustees for the office of Hawaiian affairs,
who run state-wide.
�
This Act increases
matching fund payments from $1 for each $1 of qualifying contributions in
excess of the minimum qualifying contribution amounts to $2 for each $1 of
excess qualifying contributions.
�
To
encourage participation in the partial public financing program, this Act
provides for the downward adjustment of the amount of minimum qualifying contributions
required for certain offices.
�
Finally,
this Act appropriates funds from the general revenues of the State to increase
the amount of funds available in the partial public financing program.

����
SECTION
2
.
�
Section 11-423, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is
amended by amending subsection (d) to read as follows:

����
"
(d)
�
From January 1 of the year of any primary,
special, or general election, the aggregate expenditures for each election by a
candidate who voluntarily agrees to limit campaign expenditures, inclusive of
all expenditures made or authorized by the candidate alone, all treasurers, the
candidate committee, and noncandidate committees on the candidate's behalf,
shall not exceed the following amounts expressed, respectively multiplied by
the number of voters in the last preceding general election registered

to vote in each respective voting district:

����
(1)
�
For the office of
governor--[
$2.50;
]
$3.00;

����
(2)
�
For the office of
lieutenant governor--[
$1.40;
]
$1.68;

����
(3)
�
For the office of
mayor--[
$2.00;
]
$2.40;

����
(4)
�
For the offices of
state senator, state representative, county council member, and prosecuting
attorney--[
$1.40;
]
$1.68;
and

����
(5)
�
For all other
offices--[
20
]
24
cents."

����
SECTION
3
.
�
Section 11-425, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is
amended to read as follows:

����
"
�
11-425
�
Maximum amount of public funds available to
candidate.
�
(a)
�
The maximum amount of public funds available
in each election to a candidate for the office of governor, lieutenant
governor, or mayor
of the city and county of Honolulu or the county of
Hawaii
shall not exceed [
ten
]
12.5
per cent of the
expenditure limit established in section 11-423(d) for each election.

����
(b)
�

The maximum amount of public funds available in each election to a
candidate for the office of state senator, state representative,
mayor of
the county of Kauai or the county of Maui,
county council member, and
prosecuting attorney shall not exceed [
fifteen
]
18.75
per cent of
the expenditure limit established in section 11-423(d) for each election.

����
(c)
�

For the office of Hawaiian affairs, the maximum amount of public funds
available to a candidate shall not exceed [
$1,500 in any election year.

����
(d)
�
For all other offices, the maximum amount of
public funds available to a candidate shall not exceed $100 in any election
year.
]
7.5 per cent of the expenditure limit established in section
11-423(d) for each election.

����
[
(e)
]

(d)

�
Each candidate who qualified
for the maximum amount of public funding in any primary election and who is a
candidate for a subsequent general election shall apply with the commission to
be qualified to receive the maximum amount of public funds as provided in this
section for the respective general election.
�
For purposes of this section, "qualified"
means meeting the qualifying campaign contribution requirements of section 11-429."

����
SECTION
4
.
�
Section 11-429, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is
amended by amending subsections (a) and (b) to read as follows:

����
"(a)
�
As a condition of receiving public funds for
a primary or general election, a candidate shall not be unopposed in any
election for which public funds are sought, shall have filed an affidavit with
the commission pursuant to section 11‑423 to voluntarily limit the
candidate's campaign expenditures, and shall be in receipt of the following sum
of qualifying contributions from individual residents of Hawaii:

����
(1)
�
For the office of
governor--qualifying contributions that in the aggregate exceed $100,000;

����
(2)
�
For the office of
lieutenant governor--qualifying contributions that in the aggregate exceed
$50,000;

����
(3)
�
For the office of
mayor for each respective county:

���������
(A)
�
County of Honolulu--qualifying
contributions that in the aggregate exceed $50,000;

���������
(B)
�
County of Hawaii--qualifying
contributions that in the aggregate exceed $15,000;

���������
(C)
�
County of Maui--qualifying
contributions that in the aggregate exceed $10,000; and

���������
(D)
�
County of Kauai--qualifying
contributions that in the aggregate exceed $5,000;

����
(4)
�
For the office of
prosecuting attorney for each respective county:

���������
(A)
�
County of Honolulu--qualifying
contributions that in the aggregate exceed [
$30,000;
]
$25,000;

���������
(B)
�
County of Hawaii--qualifying
contributions that in the aggregate
exceed [$10,000;
]
$5,000;
and

���������
(C)
�
County of Kauai--qualifying
contributions that in the aggregate exceed [
$5,000;
]
$3,000;

����
(5)
�
For the office of
county council--for each respective county:

���������
(A)
�
County of Honolulu--qualifying
contributions that in the aggregate exceed $5,000;

���������
(B)
�
County of Hawaii--qualifying
contributions that in the aggregate exceed $1,500;

���������
(C)
�
County of Maui--qualifying
contributions that in the aggregate exceed [
$5,000;
]
$4,000;
and

���������
(D)
�
County of Kauai--qualifying
contributions that in the aggregate exceed $3,000;

����
(6)
�
For the office of
state senator--qualifying contributions that[
,
] in the aggregate exceed
$2,500;

����
(7)
�
For the office of
state representative--qualifying contributions that[
,
] in the aggregate,
exceed $1,500;

����
(8)
�
For the office of
Hawaiian affairs--qualifying contributions that[
,
] in the aggregate,
exceed [
$1,500;
]
$5,500;
and

����
(9)
�
For all other
offices, qualifying contributions that, in the aggregate[
,
] exceed $500[
.
]

for one office.

����
(b)
�

A candidate shall obtain the minimum qualifying contribution amount set
forth in subsection (a) once for the election period.

����
(1)
�
If the candidate
obtains the minimum qualifying contribution amount, the candidate [
is
]
shall
be
eligible to receive:

���������
(A)
�
The minimum
payment in an amount equal to the minimum qualifying contribution amounts; and

���������
(B)
�
Payments of [
$1
]

$2
for each $1 of qualifying contributions in excess of the minimum
qualifying contribution amounts; and

����
(2)
�
A candidate shall have at
least one other qualified candidate as an opponent for the primary or general
election to receive public funds for that election."

����
SECTION
5
.
�
There
is appropriated out of the general

revenues
of the State of Hawaii the sum of
$2,400,000
or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2026-2027
to be deposited into the Hawaii election campaign fund.

����
The sum appropriated shall be expended by
the campaign spending commission for the purposes of this Act.

����
SECTION
6.
�
This Act does not affect rights and
duties that matured, penalties that were incurred, and proceedings that were
begun before its effective date.

����
SECTION
7.
�
Statutory material to be repealed is
bracketed and stricken.
�
New statutory
material is underscored.

����
SECTION 8.
�
This Act shall take effect on November 4,
2026; provided that section 5 shall take effect on July 1, 2026.

INTRODUCED BY:

_____________________________

By Request

Report Title:

Campaign
Spending Commission Package; Partial Public Financing

Description:

Increases
the expenditure limit and the amount of partial public campaign financing
available for all elective offices.
�

Adjusts the minimum amount of qualifying contributions certain
candidates must receive to participate in the program.
�
Increases the matching fund payments for
excess qualifying contributions.
�

Appropriates funds for the program.

The summary description
of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is
not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.