Bill > SB311

This bill proposes a constitutional amendment to the Hawaii State Constitution that would explicitly exclude the expenditure of money to influence elections from being considered a form of protected free speech. The bill responds to two significant U.S. Supreme Court decisions—Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission (2010) and Buckley v. Valeo (1976)—which the legislature believes have undermined democratic processes by allowing corporations, special interest groups, and political action committees (PACs) to spend unlimited amounts of money on political messaging. The proposed amendment would modify Article I, Section 4 of the Hawaii State Constitution by adding language that specifically states "The freedom of speech shall not include the expenditure of money to influence elections." If approved, voters would be asked to decide whether they support this constitutional change through a ballot measure. The legislature acknowledges that while this amendment would not immediately override federal law, it represents a symbolic stance against what they perceive as problematic Supreme Court decisions that have expanded corporate political spending rights. The amendment is set to take effect on July 1, 3000, contingent upon compliance with the state constitution's amendment procedures.