Bill > SB1173

This bill introduces a new fee on independent expenditures made by noncandidate committees during elections in Hawaii, requiring these committees to pay 5% of their total independent expenditure amount to the state's campaign spending commission. The fee is designed to generate revenue for the Hawaii election campaign fund and support enhanced oversight of election spending, with the goal of increasing transparency and preventing potential corruption. Noncandidate committees (groups that spend money on elections but are not directly affiliated with a candidate) will be required to submit reports and pay the fee within 60 days of assessment, with potential penalties for non-compliance including fines up to $10,000, 10% annual interest on unpaid fees, and suspension of their ability to make independent expenditures. The bill explicitly states that this fee is not intended to limit free speech, but rather to serve as a regulatory mechanism, drawing support from the Supreme Court's Citizens United decision which recognized political expenditures as protected speech while allowing states to impose fees. The revenues collected will be used to hire additional campaign oversight staff, upgrade technological systems, and support the campaign spending commission's enforcement capabilities. The law is set to take effect on April 23, 2057, with implementation beginning for elections held on or after January 1, 2028.

Budget and Finance, Justice

https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session/measure_indiv.aspx?billtype=SB&billnumber=1173&year=2026