HB 370 Hawaii House · 2026 Regular Session

RELATING TO PARTIAL PUBLIC FINANCING OF ELECTIONS.

Summary

Increases 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 and staff. Effective 7/1/3000. (SD1)

Issues: ✓ Budget & Taxes

Bill status passed both 4 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2025

Committee Review

Apr 2025

House Passage

Mar 2025

Senate Passage

Apr 2025

Governor

Introduced Jan 16, 2025 Last action Apr 2, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 3 comparisons

What changed between versions

HB370_HD2 → HB370_SD1 · 7 edits

MODERATE

This bill updates Hawaii's partial public financing program by increasing the maximum allowable campaign expenditures for candidates and adjusting the percentage of public funds available to them. It also raises the minimum qualifying contribution thresholds required for candidates to receive matching funds, particularly for the office of Hawaiian affairs. Additionally, the bill increases the number of full-time staff positions funded for the campaign spending commission to handle the anticipated rise in program participation.

Scope change

The bill expands the scope of public financing by increasing expenditure limits for all offices and adding 'Hawaiian affairs' as a specific category for funding calculations.

FISCAL

Increased the maximum aggregate campaign expenditure limits for all offices, raising amounts from $2.50, $1.40, $2.00, and $1.40 per voter to $3.00, $1.68, $2.40, and $1.68 per voter, respectively.

Adjusted the percentage of public funds available to candidates; the limit for governor, lieutenant governor, state senator, state representative, mayor, county council member, and prosecuting attorney was changed to 67% of the expenditure limit (previously split between 10% for top offices and 15% for others).

Raised the minimum qualifying contribution threshold for the office of Hawaiian affairs from $1,500 to $5,500.

Increased the matching fund payment rate for qualifying contributions exceeding the minimum threshold from $1 to $2 for every $1 contributed.

ENFORCEMENT

Added a new requirement that candidates must have at least one other qualified candidate as an opponent to receive public funds.

Increased the appropriation for full-time equivalent permanent positions within the campaign spending commission to address higher workload.

REQUIREMENT

Added 'Hawaiian affairs' as a specific office category eligible for public financing under the expenditure limits.

Floor votes

How they voted

This bill passed the Senate by voice vote (no roll call recorded).

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Amendments

Apr 25, 2025

Lower · Passed

Conference Committee Meeting will reconvene on Friday, 04-25-25 at 5:30PM in Conference Room 325.

lower

Apr 24, 2025

Lower · Passed

Conference Committee Meeting will reconvene on Friday 04-25-25 2:15PM in conference room 325.

lower

Apr 23, 2025

Lower · Passed

Conference Committee Meeting will reconvene on Thursday 04-24-25 2:15PM in conference room 325.

lower

Apr 22, 2025

Lower · Passed

Conference Committee Meeting will reconvene on Wednesday 04-23-25 2:15PM in conference room 325.

lower

Apr 21, 2025

Lower · Passed

Conference Committee Meeting will reconvene on Tuesday 04-22-25 2:05PM in conference room 325.

lower

Apr 17, 2025

Lower · Passed

Conference Committee Meeting will reconvene on Monday 04-21-25 2:05PM in conference room 325.

lower

Apr 16, 2025

Lower · Passed

Bill scheduled for Conference Committee Meeting on Thursday, 04-17-25 3:46PM in conference room 325.

lower

Apr 8, 2025

Amended

House disagrees with Senate amendment (s).

lower

Apr 4, 2025

Introduced

Returned from Senate (Sen. Com. No. 571) in amended form (SD 1).

lower

Apr 4, 2025

Upper · Passed

Report Adopted; Passed Third Reading. Ayes, 23; Aye(s) with reservations: none. Noes, 2 (Senator(s) Awa, DeCorte). Excused, 0 (none). Transmitted to House.

upper

Apr 1, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on WAM recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes in WAM were as follows: 12 Aye(s): Senator(s) Dela Cruz, Moriwaki, Aquino, Elefante, Hashimoto, Inouye, Kanuha, Kidani, Kim, Lee, C., Wakai, Fevella; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 1 Excused: Senator(s) DeCoite.

upper

Mar 27, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on WAM will hold a public decision making on 04-01-25 10:01AM; Conference Room 211 & Videoconference.

upper

Mar 21, 2025

Upper · Passed

Report adopted; Passed Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referred to WAM.

upper

Mar 21, 2025

Committee

Reported from JDC (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1239) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to WAM.

upper

Mar 18, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on JDC recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in JDC were as follows: 4 Aye(s): Senator(s) Rhoads, Chang, San Buenaventura, Awa; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 1 Excused: Senator(s) Gabbard.

upper

Mar 12, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on JDC has scheduled a public hearing on 03-18-25 9:45AM; Conference Room 016 & Videoconference.

upper

Mar 6, 2025

Committee

Referred to JDC, WAM.

upper

Mar 6, 2025

Introduced

Received from House (Hse. Com. No. 218).

upper

Mar 4, 2025

Lower · Passed

Passed Third Reading as amended in HD 2 with Representative(s) Matsumoto voting aye with reservations; Representative(s) Garcia, Muraoka, Reyes Oda voting no (3) and Representative(s) Pierick, Ward excused (2). Transmitted to Senate.

lower

Feb 25, 2025

Lower · Passed

The committee on FIN recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 12 Ayes: Representative(s) Yamashita, Takenouchi, Grandinetti, Holt, Hussey, Keohokapu-Lee Loy, Kitagawa, Lamosao, Lee, M., Miyake, Morikawa, Templo; Ayes with reservations: none; 1 Noes: Representative(s) Alcos; and 3 Excused: Representative(s) Kusch, Reyes Oda, Ward.

lower

Feb 5, 2025

Committee

Reported from JHA (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 171) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to FIN.

lower

Jan 28, 2025

Lower · Passed

The committee on JHA recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 9 Ayes: Representative(s) Tarnas, Poepoe, Belatti, Hashem, Kahaloa, Perruso, Takayama, Todd, Shimizu; Ayes with reservations: none; 1 Noes: Representative(s) Garcia; and 1 Excused: Representative(s) Cochran.

lower

Jan 21, 2025

Committee

Referred to JHA, FIN, referral sheet 1

lower

Jan 17, 2025

Introduced

Introduced and Pass First Reading.

lower

Jan 16, 2025

Introduced

Pending introduction.

lower

1 primary · 0 co-sponsors