Video & Transcript Research : 'campaign finance'
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DE
Delaware 2025-2026 Regular Session
Senate Elections & Government Affairs Committee Meeting Jun 25th, 2026
Elections & Government Affairs
Transcript Highlights:
- It requires candidates and treasurers to complete campaign finance training every two years.
- It requires care and treasurers to complete campaign and finance training every two years.
- It's $1.5 million to streamline campaign finance laws.
- Where is the current list of campaign finance violations?
- House Bill 448 is also related to campaign finance.
Bills:
HB344
Keywords:
campaign finance, elections, transparency, political committees, reporting requirements, enforcement
Summary:
The Senate Elections and Government Affairs Committee heard several election- and campaign-related bills. House Substitute 2 for House Bill 155 would make Public Integrity Commission reports publicly available on the commission’s website, add a specific travel-expense reporting category, and remove the FOIA requirement for accessing reports; Senator Richardson said he supported the transparency measure and asked to be added as a co-sponsor. The committee also took up House Bill 444, the Delaware John Lewis Voting Rights Act, which would create state protections against voter suppression and vote dilution, expand language access, prohibit intimidation and deception, and allow court remedies for violations. The bill drew strong support from advocacy groups including YWCA Delaware, the League of Women Voters, the ACLU, and the Legal Defense Fund, and several senators voiced support and interest in moving it quickly.
House Bill 430, a constitutional amendment proposal, would make explicit that only natural persons may vote in Delaware elections, including municipal elections, in response to concerns about corporate or other artificial-entity voting in some towns. The discussion focused heavily on Fenwick Island, where the mayor testified that the town’s charter has long allowed certain artificial entities to vote in local elections and said the system is limited and has worked for years; other speakers argued the bill was needed to prevent corporate dilution of residents’ votes. Senator Richardson expressed concern about restricting entities with a local stake, while Senator Hoffner and others emphasized the principle of one person, one vote.
Senator Townsend presented House Bill 344, which would tighten campaign finance rules by requiring Delaware bank accounts for candidates and committees, recurring training, better documentation of candidate loans, longer record retention, automatic filing extensions, and inactive status for noncompliant committees; one public commenter opposed the bill on cost grounds. He also presented House Bill 448, which would allow campaign funds to be used for reasonable security expenses for candidates and elected officials, with guardrails, and a commenter suggested allowing electronic security systems without a cap. Finally, the committee heard House Bill 472, a local de-annexation measure for Noble’s Pond in Cheswold to remove scattered residential lots from town boundaries and resolve uneven tax treatment; Senator Hoffner noted local law enforcement supported the change. The committee adjourned after hearing no further public comment on HB 472, and the vote to adjourn was unanimous.
HI
Transcript Highlights:
- Christy Chang appearing on behalf of the Campaign Spending Commission.
- Christy Chang appearing on behalf of the Campaign Spending Commission.
- appearing on behalf of the campaign appearing on behalf of the campaign spending<00:05:13.520>
up to DAGs and budget and finance up to DAGs and budget and finance whether<00:09:32.560>or< - c><00:09:44.160>
spending you're saying with campaign spending you're saying with campaign spending
Keywords:
SB2841, human trafficking, trafficking awareness, transient accommodations, hotel industry, lodging, hospitality, hotel workers, housekeeping, front desk staff, contract workers, third-party contractors, employee training, signage, reporting requirements, National Human Trafficking Hotline, labor trafficking, sex trafficking, commercial sexual exploitation of children, anti-trafficking
Summary:
The joint Judiciary, Labor, and Technology Committee heard two bills in the morning session and later took up two Judiciary decision-making items. SB 2841 would require human trafficking awareness training for transient accommodation workers. Testimony was generally supportive from the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations, the Department of Law Enforcement, and the Hawaii Hotel Alliance/American Hotel and Lodging Association, which also proposed amendments to preserve existing industry training programs and broaden coverage. Members clarified that the administration wanted DLE to be the lead agency instead of DLIR, while the Attorney General would still handle approval of training programs. The committee recommended passage with amendments, including coverage for third-party contractors and implementation dates, and the measure was adopted with no recorded opposition.
SB 2533 would adjust the salaries of the Campaign Spending Commission’s executive director and associate director to better align with comparable enforcement/compliance positions. The commission supported the bill, saying its salaries lag behind similar offices by about $30,000 and that recruitment and workload have become more difficult, while one testifier opposed the proposal. Members questioned why the bill used the Department of Health as the salary comparator and whether Ethics would be a better benchmark; the committee agreed to revise the bill to peg the salaries to the Ethics Commission instead, blank out the dollar amounts for further review, and note the requested appropriation in the report. The committee recommended passage with amendments, and the measure was adopted.
In the Judiciary decision-making agenda, SB 2203, concerning the use of masks or personal disguises by law enforcement officers, was amended to allow exceptions for officers who are unmasked nearby or who are supporting undercover operations, to change the term to “facial covering,” and to add definitions covering federal, state, and county law enforcement. The committee also set a far-future effective date and passed the bill with amendments. SB 2442, relating to judiciary purchase-of-service contracts with community-based organizations, was also passed with amendments; the committee added a far-future effective date, clarified the consumer price index reference, and noted a recommended appropriation amount of $4.26 million in the committee report. All measures were adopted without recorded no votes or reservations.
AL
Alabama 2025 Regular Session
Alabama House Ethics and Campaign Finance Committee Mar 5th, 2025
Ethics and Campaign Finance
Transcript Highlights:
- All it is, is under current law if you're late filing the campaign report.
- You're late filing the campaign report, and currently, the Secretary of State is required to send you
AL
Alabama 2026 1st Special Session
Alabama House Ethics and Campaign Finance Committee Jan 28th, 2026
Ethics and Campaign Finance
Transcript Highlights:
- It closes the loophole where any foreign nationals can make campaign contributions to our ballot referendums
Keywords:
law enforcement, false information, criminal penalty, public safety, identification, school psychology, interstate compact, licensure, professional services, education, HB252, Class IV municipality, Class IV municipalities, municipal audit, audit rotation, certified public accountant, CPA, municipal accounting, Section 11-43B-9, county and municipal government
ND
North Dakota 2025-2026 Regular Session
House Government and Veterans Affairs Apr 16th, 2025 at 02:30 pm
Government and Veterans Affairs
Transcript Highlights:
- on behalf of a statewide candidate and a statewide multicandidate committee, the balance of the campaign
- The balance of the campaign fund on the last day of the reporting period and the first day of the reporting
Bills:
SB2156
Keywords:
campaign finance, disclosure, political contributions, election transparency, North Dakota Century Code, 908, all
Summary:
The committee met to reconsider and further amend Senate Bill 2156, a campaign finance/reporting bill tied to Secretary of State filing requirements and new software implementation. Members and legislative counsel explained that the bill would keep current law in place for 2025, then take effect January 1, 2026, when the new system is expected to be ready. Discussion focused on hard reporting dates, how year-end and quarterly reports would be handled, which entities must disclose balances, and clarifying that some provisions apply to statewide political parties and certain political committees but not to candidates or candidate committees in the same way.
Representative Steiner walked through the amendment, describing it as mostly technical and intended to align reporting deadlines with fixed calendar dates, simplify compliance, and preserve existing treatment for some balance disclosures. Members asked about public availability of certain filed information, the meaning of references to beginning and ending balances, and whether the new fines and other provisions would also be delayed until 2026. Legislative counsel said the bill’s effective date would cover the entire act and noted some disclosure questions were not clearly answered in current law.
The committee adopted the amendment and then approved Senate Bill 2156 as amended on a do-pass motion. The roll call was unanimous, and the chair adjourned the meeting, noting the changes were intended to help the Secretary of State’s office and candidates transition to the new reporting system.
ND
North Dakota 2025-2026 Regular Session
House Government and Veterans Affairs Apr 14th, 2025 at 03:30 pm
Government and Veterans Affairs
Transcript Highlights:
- formed on behalf of a statewide candidate, a statewide multi-candidate committee, the balance of the campaign
- fund on the 40th day before the election, and the balance of the campaign fund on January 1st.
- So if we put statewide multi-candidate for a non-statewide political party, the balance of the campaign
Bills:
SB2156
Keywords:
campaign finance, disclosure, political contributions, election transparency, North Dakota Century Code, 908, all
Summary:
The subcommittee met to review amendments to a campaign finance bill, focusing on reporting requirements for ending balances and annual statements. Members and staff worked through whether the language should apply to all multi-candidate committees or only statewide multi-candidate committees, and whether the addition of non-statewide political parties created any unintended change from current law. Dustin Richard from the Secretary of State’s office explained that the draft needed to be tightened to mirror existing law by inserting “statewide” where appropriate, while keeping the new non-statewide political party provisions as intended.
The committee also discussed an effective date and application clause. Staff explained that an effective date of January 1, 2026 would align with the new reporting requirements, and that 2025 transactions would still be reported under the old law while 2026 transactions would follow the new rules. Members asked for plain-language clarification about how the application clause would work and whether any statutory cleanup would be needed afterward.
A motion was made, seconded, and approved to adopt the amendments, with the motion then rephrased to refer to the “Dustin amendments.” The meeting concluded with scheduling discussion about reconvening later in the week to keep the bill moving before the deadline, followed by adjournment.
ND
North Dakota 2025-2026 Regular Session
House Government and Veterans Affairs Apr 9th, 2025 at 11:01 am
Government and Veterans Affairs
Transcript Highlights:
- And this is on HB 2156, campaign finance disclosure as it relates to campaigns.
- finance law, but it's actually just moving existing law into 0.2.
- So you have to report that in your campaign finance software system and then also in Indy as well. ..
- Well, then, I guess, why wouldn't we even file a campaign finance thing?
- So the big deal is incumbent candidate so-and-so is not following the law regarding campaign finance.
Bills:
SB2156
Keywords:
campaign finance, disclosure, political contributions, election transparency, North Dakota Century Code, 908, all
Summary:
The subcommittee met to review HB 2156, which reorganizes North Dakota campaign finance disclosure law by repealing Chapter 16.1 and moving the provisions into a new Chapter 16.2 with mostly technical cross-reference updates. Legislative Council and the Secretary of State’s office walked through the bill section by section, explaining that most language is carried over from current law, with some cleanup to definitions, reporting requirements, public access rules, and filing procedures. The committee discussed how the new chapter would apply to candidates, candidate committees, political committees, political parties, ballot measure groups, and conduits.
Several substantive issues were raised and adjusted during the discussion. Members questioned the open-records language for expenditures and contributions over $250, the use of “deposit” versus “receipt” as the reporting trigger, and whether the 48-hour supplemental reporting deadline should be changed to three calendar days; the group ultimately favored keeping 48 hours and using “deposit” consistently. They also clarified reporting dates, including changing one special-election deadline from 40 days to 39 days, and confirmed that balances of campaign funds would be reported but not made publicly available. The Secretary of State’s office also explained that the bill would make late fees public and that the chapter-wide penalty for willful violations remains a Class A misdemeanor.
The main policy change debated at length was the late-filing fee schedule. Members expressed concern that the existing penalties were too low to deter intentional non-filers, and after discussion the committee agreed to increase the final late fee from $100 to $500 while keeping the new public posting of delinquent filers. The committee also reviewed an inflation-adjustment provision for reporting thresholds and the “ultimate true source of funds” language, which was described as existing law being carried into the new chapter. The meeting ended with the understanding that additional drafting changes would be made and that the bill would be ready for further committee action later in the week.
AL
Alabama 2026 1st Special Session
Alabama Senate County and Municipal Government Committee Apr 1st, 2026
County and Municipal Government
Transcript Highlights:
- This bill redacts personal information, residence and address, from candidates and officials from campaign
- finance statements and official records.
Keywords:
voting rights, restoration, pardons, Parole Board, re-registration, conviction, states' voting laws, Lawrence County, Sheriff, credit card, debit card, government purchases, discretionary fund, financial accountability, tax distribution, Talladega County, economic development, public safety, rural infrastructure, child labor
AL
Alabama 2026 1st Special Session
Alabama House Constitution, Campaigns and Elections Committee Feb 18th, 2026
Constitution, Campaigns and Elections
Transcript Highlights:
- . >> We'll call to order the Campaigns, Constitution, and Elections Committee this morning.
- Welcome to Constitution, Campaigns and Elections. >> Thank you so much.
- As I was decluttering, I came home to these big boxes of campaign information where we had, you know,
- Welcome to Constitution, Campaigns and Elections. >> Thank you so much.
- Welcome to Constitution, Campaigns and Elections. >> Thank you so much.
Keywords:
abandoned roads, land ownership, government regulations, property rights, transportation, Ten Commandments, public education, displays, funding, Alabama law, municipal elections, runoff elections, majority voting, electoral procedures, local governance, campaign finance, record retention, political action committees, Fair Campaign Practices Act, 1136
AL
Keywords:
Morgan County, judge of probate, legal qualifications, equity jurisdiction, constitutional amendment, campaign finance, electronic notifications, civil penalties, Fair Campaign Practices Act, Secretary of State, sex offenders, treatment programs, electronic media, post office box restrictions, Class C felony, parole, probation, human cloning, criminal penalties, embryo
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
House Elections Finance and Government Operations Committee 3/18/26 - Afternoon Meeting
Elections Finance and Government Operations
Transcript Highlights:
- So, this is a series of technical changes brought forward by the Campaign Finance Board.
- Finance and Public Disclosure Board.
- Uh, so this bill was also brought to me by the Campaign Finance Board.
- And, um, yes, because of the discussion we had directly with the Campaign Finance Board on the language
- Uh, Representative Roach. directly with the campaign finance board directly with the campaign finance
Keywords:
libraries, electronic books, digital audiobooks, licensing agreements, public access, campaign finance, elections, political contributions, disclosure, reporting thresholds, economic interest statements, financial disclosure, ethics, public officials, local officials, metropolitan governmental unit, metropolitan area, candidate filings, principal campaign committee, political committee
AL
Alabama 2026 1st Special Session
Alabama Senate Fiscal Responsibility and Economic Development Committee Jan 28th, 2026
Fiscal Responsibility and Economic Development
Transcript Highlights:
- a wonderful bipartisan bill, and basically what it says is that after four years of holding your campaign
- <00:05:14.240>
your after four years of holding your after four years of holding your campaign - > records<00:05:15.840>
or <00:05:16.080>whatever <00:05:16.479>dealing campaign - records or whatever dealing campaign records or whatever dealing with<00:05:17.199>
that <00:05
Keywords:
franchise, franchisor, franchisee, religious freedom, religious accommodation, sincerely held belief, Sunday closing, Sabbath, day of worship, contract law, commercial contracts, renewal, amendment, brand standards, small business, business hours, civil penalties, injunctive relief, attorney fees, Alabama
MN
Minnesota 2025 1st Special Session
House Elections Finance and Government Operations Committee 3/10/25
Elections Finance and Government Operations
Transcript Highlights:
- This is detailed in the bill, but membership of this working group would include two Campaign Finance
- Board members from different political parties, the executive director of the Campaign Finance Board
- This is detailed in the bill, but membership of this working group would include two Campaign Finance
- Board members from different political parties, the executive director of the Campaign Finance Board
- I approve of the discretion of the Campaign Finance Board person.
Keywords:
HF1345, statutory city, public utility commission, municipal utilities, city council, local government, utility governance, commission membership, staggered terms, vacancy appointment, ordinance, Minnesota Statutes 412.341, municipal ordinance, city commission, public utilities, HF71, Minnesota, public safety, peace officers, correctional officers
MN
Minnesota 2025 1st Special Session
House Elections Finance and Government Operations Committee 3/3/25
Elections Finance and Government Operations
Transcript Highlights:
- Jeff Sigerson with the Campaign Finance and Public Disclosure Board. I appreciate the question.
- Finance board to a cost to the campaign Finance board to do<00:42:51.760>
this <00:42:51.960>< - <00:43:01.720>
finance <00:43:02.040>and <00:43:02.200>public with the campaign - finance and public with the campaign finance and public disclosure<00:43:02.960>
board <00:43: - <00:54:07.760>
Finance there is a tool on the campaign Finance there is a tool on the campaign
Keywords:
natural gas, gas hookups, residential construction, energy policy, local control, state preemption, municipal regulation, county ordinance, electrification, climate policy, housing development, building codes, energy source, utility infrastructure, Minnesota Statutes chapter 326B, propane, utility service, building permits, local government, energy choice
HI
Transcript Highlights:
- This is the Campaign Spending Commission's partial public financing bill.
all campaign financing available for all campaign financing available for all elective<00:42:- This amends various sections of Hawaii's campaign spending laws by requiring designated campaign finance
- laws by requiring designated campaign laws by requiring designated campaign finance<00:46:07.680
- This is the Campaign Spending Commission's partial public financing bill.
Bills:
SB2444, SB2446, SB2450, SB2453, SB2461, SB2457, SB2462, SB2313, SB2528, SB2532, SB2571, SB2678, SB2529
Keywords:
real property, exemption, attachment, execution, consumer protection, financial security, inflation adjustment, head of family, senior citizens, Intermediate Court of Appeals, judges, Hawaii judiciary, court membership, legal system, presidential preference primary, elections, political parties, Hawaii voting, 2028 election, voting
Summary:
The Judiciary Committee heard testimony on several bills. SB 2444 would raise the real property exemption amount for attachment or execution, which the Attorney General said could create vague retroactivity language and litigation risk; the committee noted the exemption had last been adjusted around 1978. SB 2446 would add a seventh associate judge to the Intermediate Court of Appeals. Judiciary staff testified in opposition, saying recent internal restructuring and a pending vacancy had improved output and that it would be prudent to wait and see the effect before adding another judge. The Public Defender supported the goal of faster appellate resolution but said it would defer to the court’s assessment and had no objection to revisiting the issue later. The committee also discussed current appellate timelines, with staff saying at least 225 days is built into the process before a case reaches a merit panel, and that a two-year delay from panel assignment was realistic under the current structure.
The committee then heard SB 2450, which would establish a presidential preference primary for the 2028 cycle. The Chief Election Officer said the election would cost about $4 million, less if combined with the regular primary. Several opponents argued the bill would add bureaucracy, duplicate or undermine party-run processes, and waste taxpayer money; one speaker estimated the total cost could be closer to $6 million when county costs are included. Supporters and committee members discussed that the measure would not require parties to use the results and that Hawaii remains one of the few states still using caucuses. The committee also asked whether counties could staff the election and whether the results would be useful given Hawaii’s current primary timing.
SB 2453 would require the Office of Elections to include a notice with each ballot that a digital and printed voter information guide is available, with the notice in 32-point font as a separate insert. The Chief Election Officer said the insert would cost about $90,000 and asked for an effective date of January 1, 2027 because mailing preparations for the primary would already be underway. The Disability and Communications Access Board, League of Women Voters, National Federation of the Blind of Hawaii, and others supported the bill. The committee also began hearing SB 2461, which would have the Office of Elections prepare a questionnaire for candidates and publish responses online and in the voter guide; the Chief Election Officer said the office did not think it should be the agency to shape campaign questions, though he said it could work if the questions were specified in statute.
Finally, the committee heard SB 2457, which would require a criminal conviction before seized property could be forfeited. The Attorney General and Honolulu Police Department opposed the bill, arguing it would prolong cases, increase storage costs, and make forfeiture less effective against crime, especially where owners flee, die, or hide assets through shell companies. The Public Defender strongly supported the measure, saying forfeiture should be tied to convictions and that people challenging forfeiture often lack counsel. The Honolulu Prosecutor also opposed the bill, but said it supported transparency, due process, and even a right to counsel; it argued conviction-only forfeiture would fail in cases involving fugitives, deceased suspects, or hidden ownership structures. The committee questioned what would happen to property if an owner could not be found, and the prosecutor said the outcome would depend on the type of property and could involve abandonment or interpleader proceedings.
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
House Elections Finance and Government Operations Committee 3/4/26
Elections Finance and Government Operations
Transcript Highlights:
- <00:31:36.640>
finance consultation with uh campaign finance consultation with uh campaign - <00:32:17.039>
Uh campaign finance board or the CFB. - Uh campaign finance board or the CFB.
- <00:34:09.839>
finance <00:34:10.240>board just addressing campaign finance board just - outdoor advertising that the campaign outdoor advertising that the campaign finance<00:52:30.960
Keywords:
tribal governments, Metropolitan Council, grant programs, funding, local government, small business, contracting, veteran-owned businesses, compliance, government contracts, housing finance, reporting requirements, regional development, city programs, elected officials, campaign access, multiple unit dwellings, residential access, voter registration, 1183
Summary:
The committee met on March 4, 2026, and first approved the minutes from March 2 by voice vote. It then took up several Metropolitan Council agency bills, with members repeatedly moving to lay them over for possible inclusion or, in one case, to re-refer a bill to another committee. The first three bills discussed were House File 3884, House File 3881, and House File 3882, all presented as administrative or programmatic changes intended to streamline Met Council processes.
House File 3884 would allow tribal governments and tribal development entities to apply directly for Metropolitan Council Livable Communities Act grants and community tree planting grants, rather than applying through a city or other local government. Testimony from Met Council staff said the bill would simplify access and align the Met Council’s tree-planting program with existing DNR authority. House File 3881 would expand the Met Council’s contracting authority to include small businesses more broadly, require an annual report to the legislature on small-business contracting, and repeal a duplicative statute on certificates of compliance. House File 3882 would make a range of administrative cleanups, including removing an obsolete housing-bond review role, clarifying outdated statutory language, extending the review cycle for metropolitan significance rules from every two years to every 10 years, clarifying reporting and Livable Communities Act provisions, changing regional parks operations-and-maintenance reimbursements to rely on audited financial statements, and clarifying agricultural preserves procedures.
The committee also considered House File 3883, which was amended with an A1 amendment before adoption. That bill updates appointments to the Metropolitan Area Water Supply Advisory Committee, known as MOSAC, including direct appointments for certain county representatives and adding a tribal representative appointed by the Minnesota Indian Affairs Council, while also cleaning up outdated language and eligibility provisions. A former MOSAC member spoke in support of the committee’s work, and the chair said the bill was common-sense and renewed the motion to lay it over as amended. Finally, the committee began House File 3363, a bill described by the author as a response to safety concerns after the June events, aimed at removing public access to legislators’ home addresses from Campaign Finance Board materials; discussion had just begun when the transcript ended.
LA
Louisiana 2026 Regular Session
House and Governmental Affairs Apr 8th, 2026
House and Governmental Affairs
Keywords:
local law, special bill, legislative process, transparency, election amendment, Medicaid, SNAP, fraud detection, income tax, legislative auditor, data sharing, state revenue, lobbying, public service, ethics, statewide officials, compensation, disclosure requirements, government employment, financial disclosure
TX
Transcript Highlights:
- for election, for reelection, and the judicial, my understanding is, uh, Dean, that the judicial campaign
- finance rules are much more stringent than the ones we are under.
- Are, you know, campaign events to the governor.
- That's kind of the official campaign for all purposes, but it gets weird.
Keywords:
voter registration, election procedures, provisional ballot, change of address, residence requirements, Texas Election Code, voting rights, judicial administration, court reform, juvenile diversion, court security, mental health services, drug offenses, constitutional amendments, political contributions, special legislative session, election code, transparency, campaign finance, election law
LA
Louisiana 2026 Regular Session
House and Governmental Affairs May 12th, 2026
House and Governmental Affairs
Bills:
HCR74, HCR95, HB705, HB1048, SCR23, SCR31, SCR38, SB49, SB233, SB307, SB326, SB387, SB401, SB435, SB495
Keywords:
trade commission, international relations, Louisiana, United Kingdom, economic exchange, cultural exchange, infrastructure investment, sales tax, exemptions, credits, rebates, uniformity, legislative rules, fiscal report, contempt, legislature, disorderly conduct, bribery, arrest, legislative privilege
HI
Transcript Highlights:
- SB 2039 relating to elections prohibits certain business entities from engaging in election campaign
- finance activities.
- And that is not campaign finance. It is corporate regulations, corporate definition.
- When I first started campaigning, I would see other candidates posting on government properties, breaking
- When I first started campaigning, I would see other candidates posting on government properties, breaking
Keywords:
outdoor advertising, billboards, public safety, penalties, community pollution, elections, campaign finance, business entities, political activity, regulation, liability, non-natural persons, insurance, captives, examination, regulations, policyholders, dormant captive, tax exemption, Hawaii revised statutes
Summary:
The Senate Commerce and Consumer Protection Committee opened its first hearing of the year with remarks from Chair Jared Kohole outlining hearing procedures, a two-minute testimony limit, rules for remote testimony and decorum, and a revised testimony-publication pilot that keeps 96-hour notice but returns to a standard 24-hour testimony deadline. He then moved through the agenda, beginning with SB 2004 on outdoor advertising, which would increase penalties for violations of billboard and outdoor advertising laws. Testimony on that measure was limited; Henry Curtis of Life of the Land was first up, and written support was noted from Hawaiian Electric and the Outdoor Circle.
The committee then heard SB 2039 on election campaign finance, which would prohibit certain business entities from engaging in campaign finance activities. The Attorney General’s office offered comments and did not take a formal position at the hearing. Several proponents testified in support, including Josh Frost, Tom Moore of the Center for American Progress, Hapa/Hawaii Alliance for Progressive Action, and Common Cause Hawaiʻi, all arguing the bill would curb corporate and dark-money influence and return elections to the people. Moore distinguished between regulating corporate “rights” and limiting corporate “powers,” and said the state can redefine the powers it grants corporations. In questions, Senator McKelvey asked whether the bill could be expanded to include unions; the Attorney General said he would need to get back with legal analysis, while Moore said his preferred approach would include all entities and that leaving out nonprofits or unions would create problems. Members also discussed whether the bill would affect PACs, and Moore explained that the proposal would prohibit corporate and dark-money flows into PACs while leaving individual political giving and existing political committees in place. The committee then moved on to the next measure.
SB 2042, relating to insurance, was heard next. The bill would reduce the unimpaired minimum capital and surplus required of class 4 sponsored captive insurance companies under certain circumstances. The DCCA Insurance Division said it stood on its written testimony, and the Hawaii Captive Insurance Council testified in support, describing the change as a narrow, risk-based adjustment that would not affect the commissioner’s authority where actual risk resides and would help keep Hawaii competitive. The committee noted additional written support and proceeded without a vote or final action in the portion of the hearing provided.