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SB51Introduced in the Senate

Relating To Public Financing For Candidates To Elected Office.

EngrossedHouse Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs

Introduced by Karl Rhoads, District 13

What does this bill do?

Plain-English breakdown

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Official description

Establishes a comprehensive system of public financing for all candidates seeking election to state and county public offices in the State of Hawaii, to begin with the 2028 general election year. Requires the Campaign Spending Commission to submit reports to the Legislature. Appropriates funds. Effective 4/23/2057. (SD1)

Where it stands

Carried over to 2026 Regular Session.

December 8, 2025

How did lawmakers vote?

SenateStage: Senate Ways and Means: Passed, Unamended · February 26, 2025

13

Yes

0

No

0

Absent or Not Voting

13 senators recorded in this Senate vote. Colors show vote categories only, not whether a vote was good or bad.

What do people think?

Citizen Voice

How would you vote on this bill?

An unofficial public opinion poll. It does not affect the bill or the official vote.

One response per device. Location is self-reported and not verified. Results are informal and not a scientific survey.

See how each senator voted

SenatorDistrictVote
Lorraine Inouye1Yes
Dru Kanuha3Yes
Troy Hashimoto5Yes
Lynn Decoite7Yes
Sharon Moriwaki12Yes
Donna Kim14Yes
Glenn Wakai15Yes
Brandon Elefante16Yes
Donovan Cruz17Yes
Michelle Kidani18Yes

Bill history

  1. Pending Introduction.

  2. Introduced and passed First Reading.

  3. Referred to JDC, WAM.

  4. The committee(s) on JDC has scheduled a public hearing on 02-05-25 9:15AM; Conference Room 016 & Videoconference.

  5. The committee(s) on JDC recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in JDC were as follows: 3 Aye(s): Senator(s) Rhoads, Gabbard, San Buenaventura; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 1 No(es): Senator(s) Awa; and 1 Excused: Senator(s) Chang.

  6. Reported from JDC (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 306) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to WAM.

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

  8. The committee(s) on WAM will hold a public decision making on 02-26-25 10:04AM; Conference Room 211 & Videoconference.

  9. The committee(s) on WAM recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes in WAM were as follows: 13 Aye(s): Senator(s) Dela Cruz, Moriwaki, Aquino, Elefante, Hashimoto, Inouye, Kanuha, Kidani, Lee, C., Wakai; Aye(s) with reservations: Senator(s) DeCoite, Kim, Fevella ; 0 No(es): none; and 0 Excused: none.

  10. Reported from WAM (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 850) with recommendation of passage on Third Reading.

  11. One Day Notice 03-04-25.

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

  13. Received from Senate (Sen. Com. No. 72) in amended form (SD 1).

  14. Pass First Reading

  15. Referred to JHA, FIN, referral sheet 19

  16. Bill scheduled to be heard by JHA on Wednesday, 03-12-25 2:00PM in House conference room 325 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.

  17. The committee(s) on JHA recommend(s) that the measure be deferred.

  18. Carried over to 2026 Regular Session.

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