Mahalo for Showing Up- Let’s Keep Our Priority Bills Moving
Mahalo for Showing Up- Let’s Keep Our Priority Bills Moving
Mahalo nui to everyone who submitted testimony in support of our Good Government priority bills! Because of your voices, all of our priority bills have either passed out of committee or are heading into decision hearings this week, including similar bills where committees may decide which version moves forward. Your continued engagement during these moments makes a difference.
Thank you for showing up, staying engaged, and helping move people-powered policy forward. We have a few more priority bills being heard Tuesday and Wednesday.
There are also a couple of Good Government bills at risk of not moving forward due to an upcoming deadline to be heard by their first of three committees. Please contact the committee chair and urge them to schedule a hearing this week so these bills can continue moving.
The action alert is below.
Good Government Priority (see below for talking points and sample testimony)
Testimony due: Monday 2/9 at 9:30 am:
Support HB2132 — Make Voter Registration Truly Automatic
Testimony due: Monday 2/9 at 9:15 am:
Support SB2530 — Stop Pay-to-Play Contributions
Support SB2248 — Transparency in Financial Disclosures
Testimony due: Monday 2/9 at 2pm:
Support HB2125 — No Corporate Power in Elections
Late testimony accepted.
Other Good Government Bills to Watch
HB2184 — Protecting Lawmaker Personal Information
HB1552 — Chief Election Officer Appointment Reform
HB1667 — Lowering the Age for State Identification
SB2778 — Ban on Insider Trading by Public Officials
Triple Referral Bills Need a Hearing This Week
HB1675 — Independent Legislative Ethics Office
HB2620 — Constitutional Right to Referendum
Email Chair repholt@capitol.hawaii.gov and Vice-Chair repquinlan@capitol.hawaii.gov
HB2130 — Limits on Corporate Political Power
Email Chair repmatayoshi@capitol.hawaii.gov and Vice-Chair repgrandinetti@capitol.hawaii.gov
If you have not done so already, you will need to create an account with the Hawaii State Legislature website to submit testimony.
Every action helps. Testifying on Zoom or in person is ideal, but not realistic for many. Writing personal testimony is powerful, but with so many bills, it’s not always possible. Even if you can’t submit full written testimony, logging in and selecting “Support” with your name and location still strengthens the record.
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Make Voter Registration Truly Automatic
Hearing in HSH on Tuesday February 10th, at 9:30 am; Conference Room 329
What Does This Bill Do?
HB2132 strengthens Hawaiʻi’s automatic voter registration system by shifting it from an opt-in model to an opt-out model when eligible residents interact with the DMV.
The bill does not change who is eligible to vote and does not register non-citizens. It simply modernizes how eligible voters are added to the rolls using existing, verified government records.
Why Is This Important?
Automatic voter registration is a proven, practical reform that strengthens democracy without compromising election integrity.
Sample Testimony
Personalized testimony is the most impactful way to influence lawmakers, please use this as a guide to draft your own words
Aloha Chair Marten, Vice Chair Olds and Members of the Committee,
This bill strengthens our democracy by modernizing Hawaiʻi’s automatic voter registration system. By shifting to an opt-out model during routine DMV transactions, HB2132 removes unnecessary barriers that prevent eligible voters from being registered, while fully preserving voter choice and eligibility requirements.
HB2132 increases the accuracy of voter rolls, and reduces administrative burdens, all without changing who is eligible to vote or compromising election integrity.
{Insert additional comments here}
Mahalo,
Your Name, Town
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Stop Pay-to-Play Contributions
Hearing in JDC on Tuesday February 10th, at 9:15 am; Conference Room 16
What Does This Bill Do?
SB2530 aims to restrict campaign contributions from state or county contractors and grantees to reduce pay-to-play politics.
SB2530 sets thresholds: $100,000 or more for goods or services contracts and $250,000 or more for construction contracts. It prohibits all political contributions from all officers and their immediate family members.
Why Is This Important?
Preventing contractors and grantees from donating to politicians reduces the risk of undue influence or favoritism in government decisions and in the awarding of contracts and grants.
When the public sees that government contracts and grants are free from political influence, their trust in elected officials and government increases, leading to better democracy.
Sample Testimony
Personalized testimony is the most impactful way to influence lawmakers, please use this as a guide to draft your own words
Aloha Chair Rhoads, Vice Chair Gabbard and Members of the Committee,
I am in strong support of SB2530
Preventing state and county contractors, grantees, and their families from making political contributions while their contracts or grants are active will close a serious loophole and ensure that public funds are used for their intended purposes, not to sway political campaigns or decisions.
{Insert additional comments here}
This bill makes our elections more honest and more transparent. It also builds trust by making sure contractors and grantees stay focused on their work without causing any perception of political strings attached. Please support.
Mahalo,
Your Name, Town
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Transparency in Financial Disclosures
Hearing in JDC on Tuesday February 10th, at 9 am; Conference Room 16
What Does This Bill Do?
SB2248 requires gubernatorial nominees who need Senate confirmation (except judges) to file financial disclosure statements before their confirmation hearings. This closes a loophole where disclosures currently become public after hearings have already happened.
It also aligns legislators’ disclosure requirements with information already reported in lobbyist expenditure reports, improving consistency and clarity.
Why Is This Important?
Transparency needs to come before power is granted, not after. The public deserves confidence that nominees do not have undisclosed financial conflicts. SB2248 also makes modest, technical updates to legislative disclosure requirements to better align them with existing lobbyist reporting.
Sample Testimony
Personalized testimony is the most impactful way to influence lawmakers, please use this as a guide to draft your own words
Aloha Chair Rhoads, Vice Chair Gabbard and Members of the Committee,
I am in strong support of SB2248
This is a straightforward fix for transparency. It makes sure financial disclosures are available before confirmation hearings, when they matter most. This strengthens public trust, improves legislative oversight, and aligns disclosure rules with information already reported elsewhere.
{Insert additional comments here}
Mahalo,
Your Name, Town
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No Corporate Power in Elections
Hearing in JHA on Tuesday February 10th, at 2 pm; Conference Room 235
What Does This Bill Do?
HB2125 clarifies that corporations created or operating under Hawaiʻi law do not have an inherent power to engage in election activity. It affirms the State’s authority to define the scope of corporate powers and makes clear that those powers do not include promoting or opposing candidates or ballot questions.
Why Is This Important?
HB2125 takes an important step toward restoring balance in our elections by reaffirming that elections are meant to reflect the voices of people, not entities created by statute and granted special privileges like limited liability.
Sample Testimony
Personalized testimony is the most impactful way to influence lawmakers, please use this as a guide to draft your own words
Dear Chair Tarnas, Vice Chair Poepoe, and Members of the Committee,
I am in strong support of HB2125, which clarifies that corporations operating under Hawaiʻi law do not possess a statutory power to engage in election activity. This bill affirms the State’s authority to define corporate powers and helps ensure that elections reflect the will of people rather than entities created by law. HB2125 does not restrict individual political participation, but instead reinforces basic democratic principles and accountability.
{Insert additional comments here}
Mahalo,
Your Name, Town
Email/Call Lawmakers and Ask for a Hearing
Chair Daniel Holt
808-586-6180
Vice-Chair Sean Quinlan
808-586-6380
Aloha Chair Holt /Vice Chair Quilann
I’m writing to respectfully request that the Legislative Management committee schedule a hearing this week for the following bills, which are approaching a key deadline for first referral:
HB1675 — Independent Legislative Ethics Office
HB2620 — Constitutional Right to Referendum
These measures raise important good-government issues, and a hearing would allow for public input and thoughtful consideration by the committee.
Thank you for your time and leadership. I appreciate your consideration of this request.
Mahalo,
Your Name, Town
Chair Scott Matayoshi
repmatayoshi@capitol.hawaii.gov
808-586-8470
Vice-Chair Tina Grandinetii
repgrandinetti@capitol.hawaii.gov
808-586-6310
Aloha Chair Matayoshi / Vice Chair Grandinetti
I’m writing to respectfully request that the Consumer Protection & Commerce committee schedule a hearing this week for the following bill, which are approaching a key deadline for first referral:
HB2130 — Limits on Corporate Political Power
This measure raises important good-government issues, and a hearing would allow for public input and thoughtful consideration by the committee.
Thank you for your time and leadership. I appreciate your consideration of this request.
Mahalo,
Your Name, Town
New to Legislative Engagement? Learn more about how to engage in the Legislative Session!
Make sure you have set up your account on the Hawaiʻi State Legislature website. If you are new to the process, see this helpful page on legislative engagement 101 from the Public Access Room including a link on how to submit testimony!
Mahalo for taking action!
