Action Alert: Don’t Let Reform Die in Finance
Don’t Let Reform Die in Finance
Hawaiʻi cannot afford another cycle of scandal without reform.
After the 2022 federal corruption convictions of former lawmakers J. Kalani English and Ty Cullen, the public demanded change. Now, with renewed bribery allegations and amended campaign reports surfacing, trust is again on the line.
Investigations are underway. But investigations alone don’t fix broken systems.
The Legislature has real reform bills moving right now — and many of them face their biggest obstacle in the money committees.
The action alert is below.
Good Government Priority (see below for talking points and sample testimony)
Testimony due: Wednesday 2/25 at 2:00 pm:
Support HB1519 – Contractor Loophole Ban
Support HB1525 – Expand Voter Access & Outreach
Support HB2050 – Expand Partial Public Financing
Support HB322 – Make Voter Registration Truly Automatic
Testimony due: Sunday 3/01 at 10:30 am (no oral testimony accepted):
Support SB2247 – Executive Branch Fundraising Ban
Support SB2248 – Financial Disclosure for Gubernatorial Nominees
Support SB2313 – Full Public Financing for State & County Elections
Support SB2528 – Strengthen Partial Public Financing
Support SB2530 – Close the Contractor Pay-to-Play Loophole
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.
HB1519 HD1
Contractor Loophole Ban
Hearing in FIN on Thursday February 26th, at 2pm; Conference Room 309
What Do These Bills Do?
HB1519 HD1 aims to restrict campaign contributions from state or county contractors and grantees to reduce pay-to-play politics. $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, and includes a disclosure requirement identifying compensated 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
Dear Chair Tarnas, Vice Chair Poepoe, and Members of the Committee,
I am in strong support of HB1519
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
HB1525 HD1
Expand Voter Access & Outreach
Hearing in FIN on Thursday February 26th, at 2pm; Conference Room 309
What Does This Bill Do?
HB1525 appropriates funding to expand voter service centers, ensures statewide distribution of the voter information guide, and supports voter outreach and engagement efforts.
Why Is This Important?
Expanding the number of voter service centers and increasing their hours makes it easier for people to register, vote, and get help, especially for working families, kūpuna, and rural communities. Funding the voter information guide ensures voters have clear, accessible, and unbiased election information. Supporting voter outreach helps ensure these investments are actually used and that eligible voters know where, when, and how to participate.
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 HB1525.
In-person voter service centers are essential, especially for kūpuna, neighbor island and rural residents, people with disabilities, first time voters, and anyone who needs to address ballot discrepancies.
Over the past two elections, people had to wait hours in line to vote or drive over an hour to reach their closest voter service center.
{Insert additional comments here}
HB1525 will ensure every vote is cast and all votes are counted.
Mahalo,
Your Name, Town
HB2050 HD1
Expand Partial Public Financing
Hearing in FIN on Thursday February 26th, at 2pm; Conference Room 309
What Does This Bill Do?
HB2050 aims to increase public funds that are available to candidates, increase the amount the state matches donations from 1:1 match to 2:1 match, and increase the expenditure limit for campaigns.
Why Is This Important?
The funding amounts and expenditure limits have remained unchanged since 1995. In that time, Hawai‘i’s cost of living has grown faster than the national average, impacting the true value of campaign funds. Increasing the match and updating the limits helps campaigns keep pace with rising expenses, such as printing, venue rentals, and advertising.
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 HB2050.
By increasing the expenditure cap and adjusting matching funds to 2:1, this measure reflects the economic realities of today and encourages more candidates to participate in the program.
Public financing levels the playing field for candidates without establishment backing, and allows campaigns to focus on reaching voters instead of donors.
{Insert additional comments here}
This bill is a significant step toward enabling more candidates to utilize this program and reduces the influence of big money in our elections.
Mahalo,
Your Name, Town
HB322 HD1
Make Voter Registration Truly Automatic
Hearing in FIN on Thursday February 26th, at 2pm; Conference Room 309
Talking Points and Sample Testimony for HB322
What Does This Bill Do?
It makes registering to vote easier and more efficient for everyone. Your information is shared securely between state agencies and election officials to ensure that voter registration is accurate and up-to-date. The system will not process your registration if you’re not a U.S. citizen.
Why Is This Important?
By integrating voter registration into everyday interactions with state agencies, more people are likely to register to vote since it simplifies registering. The bill balances ease of registration with personal choice by allowing individuals to opt out easily if they prefer not to participate.
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 Martin, Vice Chair Olds, and Members of the Committee,
My name is [NAME], and I am writing in STRONG support of HB322, which expands Automatic Voter Registration (AVR) by integrating voter registration with state agencies, permits, programs, or services with "dual-purpose applications," allowing individuals to register to vote, update their voter information, or decline to register through a checkbox.
[PROVIDE PERSONAL VOTING EXPERIENCE HERE]
This reform simplifies the registration process, ensuring that more eligible residents can easily register to vote while maintaining the integrity of our voter rolls through secure and accurate information sharing. The bill also respects personal choice by allowing individuals to opt-out and safeguards to prevent the registration of non-citizens.
Mahalo for your consideration!
Your Name, Town
SB2247 SD1
No Executive Branch Employee Fundraising
Hearing in WAM on Monday March 2nd, at 10:31am; Conference Room 211
Talking Points and Sample Testimony for SB2247 SD1
What Does This Bill Do?
SB 2247 prohibits certain executive branch employees who are nominated or appointed by the Governor that require Senate confirmation and who may have influence over procurement and state contracts from participating in political fundraising activities.
Why Is This Important?
When officials who oversee contracts or procurement participate in campaign fundraising activities, it can create the appearance of pay-to-play politics, even if no wrongdoing occurs.
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 writing in support of SB 2247.
This bill sets reasonable limits on political fundraising by high-level executive branch employees who have influence over state contracts. When officials with procurement authority attend or host fundraisers, it can create the appearance of pay-to-play politics, even if no misconduct occurs.
{Insert additional comments here}
Government decisions about contracts and public resources should be free from political pressure or the perception of favoritism. Please support SB 2247.
Mahalo,
Your Name, Town
SB2248 SD1
Transparency in Financial Disclosures for Gubernatorial Nominees
Hearing in WAM on Thursday March 2nd, at 10:31am; Conference Room 211
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 Dela Cruz, Vice Chair Moriwaki 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
SB2313 SD1
Full Public Funding for Elections
Hearing in WAM on Monday March 2nd, at 10:31am; Conference Room 211
What Does This Bill Do?
SB2313 strengthens Hawaiʻi’s public campaign financing system by offering full public funding to qualified candidates for state and county office who agree not to accept private campaign donations.
Why Is This Important?
Hawaiʻi’s elections are increasingly shaped by outside money. Many residents believe elected officials are more responsive to their donors than to the communities they serve. This erodes trust and discourages engagement.
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 Dela Cruz, Vice Chair Moriwaki and Members of the Committee
I am in strong support of SB2313.
Too many people believe our political system is driven by money instead of community needs. Public financing is a proven way to reduce the influence of wealthy donors and special interests, while giving everyday people a real voice in our elections.
By allowing candidates to run competitive campaigns without relying on private donations, this bill helps level the playing field and encourages more community-focused leaders to step forward. It also allows elected officials to spend more time listening to constituents and working on solutions, instead of constantly fundraising.
Hawaiʻi has already shown a commitment to clean elections, and past pilot programs demonstrated that public financing can work here.
{Insert additional comments here}
Mahalo,
Your Name, Town
SB2528 SD1
Strengthen Partial Public Funding for Elections
Hearing in WAM on Monday March 2nd, at 10:31 am; Conference Room 211
What Does This Bill Do?
SB2528 aims to increase public funds that are available to candidates, increase the amount the state matches donations from 1:1 match to 2:1 match, and increase the expenditure limit for campaigns.
Why Is This Important?
The funding amounts and expenditure limits have remained unchanged since 1995. In that time, Hawai‘i’s cost of living has grown faster than the national average, impacting the true value of campaign funds. Increasing the match and updating the limits helps campaigns keep pace with rising expenses, such as printing, venue rentals, and advertising.
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 Dela Cruz, Vice Chair Moriwaki and Members of the Committee,
I am in strong support of SB2528.
By increasing the expenditure cap and adjusting matching funds to 2:1, this measure reflects the economic realities of today and encourages more candidates to participate in the program.
Public financing levels the playing field for candidates without establishment backing and allows campaigns to focus on reaching voters instead of donors.
{Insert additional comments here}
This bill is a significant step toward enabling more candidates to utilize this program and reducing the influence of big money in our elections.
Mahalo,
Your Name, Town
SB2530 SD1
Stop Pay-to-Play Contributions
Hearing in WAM on Monday March 2nd, at 10:31am; Conference Room 211
What Does This Bill Do?
SB2530 SD1 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 the government increases, leading to a 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 Dela Cruz, Vice Chair Moriwaki 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
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!
