Hawai‘i lawmakers are considering legislation that would boost the amount of partial public financing available to candidates for the first time since the mid-1990s.
Senate Bill 200 would increase the maximum amount of public financing available to all offices by anywhere from 30% to 50%.
Gary Tam, General Counsel for the Hawai‘i Campaign Spending Commission, said the most significant boost would be for candidates vying for a seat on the Office of Hawaiian Affairs Board of Trustees.
Tam said OHA candidates currently have a maximum amount of $1,500 in public financing available per election period, which is very low considering OHA candidates run statewide campaigns.
In comparison, maximum amounts for otherpublic officials can range anywhere between $5,000 to $100,000 depending on the position.
Additionally, the bill includes changes to the minimum qualifying contributions offices must meet to get state funding. Testimony from Kristin Izumi-Nitao, the executive director of the Campaign Spending Commission, stated that certain candidates were having trouble coming up with the minimum amount needed.
SB 200 was approved by the Senate Hawaiian Affairs Committee Thursday, and now awaits a hearing before the Senate Committees on the Judiciary and Ways and Means.
