SB555 is scheduled for Thursday March 31 at 2pm. Testimony in support with the amendment listed below is suggested. Testimony must arrive 24 hours before the hearing…though late testimony is accepted.

SB555 SD1 Relating to Campaign Fundraising
Testifying in Strong Support with Amendments

Aloha Chair and members of the committee,

The Pono Hawaiʻi Initiative (PHI) is testifying in support with suggested amendments to SB555 SD1.

SB555 SD1 is a good start but is not enough and should be amended to emulate Virginia state law which prohibits not just the holding of fundraisers but bans the “solicitation or acceptance” of campaign contributions during the session.

(c) During any regular session or special session including any extension of any regular session or special session and any recess days, holidays, and weekends, no legislator, or a person employed by or acting on behalf of a legislator, shall solicit or accept any campaign contribution.

Currently, 28 states place restrictions on giving and receiving campaign contributions during the legislative session.

Va. Code § 24.2-940. No member of the General Assembly or statewide official shall solicit or accept a contribution from any person or political committee on and after the first day of a regular session of the General Assembly through adjournment sine die of that session.

Thank you again for moving this important legislation forward and I respectfully request your positive consideration of the above amendment.

Mahalo for the opportunity to testify,

Gary Hooser
Executive Director
Pono Hawaiʻi Initiative