HB 1183 Summary

• Establishes comprehensive public funding program for state senate and house of representatives candidates beginning with 2016 election cycle, funded through Hawaii election campaign fund.

• Candidates must file declaration of intent, collect 400 qualifying names with $5 contributions (senate) or 200 names (house) from registered voters in their district, and receive certification from campaign spending commission.

• Certified candidates receive public funds calculated from average expenditures of previous election winners (excluding top and bottom three spenders) and may only accept seed money up to $3,000 and supplemental contributions up to $50 per person.

• Candidates accepting public funds prohibited from accepting other private contributions or loans, must return unexpended funds to Hawaii election campaign fund, and subject to three-fold fines for violations of contribution/expenditure limits.

• Removes state senators and representatives from existing partial public financing program; requires $3.5 million minimum in election campaign fund by July 1 of odd-numbered years before election year for program to become effective.