HB1514 Summary

• Allows taxpayers to voluntarily contribute up to $20 to the Hawaii election campaign fund through their state income tax returns, with contributions added to taxes owed or subtracted from refunds.

• Increases spending limits for candidates voluntarily limiting expenditures, raising the per-voter amount for state senators, representatives, county council members, and prosecuting attorneys from $1.40 to $2.10.

• Increases the maximum threshold for qualified contributions from any person from $100 to $200, and changes the public fund match from $1 for every $1 raised to $3 for every $1 in qualifying contributions.

• Requires candidates and committees receiving public funds to accept campaign contributions only from natural persons and sole proprietorships, and to return all other contributions within 20 days.

• Changes the requirement for receiving public funds from having one opponent to requiring at least two qualified candidates for the same office during an election cycle before any candidate may receive public funds.