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Bill

HB 370

RELATING TO PARTIAL PUBLIC FINANCING OF ELECTIONS.

2026 Regular Session Introduced by Nadine Nakamura

HB 370 establishes partial public financing for Hawaii election campaigns to reduce reliance on private donors and broaden candidate accessibility to the ballot.

Carried over to 2026 Regular Session.
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Bill Summary · HB 370

Legislative bill overview

HB 370 proposes a partial public financing system for Hawaii elections, allowing eligible candidates to receive public funds to support their campaigns. The bill aims to reduce candidates' dependence on private donations and potentially increase access to the ballot for candidates without significant fundraising networks.

Why is this important

Public financing of elections affects who can afford to run for office and how campaigns operate. This policy could expand political participation beyond wealthy candidates or those with strong donor networks, while also raising questions about public fund allocation and program costs during a period of state budget constraints.

Potential points of contention

  • Public fund allocation and cost: Determining how much public money to allocate, which candidates qualify, and whether the program is fiscally sustainable during budget pressures
  • Eligibility requirements: Defining which races and candidates qualify (statewide, legislative, local), and what fundraising or petition thresholds trigger public funding eligibility
  • Effectiveness concerns: Whether partial public financing actually reduces special interest influence or simply adds to campaign spending without meaningful reform of money in politics

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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