# Hawaii SB 51: RELATING TO PUBLIC FINANCING FOR CANDIDATES TO ELECTED OFFICE.

Hawaii SB 51, RELATING TO PUBLIC FINANCING FOR CANDIDATES TO ELECTED OFFICE., is a 2025–2026 Regular Session (Year 1) Senate bill sponsored by Karl Rhoads (Democratic); status passed senate, last action 2025-03-12 (The committee(s) on JHA recommend(s) that the measure be deferred.) (as of 2026-10-28).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-SB51-2025
- As of: 2026-10-28
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: Hawaii SB 51
- State: Hawaii
- Session: 2025–2026 Regular Session (Year 1)
- Title: RELATING TO PUBLIC FINANCING FOR CANDIDATES TO ELECTED OFFICE.
- Status: passed senate
- Chamber: Senate
- Introduced: 2025-01-08
- Last action: 2025-03-12, The committee(s) on JHA recommend(s) that the measure be deferred.
- Sponsor: Karl Rhoads (Democratic)
- Cosponsors: 7
- Subjects: Comprehensive Public Funding, Campaign Spending Commission, Report, Appropriations, JHA, FIN
- Touches household money: no
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 0

## Summary

Establishes a comprehensive system of public financing for all candidates seeking election to state and county public offices in the State of Hawaii, to begin with the 2028 general election year. Requires the Campaign Spending Commission to submit reports to the Legislature. Appropriates funds. Effective 4/23/2057. (SD1)

## Bill overview

No economic impacts identified for this bill.

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Karl Rhoads (Democratic), Senate
- Cosponsor: Stanley Chang (Democratic), Senate
- Cosponsor: Carol Fukunaga (Democratic), Senate
- Cosponsor: Kurt Fevella (Republican), Senate
- Cosponsor: Les Ihara Jr. (Democratic), Senate
- Cosponsor: Angus L.K. McKelvey (Democratic), Senate
- Cosponsor: Sharon Y. Moriwaki (Democratic), Senate
- Cosponsor: SAN BUENAVENTURA

## Actions (17)

- 2025-03-12: The committee(s) on JHA recommend(s) that the measure be deferred. (House)
- 2025-03-10: Bill scheduled to be heard by JHA on Wednesday, 03-12-25 2:00PM in House conference room 325 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE. (House)
- 2025-03-06: Pass First Reading (House)
- 2025-03-06: Referred to JHA, FIN, referral sheet 19 (House)
- 2025-03-04: Report Adopted; Passed Third Reading. Ayes, 23; Aye(s) with reservations: Senator(s) DeCoite, Fevella, Inouye, Kim, Moriwaki, Richards. Noes, 2 (Senator(s) Awa, DeCorte). Excused, 0 (none). Transmitted to House. (Senate)
- 2025-03-04: Received from Senate (Sen. Com. No. 72) in amended form (SD 1). (House)
- 2025-02-28: Reported from WAM (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 850) with recommendation of passage on Third Reading. (Senate)
- 2025-02-28: One Day Notice 03-04-25. (Senate)
- 2025-02-26: The committee(s) on WAM recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes in WAM were as follows: 13 Aye(s): Senator(s) Dela Cruz, Moriwaki, Aquino, Elefante, Hashimoto, Inouye, Kanuha, Kidani, Lee, C., Wakai; Aye(s) with reservations: Senator(s) DeCoite, Kim, Fevella ; 0 No(es): none; and 0 Excused: none. (Senate)
- 2025-02-24: The committee(s) on WAM will hold a public decision making on 02-26-25 10:04AM; Conference Room 211 & Videoconference. (Senate)
- 2025-02-12: Reported from JDC (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 306) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to WAM. (Senate)
- 2025-02-12: Report adopted; Passed Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referred to WAM. (Senate)
- 2025-02-05: The committee(s) on JDC recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in JDC were as follows: 3 Aye(s): Senator(s) Rhoads, Gabbard, San Buenaventura; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 1 No(es): Senator(s) Awa; and 1 Excused: Senator(s) Chang. (Senate)
- 2025-01-29: The committee(s) on JDC has scheduled a public hearing on 02-05-25 9:15AM; Conference Room 016 & Videoconference. (Senate)
- 2025-01-16: Referred to JDC, WAM. (Senate)
- 2025-01-15: Introduced and passed First Reading. (Senate)
- 2025-01-08: Pending Introduction. (Senate)

## Bill text

- Bill Text: [PDF](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2025/bills/SB51_SD1_.pdf)
- Original: [HTML](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2025/bills/SB51_.HTM), [PDF](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2025/bills/SB51_.PDF)
- SB51_SD1: [HTML](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2025/bills/SB51_SD1_.HTM)

## Related bills

- SB 572: RELATING TO HOUSING. (signed)
- HB 431: RELATING TO HOUSING. (signed)
- HB 420: RELATING TO REMEDIES. (signed)
- SB 1296: RELATING TO DISASTER RECOVERY. (signed)
- HB 830: RELATING TO HISTORIC PRESERVATION REVIEWS. (signed)
- HB 1064: RELATING TO FIRE PROTECTION. (signed)

## Sources
- [Bill Text (PDF)](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2025/bills/SB51_SD1_.pdf)
- [Original (HTML)](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2025/bills/SB51_.HTM)
- [Original (PDF)](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2025/bills/SB51_.PDF)
- [SB51_SD1 (HTML)](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2025/bills/SB51_SD1_.HTM)

## Related
- [SB 572: RELATING TO HOUSING.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-SB572-2025)
- [HB 431: RELATING TO HOUSING.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-HB431-2025)
- [HB 420: RELATING TO REMEDIES.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-HB420-2025)
- [SB 1296: RELATING TO DISASTER RECOVERY.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-SB1296-2025)
- [HB 830: RELATING TO HISTORIC PRESERVATION REVIEWS.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-HB830-2025)
- [HB 1064: RELATING TO FIRE PROTECTION.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-HB1064-2025)
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- [Hawaii state hub](https://policyrisk.com/states/hawaii)
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Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-SB51-2025 (as of 2026-10-28).