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Attorney general and advocates shape bill banning foreign-influenced contributions; committee adopts technical fixes
Summary
SB1032, which would bar foreign entities and foreign-influenced business entities from making campaign contributions or electioneering expenditures, was advanced after the attorney general and campaign spending commission offered technical amendments to correct certification and cross-reference language.
The House Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs moved SB1032 SD2 forward on March 12 after reviewing Attorney General input and Campaign Spending Commission suggestions intended to clarify certification and enforcement language.
Why it matters: The measure would expand existing prohibitions on foreign nationals to foreign-owned or foreign-influenced entities and add certification requirements for contributors. Supporters said the bill is necessary to keep outside foreign influence out of Hawaii elections; the attorney general warned that the original draft contained certification language that would not constitute perjury under existing criminal statutes and proposed language to fix that drafting defect.
Testimony and technical changes: Deputy Attorney General Candace Park told the committee she had identified drafting issues: "This bill requires two certifications to be made under penalty of perjury. However, a false certification in either of those events would not meet the requirements of the offense of perjury. So we have provided language which would correct both of those problems." The Campaign Spending Commission also submitted technical suggestions and the committee instructed staff to adopt the AG's corrections and a cross‑reference fix (change the referenced paragraph numeral on page 5, line 1).
Committee action: The committee adopted the AG- and commission-recommended corrections and moved the bill forward. Supporters including Hawaii Alliance for Progressive Action and Common Cause Hawaii spoke in favor; the committee recorded a no vote from at least one member and asked staff to incorporate the AG’s language.
Ending: With the technical fixes adopted, SB1032 moves to the next committee; the attorney general’s language aims to ensure the certification mechanism would be enforceable under state law.
