Overview
- Gov. Josh Green signed the bill Thursday, setting an effective date of July 1, 2027.
- The law bars most election spending by for‑profit firms, dark‑money nonprofits, unions, and chambers of commerce, while allowing newsroom endorsements and company PACs funded by individual donors.
- Backers rely on state control over corporate charters, citing an 1819 Supreme Court opinion that corporations exist only by law, a strategy promoted by Tom Moore of the Center for American Progress.
- Hawaii’s attorney general warned the law is likely to be struck down under Citizens United and said defending it will be costly, with lawsuits expected that could reach the U.S. Supreme Court.
- The move follows a post‑2010 surge in outside money, with more than $4 billion spent in 2024 and a record $1.9 billion from donor‑shielded groups, as volunteers in Montana pursue a similar ballot measure after a court cleared the petition process.