PROPOSING AN AMENDMENT TO THE HAWAII STATE CONSTITUTION REGARDING THE FREEDOM OF SPEECH.

The bill was updated from a House Draft (HD) to a House Committee version (HD1), incorporating substantive changes to the legislative findings and the proposed constitutional amendment. The most significant policy change is the addition of the 1976 Buckley v. Valeo Supreme Court decision to the legislative findings, arguing that money spent to influence policy is protected speech. Consequently, the proposed constitutional amendment now explicitly excludes the expenditure of money to influence policy from free speech protections. The effective date of the amendment was changed from 'upon compliance' to a fixed future date of July 1, 3000, while retaining the condition that it only becomes active if the U.S. Supreme Court overturns Citizens United.