Hawaii legislators advance bill to restrict corporate political activity
On May 8, Hawaii legislators sent a bill to Gov. Joshua Green (D) that would prohibit corporations from spending money or participating in election or ballot measure activities.
SB 2471 would amend state law to modify the powers given to corporations. The bill establishes that corporations have artificial-person powers, defined as the ability to carry out their business or other affairs, but they cannot engage in election or ballot measure activity in Hawaii.
Supporters of the bill say their aim is to limit how the U.S. Supreme Court’s 2010 Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission decision applies to corporate political spending in the state.
In that ruling, the Supreme Court held that independent corporate election spending is protected by the First Amendment. The ruling struck down parts of the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act, a federal campaign finance law.
https://news.ballotpedia.org/2026/05/13/hawaii-legislators-advance-bill-to-restrict-corporate-political-activity/