SB1179 Would Restrict Free Speech Rights, Add Duplicative Reporting

by Steve Roberts, HoltzmanVogel.com (excerpt)

A bill in Hawaii may soon prohibit many companies from exercising their First Amendment rights and add duplicative and burdensome reporting requirements when using their federal PACs.

In Hawaii, Senate Bill 1179 would prohibit political spending by nearly any publicly traded company. As written, that legislation would stop a U.S.-based corporation from engaging in political activity in Hawaii if it has even nominal foreign ownership, including: 1) a single foreign shareholder that owns or controls even 1% or more of the corporation’s equity; 2) multiple foreign shareholders that own or control in the aggregate 5% or more of the corporation's equity; or 3) any foreign entity that participates directly or indirectly in the corporation’s decision-making process about political activities in the United States. The third point is already well-established law. The bill is still in committee as of February 28, 2023….

SB1179: Text, Status