Hawaiʻi Senate picks committee assignments
The Hawai‘i State Senate has chosen its leadership and committee assignments for the Twenty‐Eighth Legislature (2015‐2016).
With a slight shuffling of players from the previous Senate, it will be interesting to follow these assignments into the start of the legislative session, which begins in January. The House committee assignments come out tomorrow. It remains to be seen how the make-up of the next State Legislature will affect its ability to pass laws in critical areas like land use, food security, renewable energy, smarter development, government transparency, houselessness, conservation, fixing the University of Hawai‘i System and the public school system, health care and diversifying our economy and agricultural sector. More analysis to come.
Senate Leadership
President: Donna Mercado Kim
Vice President: Will Espero
Majority Leader: J. Kalani English
Majority Floor Leader: Josh Green
Majority Policy Leader: Les Ihara, Jr.
Majority Caucus Leader: Gilbert Kahele
Majority Whip: Brian T. Taniguchi
Minority Leader/Floor Leader: Sam Slom
AGRICULTURE (AGL)
Chair: Russell E. Ruderman
Vice Chair: Gil Riviere
COMMERCE AND CONSUMER PROTECTION (CPN)
Chair: Rosalyn H. Baker,
Vice Chair: Brian T. Taniguchi
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND TECHNOLOGY (EDT)
Chair: Glenn Wakai
Vice Chair: Sam Slom
EDUCATION (EDU)
Chair: Michelle N. Kidani
Vice Chair: Breene Harimoto
ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENT (ENE)
Chair: Mike Gabbard
Vice Chair: Josh Green
GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS (GVO)
Chair: Donovan M. Dela Cruz
Vice Chair: Clarence K. Nishihara
HAWAIIAN AFFAIRS (HWN)
Chair: Maile S.L. Shimabukuro
Vice Chair: Brickwood Galuteria
HEALTH (HTH)
Chair: Josh Green
Vice Chair: Glenn Wakai
HIGHER EDUCATION AND THE ARTS (HEA)
Chair: Brian T. Taniguchi
Vice Chair: Lorraine R. Inouye
HUMAN SERVICES AND HOUSING (HSH)
Chair: Suzanne Chun Oakland
Vice Chair: Josh Green
JUDICIARY AND LABOR (JDL)
Chair: Gilbert S.C. Keith‐Agaran
Vice Chair: Maile S.L. Shimabukuro
PUBLIC SAFETY, INTERGOVERNMENTAL AND MILITARY AFFAIRS (PSM)
Chair: Will Espero
Vice Chair: Rosalyn H. Baker
TOURISM AND INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS (TSI)
Chair: Gilbert Kahele
Vice Chair: J. Kalani English
TRANSPORTATION (TRA)
Chair: Clarence K. Nishihara
Vice Chair: Breene Harimoto
WATER AND LAND (WTL)
Chair: Laura H. Thielen,
Vice Chair: Brickwood Galuteria
WAYS AND MEANS (WAM)
Chair: Jill N. Tokuda
Vice Chair: Ronald D. Kouchi