Hawaiʻi Senate picks committee assignments

The Hawai‘i State Senate has chosen its leadership and committee assignments for the Twenty‐Eighth Legislature (2015‐2016).

Hawaii Independent Staff

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