Transcript Highlights:

• Section 40-7-0504, notifying Human Resource Management Services, we removed the requirement to submit vacancy
• We added the requirement to use the statewide approved applicant tracking system for vacancy announcements
• Section 40-7-0508, vacancy announcement contents, we updated the required content to include remote work
• We added the requirement to use the statewide approved applicant tracking system for vacancy announcements
• Section 407-0508, vacancy announcement contents, we updated the required content to include remote work

Keywords: 908, all

Transcript Highlights:

• You always have some vacancies. So I'll go through this little org chart that Emily put together.
• So you can see in our IT division, we have one vacancy that was an extra developer position given to
• Right now, she does have a vacancy.
• nice things in final form, proofreading, things like Haley right here is doing, we have a couple of vacancies
• We have a couple of vacancies there.

Summary: The committee met to organize upcoming legislative session arrangements and staffing, and to review several rule and security-related items. It first approved a Joint Rule 211 change, recommended by the Employee Benefits Committee, that clarifies the deadline and statutory references for introducing health insurance mandate bills so required cost-benefit materials can be completed in time. Members noted the change would streamline the process, though it would not solve all timing and mandate-determination issues. The committee then discussed a draft bill on confidentiality protections for certain public officials and candidates, but members raised concerns about the statute’s complexity, the practical difficulty of administering it, and whether it would meaningfully improve safety; no action was taken and the topic was set aside for further discussion. The committee received an update on the new NCSL Legislator Security Fund. Staff explained that North Dakota is in process to apply for grant funding that could reimburse up to about $200 per legislator for personal security-related expenses such as home cameras, locks, lighting, or monitoring services, with reimbursement handled through Legislative Council and subject to Emergency Commission approval. Members asked about eligible expenses, timing, and whether new legislators would be included, and staff said the program would likely cover current legislators only for this round. The committee also approved the 2027 joint session schedule for the State of the State, tribal-state message, and State of the Judiciary on January 5, with the tribal and judiciary addresses in the morning and the governor’s address later in the day. The committee next approved the statutory reporting schedule for the Commerce Commissioner and agricultural commodity groups, setting the Commerce report for January 13, 2027, and the agriculture reports and pesticide container disposal update for January 14, 2027. Members questioned the usefulness of some of these recurring reports, but agreed to follow the existing statutory requirements. The largest discussion centered on Legislative Council staffing for the 2027 session: the committee approved reducing session staff to 36 Senate and 41 House employees, eliminating procedural clerk positions in standing committees in favor of permanent policy analysts, while retaining quality assurance clerks and adding a House parking lot attendant. It also approved a 3% salary increase for those staff positions, matching the increase given to state employees. Finally, the committee reviewed a revised organizational session and new legislator training agenda. Staff proposed moving some orientation content into a separate pre-session training day for new legislators on November 30, including laptop setup, mock committee and floor sessions, parliamentary procedure, and HR/benefits training, while adding more security and budgeting instruction. Members strongly supported earlier and more practical training, including follow-up reinforcement during the first week of session, and suggested using experienced or term-limited former legislators as mentors. Staff also described efforts to expand training materials into podcasts, flowcharts, and other formats, and Legislative Council leadership outlined the office’s remaining vacancies and a proposed expansion of policy analysts, program evaluators, legal staff, and training support to better serve the legislature and improve oversight of state programs.

Bills: SB2054, SB2143, SB2145, SB2400, SB2447, SB2494, SB2723, SB2727, SB3131, HCR187, SCR177, SR172, SCR5, SCR85, SR75, SCR139, SR131, SCR146, SR138, SR84, SCR31, SR27, SCR46, SR45, SCR48, SR47, SCR9, SR11, SCR83, SR73, SCR20, SR17, SCR56, SR54, SCR87, SR79, SCR160, SR151, SCR28, SCR120, SCR129, SR121, SCR71, SR66, SCR147, SR139, SCR79, SCR179, SCR181, SCR182, SCR60, SR81, SR174, SR176, SR177, SCR89, SCR69, SCR74, SR68

Keywords: public safety, Hawaii National Guard, military deployment, governor authority, federal assistance, elections, chief election officer, vacancy, order of succession, election commission, law enforcement, recording rights, private action, civil rights, police accountability, SB2400, seaglider, wing-in-ground craft, wing in ground effect, WIG craft

Transcript Highlights:

• So do you have any vacancies in these areas that you’re asking for in the College of Social Sciences?
• We have very few vacancies.
• Do you have any vacancies for this program? There are five faculty positions.
• But you have two vacancies, right? They’re on the way to search?
• we've had an increase in few vacancies we've had an increase in growth<01:19:58.880> in<01:19

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The hearing covered Senate Bill 426, which would create an early learning apprenticeship grant program. Testimony was overwhelmingly supportive from the City and County of Honolulu, the Department of Human Services, the Executive Office on Early Learning, the University of Hawaiʻi College of Education, the Attorney General’s office, the Early Childhood Action Strategy, Hawaii Children’s Action Network, the University of Hawaiʻi’s early childhood educator project, and a Zoom testifier who described the importance of investing in high-quality early childhood education. Committee discussion focused on the program’s estimated cost, with figures of about $14.5 million in 2025-26 and $15 million in 2026-27, and on whether the program would require ongoing base-budget funding. The committee recommended technical, non-substantive amendments, including a statewide-concern amendment and a deferred effective date, and both committees adopted the recommendation by vote. The committees then heard Senate Bill 1622, which would appropriate funds to establish the Aloha Intelligence Institute within the University of Hawaiʻi to support statewide artificial intelligence initiatives. University representatives described the proposal as the product of campus-wide input and outlined five pillars: governance and policy, outreach and engagement, research and development, workforce development, and AI tools for key sectors such as health care, creative industries, manufacturing, data science, astronomy, and climate change. Members questioned staffing distribution, tuition, enrollment timing, housing, campus placement, and whether positions would be permanent or temporary; the university said it planned about 10 positions across campuses, would start with internal resources, and would house the effort under the Vice President for Research and Innovation initially. The committees recommended an SD1 with the appropriation amounts blanked out, a July 31, 2050 effective date, and committee-report language on housing and West Oʻahu, and the higher education and labor/technology committees adopted the amended recommendation. Finally, the Higher Education Committee took up Senate Bill 1488, a housekeeping measure to consolidate existing University of Hawaiʻi conference center statutes into a single revolving fund structure, and Senate Bill 636, which would fund retention and internship coordinator positions and broader enrollment management efforts at the University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo. SB 1488 drew university support and no opposition. SB 636 prompted substantial questioning about Hilo’s declining enrollment, current retention rate of 72.8 percent, and the scope of the request, which includes not only two named positions but also about $432,000 for enrollment management initiatives such as data analysis, IT support, and other student services. Hilo said it is targeting 3 to 5 percent annual enrollment growth and that the positions would support recruitment, retention, internships, and data-driven enrollment strategy. The committee pressed for a clearer broader plan, but the discussion in the transcript ended before a final vote on SB 636 was shown.

Transcript Highlights:

• The 1768 forms are vital for tracking when a funded position in state government has a vacancy.
• And at least as of December of 2025, there were 291 vacancies in AFSCME positions.
• now all but one of those positions has only been vacant since 2025, but, in fact, the number of vacancies
• has grown by, uh, six or seven vacancies has grown by, uh, six or seven people. people. people.
• staying<00:08:54.120> open<00:08:54.520> once<00:08:54.720> they're vacancies

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We dropped from a 17% vacancy rate statewide in health care positions down to 14% in the two years.
• We dropped from a 17% vacancy rate statewide in health care positions down to 14% in the two years.
• We dropped from a 17% vacancy rate statewide in health care positions down to 14% in the two years.
• We dropped from a 17% vacancy rate statewide in health care positions down to 14% in the two years.
• Okay. we talk about vacancies or we talk about we talk about vacancies or we talk about hard<00:22:42.520

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• This became political when we had two vacancies for the highest court in Vermont and the governor chose
• had served under and defended the actions of the Trump administration to fill two of those five vacancies
• <00:43:33.200> for<00:43:33.520> the when we had two vacancies for the when we had
• two vacancies for the highest<00:43:34.319> court<00:43:35.040> in<00:43:35.359> Vermont
• They're with their families. vacancies at the same time. vacancies at the same time.

Keywords: 927, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Our vacancy rate is at 14.8%, and this is despite some personnel funding challenges that I talked about
• So each of our divisions is carrying more vacancies than you or I would like, and I know for certain
• Divisions are carrying more vacancies than you or I would like, and I know for certain that they would
• like, but it is allowing us to stay within our budget and to maintain that 4.8% vacancy rate.
• We've reduced our vacancy rate and improved retention of qualified personnel.

Transcript Highlights:

• Miss Jackson has been appointed to fill the vacancy of the Honorable Robert Kim, who retired last July
• <00:24:35.120> to<00:24:35.360> fill appointed to fill this vacancy to fill appointed
• to fill this vacancy to fill the<00:24:35.679> vacancy<00:24:36.080> of<00:24:36.240><
• > the<00:24:36.400> Honorable<00:24:36.880> Robert<00:24:37.679> Kim the vacancy
• of the Honorable Robert Kim the vacancy of the Honorable Robert Kim who<00:24:38.720> retired

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The Senate convened with all 25 members present, approved the prior day’s journal, and heard several introductions, including visiting staff, guests, and Lieutenant Governor Sylvia Luke, who was recognized for her work with the food bank and noted as acting governor that week. The chamber also received House communications returning several Senate concurrent resolutions adopted unamended, and one House-amended resolution, SCR 192, was taken up. Senator Wakai moved to disagree with the House amendments to SCR 192, the motion was seconded and carried, with conferees to be named later. Standing committee reports were then taken up, including reports 1931 to 1939 for one-day notice and report 1940 for adoption, which was adopted without objection. The Senate then considered a series of advice-and-consent nominations, beginning with education-related appointments. Senators spoke in support of nominees to the Hawaii Teachers Standards Board, the State Board of Education, and the School Facilities Authority Board, while Senator Awa and others raised objections to several nominees, arguing that campaign donations by some appointees created the appearance of “pay to play.” Despite those objections, the nominations were ultimately confirmed. The chamber also confirmed Dwight Takamini as chair of the Hawaii Labor Relations Board after strong support from multiple senators who cited his labor, legislative, and public service background. The Senate next confirmed Christine Sakuda as chief information officer for the Office of Enterprise Technology Services, with supporters emphasizing her IT leadership and public service and noting she is the first female and Native Hawaiian to hold the post. The chamber also confirmed Kahuanoi AD Jackson as judge of the Circuit Court of the Third Circuit and Sonia H. Toma as judge of the District Family Court of the Second Circuit, with senators highlighting their prosecutorial and public service experience and the favorable testimony received in committee. After these confirmations, senators introduced the new appointees and their families in the gallery. Later, the Senate adopted additional standing committee reports on House concurrent resolutions and passed SB 849 HD2 on final reading, relating to wildlife conservation, by unanimous consent. The body also reconsidered and reversed earlier disagreement on House amendments to SB 116 and SB 946, agreeing that the amendments were technical and giving one-day notice for final reading. The meeting concluded with a late introduction of the Honokaʻa Jazz Band, which was praised for its national recognition and community service, and senators invited members to a later concert in the rotunda.

Transcript Highlights:

• I wanted to spend my time actually giving you a little bit of a sense of how turnover and vacancies impact
• It's about a 30% vacancy factor.
• For the vacancy rate at 30%, do you find that to be increasing or... No problem.
• For the vacancy rate at 30%, do you find that to be increasing or decreasing or staying the same?
• You heard about vacancy rates from Craig, my colleague, but to give you an idea of the consequences of

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Children, Families, and Persons with Disabilities held a hearing focused on accessibility-related legislation, with the chairs emphasizing ASL and CART accessibility and asking testifiers to speak slowly and clearly. The committee heard testimony first on H.223/S.130, a bill to establish a livable wage for community-based human service workers by reducing the pay gap with state employees. Providers’ Council, Communities for People, the Key Program, and BAMSI all supported the bill, describing persistent wage disparities, high vacancy and turnover rates, and the impact on continuity of care for children, youth, and families. Witnesses said the bill would help recruitment and retention and stabilize services across the Commonwealth. The committee then heard extensive testimony on H.224/S.160, the ACE Act, which would create a dedicated funding source to improve accessibility in the creative economy. Arts organizations and advocates, including Community Access to the Arts, Abilities Dance Boston, Jacob’s Pillow, the Multicultural Arts Center, Northampton Community Music Center, Mass Creative, Open Door Arts, and Monkey House, described barriers such as inaccessible buildings, lack of ASL interpretation and captioning, inadequate lifts and backstage access, and the high cost of renovations. Testifiers said the bill would help smaller and historic institutions make physical and programmatic improvements and allow people with disabilities to participate as artists, workers, and audiences. The committee also heard testimony on H.4180, which would require DDS to consider neuropsychological evaluations when determining eligibility for intellectual disability services. Parents and advocates argued that IQ cutoffs alone can miss significant functional needs, especially for autistic adults and others with complex developmental profiles, and urged broader access to DDS supports. Additional testimony supported S.101 on closed captioning and telecommunications in public areas, and S.158 on requiring restaurants to have some chairs with arms to better accommodate physically disabled and older patrons. No votes were taken during the hearing, and the chair adjourned after hearing from the scheduled witnesses and noting a few signups that were not present.

Transcript Highlights:

• I do know there's been times that this chosen slate of electors there's been vacancies that they've had
• It says that the person filling a vacancy on the slate of electors, whether it's Democrat or libertarian
• So, is there evidence that vacancies among electors have caused a Disruption in the official vote count
• any position on the judicial nominating committee that ends by expiration of a term of office or by vacancy
• and it would only allow the governor as as this measure states, it only becomes effective upon a vacancy

Bills: HJR1024, SB1316, SB1491, SB1552, SB1679, SB1877, SB2040, SB2133, SB2153, SB2174, SB2180, SB227, SJR39, SJR47, SJR48

Keywords: Judicial Nominating Commission, congressional districts, terms of office, Oklahoma Constitution, legal qualifications, political party restrictions, family ties, administrative rules, sunset provision, state agencies, regulatory review, legislative oversight, presidential electors, vacancies, oath of office, political party, elections, county home rule charter, home rule, county government

Transcript Highlights:

• Members, you'll recall that there has been some discussion in prior meetings about the highway safety's vacancy
• And while I am About the highway safety's vacancy issues in particular.
• a reduction here, I have not recommended a reduction in the salary budget associated with those vacancies

Summary: The Transportation and Economic Development Budget Subcommittee met to consider its recommended fiscal year 2025-2026 budget and a conforming committee bill. Chair Shove presented an $18.5 billion TED budget, describing it as about 8.5% below the prior year’s TED budget and emphasizing recurring savings, reductions to vacant positions over 90 days old, and a focus on core agency needs. He highlighted funding for economic development, Visit Florida, Space Florida, affordable housing programs, military affairs, libraries, cultural and historic preservation grants, emergency management, and a $14.1 billion transportation work program. The committee then took up PCB TED 2501, which changes documentary stamp tax distributions by redirecting certain revenues to general revenue. The bill would reinstate the general revenue service charge on the supplemental housing-related dock stamp revenue, eliminating a recurring $150 million source for the State Housing Trust Fund, and would also redirect about $466 million from the State Transportation Trust Fund to general revenue. Chair Shove said the measure has no net zero fiscal impact on state revenues and does not alter the longstanding standard dock stamp funding for affordable housing or eliminate FDOT programs, arguing the bill preserves flexibility for future legislatures. Public testimony was split. Representatives from the Florida Transportation Builders Association and the Florida Public Transportation Association warned that the transportation trust fund reduction would significantly affect FDOT’s five-year work program, especially the Strategic Intermodal System, and could reduce planned capacity improvements and transit funding. Several members also raised concerns about the housing-related changes, arguing the bill undercuts commitments made through the Live Local framework and could weaken affordable housing efforts. In closing, Chair Shove defended the bill as a necessary tightening of recurring spending and said existing affordable housing and transportation programs would still be funded through other appropriations. The committee approved PCB TED 2501 on a 10-2 vote and reported it favorably before adjourning.

Transcript Highlights:

• WHEN YOU HAVE THAT MUCH TURNOVER AND A LOT OF VACANCIES YOU HAVE A LOT INSTITUTIONAL KNOWLEDGE AND CONTINUITY
• THE GOOD NEWS IS THEY DIDN'T HAVE ANY VACANCIES. THEY WERE ABLE TO KEEP THE POSITION FILLED.
• IT IMPACTING YOU LIKE AS FOR YOU TO BE STANDING IN FRONT OF US TRYING TO EXPLAIN THESE ISSUES. >> VACANCIES

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Our state hospital staff in the last year and a half have done a great job reducing our vacancy rate
• So we pull that vacancy savings from those vacant positions and we buy a smaller amount of much more
• rate of CNAs from reducing our vacancy rate of CNAs from over<00:12:53.760> 50%<00:12:54.800>
• So we pull that vacancy savings nurses.
• So we pull that vacancy savings that<00:13:06.880> we<00:13:07.040> have<00:13:07.200><

Bills: SF0010, SF0005

Keywords: mental health, detention, competency evaluation, treatment, contractual agreements, bankruptcy, hospital, county, healthcare, financial stability, 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• change is rather than use these old laws where you have a new election, you just use the existing vacancy
• change is rather than use these old laws where you have a new election, you just use the existing vacancy
• change is rather than use these old laws where you have a new election, you just use the existing vacancy
• laws that we have on the books, vacancy laws that we have on the books, you<02:58:08.080> have
• laws and that's already in there vacancy laws and that's already in there and<02:58:19.439> that<

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Figure 2 shows the historical commission FTE vacancies.
• We have a hard time filling vacancies there.
• Some of the numbers that the LBB mentioned were our vacancy rates, and so I did want to include our vacancy
• Some of the numbers that the LBB mentioned were our vacancy rates, and so I did want to include our vacancy
• There are vacancies across the state.

Bills: SB1

Keywords: campground safety, youth camp regulations, flood safety, emergency evacuation, health and safety standards

Summary: The committee heard a Legislative Budget Board presentation and then testimony from the Department of Public Safety on the Article 5 public safety budget. LBB said DPS’s 2026-27 recommendation totals $3.7 billion, down from the prior base, while FTEs rise by 856.7. Major items included increased funding for driver license services and customer support, new trooper funding and recruit schools, crime lab operations, border security, and reductions tied to one-time facility, vehicle, and aircraft spending. The committee also discussed new riders, including one to lapse unused trooper funds and require reporting after recruit schools. Members focused heavily on driver license operations, questioning why prior staffing increases and a prior efficiency study had not solved long wait times, high call abandonment, and appointment delays. DPS and LBB said the agency receives about 22,000 calls per day, answers only about 9 percent, and is seeking more staff plus technology upgrades such as automation, kiosks, and better online processing. Senators also raised concerns about rural access, REAL ID document requirements, and whether the department should rethink its processes rather than simply add employees. DPS leadership then described needs for the Williamson County training academy, additional troopers, Capitol and Alamo security, border operations, aircraft and vehicle replacement, and regional headquarters in El Paso and San Antonio. Members asked about Operation Lone Star costs, overtime, pursuit safety, border crime, oilfield theft, and sexual assault kit and toxicology backlogs. DPS said border deployments remain focused on criminal threats, that overtime is partly driven by deployments and staffing shortages, and that the sexual assault kit backlog is down to 118 cases with a goal of zero by April. The committee later recessed and began the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission budget presentation, where LBB outlined a $115.1 million recommendation and noted ongoing costs for the AIMS technology project.

Transcript Highlights:

• We have, I think, the highest vacancy rate in the department for this particular function.
• I think there's like 69 vacancies or something like that. Yeah.
• So it's certainly an area where we are seeing a high vacancy rate within that team.
• seeing a high vacancy rate within that<01:43:42.000> team.
• 20% vacancy rate in that specific area. 20% vacancy rate in that specific area.

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The response was that the issue is really about capacity: more people filling vacancies, but vacancies
• and they're not filling the vacancies and they're not filling the vacancies<01:09:55.679> partially
• So I have vacancies 25% VA part.
• So I have vacancies 25% VA vacancies<01:10:06.960> um<01:10:07.120> commercial<01:10:07.520
• > on<01:10:07.679> the vacancies um commercial on the vacancies um commercial on the commercial

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The committee heard several bills on water, land, housing, permitting, and historic preservation. For SB 746/SD2/HD1 on invasive species, DLNR and the Department of Agriculture supported the intent but warned that a bounty approach for coconut rhinoceros beetle could have unintended consequences, divert resources from biocontrol research, and be vulnerable to abuse; Hawaii Farm Bureau supported the measure. The committee also heard SB 1541 on the WoE water system, with testimony from ADC, Kunia Village Title Holding Company, and Farm Bureau in support, emphasizing the importance of the system for agriculture and the high cost of water on lands already dedicated to farming. The most extensive discussion was on SB 66, relating to building permit review and county permitting authority. DPP opposed the bill, saying the problem is not just agency review time but the broader permitting process, including applicant corrections, outside-agency review, staffing shortages, and low pay that make it hard to fill vacancies. DPP said it already meets or beats existing review deadlines for residential permits and is using tools like electronic plans and AI to help applicants submit better plans. Several supporters, including Iron Workers Local 625, an individual witness, and Hawaii Food Industry Association, backed the bill but urged a pilot program or other safeguards; some also asked for broader permit coverage beyond single-family homes. Committee members questioned DPP about whether applicant correction time should count against the clock, whether self-certification could be used, and whether the state should fund any new mandate. The committee then took up SB 26 on affordable housing, with HHFDC, OPSD, and HCDA in support and no opposition noted. Finally, on SB 1263 relating to historic preservation, HHFDC and DLNR supported the bill, while OHA offered comments and requested amendments, especially on the new risk-based review process for high-, medium-, and low-risk areas. OHA said the new procedure should be implemented carefully and allowed more time, describing it as a pilot that should be done well to be useful while still protecting cultural and historic resources. No votes or final actions were taken in the portion of the meeting provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• We had a vacancy on the board, and this is the Lieutenant Governor's appointment.
• We had a vacancy on the board, and this is the Lieutenant Governor's appointment.
• So, this is actually just filling out a term of a vacancy.
• So, this is actually just filling out a term of a vacancy.

Keywords: Economic and Workforce Development - Room 409, 31 March, 2026; 9:30 A.M., 925, all

Summary: The committee considered the Lieutenant Governor’s appointment of Charles Tyler Norman to the board of MAG Core, formerly the Mississippi Prison Industries Corporation, to fill a vacancy for a term ending June 30, 2028. Members described the board’s role in prison-based workforce training and noted that most of its membership is made up of state officials, with only a few outside appointees. Norman said he has a long business background, has served on other state boards, and supports public service and workforce development, including prison work programs. Several senators used the nomination to raise broader concerns about the effectiveness of prison workforce training and whether MAG Core should continue as a separate entity or be folded under Accelerate Mississippi. The chair said he was frustrated with workforce outcomes for incarcerated people, including the implementation of presumptive parole and the value of some training credentials, and stressed that any program should be profitable and not burden taxpayers. Norman agreed that workforce training should be practical and tied to real trades, said he has hired felons and believes in second chances, and said he would bring committee suggestions back to the board. A senator asked about a 2008 derogatory incident in Norman’s background report; Norman acknowledged it as a college misdemeanor and said it was the only such issue. Another senator asked about the board’s composition and diversity, and staff said one remaining outside member is a governor’s appointee, later identified as Ronnie McNeil from the faith-based community. The committee then adopted a motion to report the nomination out with a do advise and consent recommendation, and Norman was reminded to keep his statement of economic interest current.

Transcript Highlights:

• It says two commissioners shall constitute a quorum regardless of any vacancies.
• <04:19:11.319> on sufficient so if there is a vacancy on sufficient so if there is a vacancy
• of the bill got to if there's a vacancy of the bill got to if there's a vacancy on<04:19:16.319>
• on the Pu then there were two vacancies on the Pu then no<04:19:25.279> action<04:19:25.600><
• occurs sometimes when a vacancy occurs unexpectedly<04:24:15.520> I<04:24:15.640> don't

Keywords: 1189, house, all