State Senate President Colleen Hanabusa, D-21st (Nanakuli, Makaha), and her leadership team today announced committee assignments and other changes for the upcoming session of the state Legislature.

Among the changes:

• State Sen. Donna Mercado Kim, D-14th (Halawa, Moanalua, Kamehameha Heights), takes over the Senate Ways and Means Committee.
  
• State Sen. Rosalyn Baker, D-5th (W. Maui, S. Maui), moves from Ways and Means to the Senate Consumer Protection Committee.
  
• State Sen. Russell Kokubun, D-2nd (S. Hilo, Puna, Ka'u), becomes Senate Vice President, replacing Kim.
  
• Newly elected state Sen. Dwight Takamine, D-1st (Hamakua, S. Hilo), gets a newly drawn Senate Labor Committee.
  
• State Sen. Norman Sakamoto, D-15th (Waimalu, Airport, Salt Lake), has the Senate Education and Housing Committee.
  
• State Sen. Jill Tokuda, D-24th (Kailua, Kane'ohe), takes over the new Senate Higher Education Committee.
  
• State Sen. Clayton Hee, D-23rd (Kane'ohe, Kahuku), has a reconstructed Senate Water, Land, Agriculture and Hawaiian Affairs Committee.
  
• State Sen. Mike Gabbard, D-19th (Kapolei, Makakilo, Waikele), picks up the Senate Energy and Environment Committee.
  
• State Sen. Brian Taniguchi, D-10th (Manoa, McCully), has the redrawn Senate Judiciary and Government Operations Committee.

Please contact me if I can help you. My phone is 586-6830 and e-mail is sengabbard@capitol.hawaii.gov. Mahalo for the privilege of serving you!