The following testimony was submitted by the Grassroot Institute of Hawaii on Feb. 11, 2026, for consideration by the Senate Committees on Labor and Technology and Government Operations.
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Feb. 11, 2026, 3 p.m.
Hawaii State Capitol
Conference Room 225 and Videoconference
To: Senate Committee on Labor and Technology
Sen. Brandon J.C. Elefante, Chair
Sen. Rachele Lamosao, Vice Chair
Senate Committee on Government Operations
Sen. Angus L.K. McKelvey, Chair
Sen. Mike Gabbard, Vice Chair
From: Grassroot Institute of Hawaii
Ted Kefalas, Director of Strategic Campaigns
RE: TESTIMONY IN SUPPORT OF SB3180 — RELATING TO STATE EMPLOYMENT
Aloha chairs, vice chairs and other members of the committees,
The Grassroot Institute of Hawaii supports SB3180, which would automatically abolish state positions that remain vacant for more than 48 months, unless the Legislature “affirmatively retains and funds the position.”
Additionally, the bill would allow departments to use temporary, 89-day hires to fill vacant positions for as many as 48 months before the position would be abolished, replacing the current temporary hire limitation of only two 89-day terms.
This legislation recognizes the hiring challenges that many state agencies face, while proposing smart changes to more efficiently use taxpayer dollars.
As of Nov. 1, 2025, the state had 4,273 vacant civil service positions, 485 of which had been vacant for four years or more.[1] The majority of these jobs still remain funded by the Legislature.
Tying up state resources for chronically vacant positions inhibits the Legislature’s ability to respond to fiscal pressures.
Grassroot has estimated that abolishing all of the state’s vacant positions would free up more than $350 million in tax dollars that could be allocated elsewhere.[2]
Abolishing just 10% of those positions, as recommended by this bill, could provide $30 million.
Thank you for the opportunity to testify.
Ted Kefalas
Director of Strategic Campaigns
Grassroot Institute of Hawaii
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[1] “Report to the 2026 Legislature as Required by Act 57, Session Laws of Hawaii 2019,” Hawaii Department of Human Resources Development, updated Jan. 8, 2026, pp. 1-2 and Appendix A. Note that this figure does not include Hawaii Department of Education positions.
[2] Keli‘i Akina, “Alternatives to ‘pausing’ Hawaii’s income tax cuts,” Grassroot Institute of Hawaii, Jan. 19, 2026.
