The following testimony was submitted by the Grassroot Institute of Hawaii for consideration by the Senate Committee on Ways and Means on Feb. 25, 2026.
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Feb. 25, 2026, 10:57 a.m.
Hawaii State Capitol
Conference Room 211 and Videoconference
To: Senate Committee on Ways and Means
Sen. Donovan M. Dela Cruz, Chair
Sen. Sharon Y. Moriwaki, Vice Chair
From: Grassroot Institute of Hawaii
Ted Kefalas, Director of Strategic Campaigns
RE: TESTIMONY IN SUPPORT OF SB3180 SD1 — RELATING TO STATE EMPLOYMENT
Aloha Chair, Vice Chair and other Committee members,
The Grassroot Institute of Hawaii supports SB3180 SD1, 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 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.
