Civil Beat Categories

Legislature 2020

More Than 700 State Workers Are Home Awaiting Reassignment Cory Lum/Civil Beat/2016

More Than 700 State Workers Are Home Awaiting Reassignment

UPDATED: The Senate special COVID-19 committee has been trying to get the workers moved to agencies that need extra help during the coronavirus crisis.

Hawaii Officials Are Struggling To Get Help To Overburdened Agencies Nathan Eagle/Civil Beat

Hawaii Officials Are Struggling To Get Help To Overburdened Agencies

Confusion within the Ige administration over Hawaii’s collective bargaining law is slowing aid to departments feeling the crunch of the coronavirus crisis.

Hawaii Public Employees May Lose Out On Pay Raises Due To Virus Anthony Quintano/Civil Beat

Hawaii Public Employees May Lose Out On Pay Raises Due To Virus

When the Legislature recessed indefinitely, pay increases for workers was among its unfinished business.

Big Island: Proposed Aquarium Fishing Ban Appears Dead In The  Legislature Nathan Eagle/Civil Beat

Big Island: Proposed Aquarium Fishing Ban Appears Dead In The Legislature

A bill that would have banned aquarium fishing was tabled by lawmakers before the session was suspended due to coronavirus concerns.

As Public Clamors For Information, Senate Panel On COVID-19 Goes Dark Chad Blair/Civil Beat

As Public Clamors For Information, Senate Panel On COVID-19 Goes Dark

Olelo Community Media was scheduled to televise the special meeting at the Capitol Thursday. Now the chamber is reconsidering future broadcasts.

Hawaii State Senator Tests Positive For Coronavirus Cory Lum/Civil Beat

Hawaii State Senator Tests Positive For Coronavirus

UPDATE: Health officials screened as many as 70 lawmakers and staff after Sen. Clarence Nishihara tested positive.

Hawaii Legislature To Suspend Session Amid Coronavirus Fears Cory Lum/Civil Beat/2020

Hawaii Legislature To Suspend Session Amid Coronavirus Fears

Lawmakers will only reconvene in an emergency situation. In the meantime, many legislators and staff will continue to work in their offices.

Advocates Want More Emphasis On High Quality Pre-K In Early Education Bill Suevon Lee

Advocates Want More Emphasis On High Quality Pre-K In Early Education Bill

A proposal to provide more preschool programs for Hawaii’s toddlers passed the House last week. But division remains about what those programs should look like.

Don’t Keep The Public From Participating In Public Policy During A Crisis Cory Lum/Civil Beat/2018

Don’t Keep The Public From Participating In Public Policy During A Crisis

Senate Bill 2038 would exempt boards from Hawaii’s Sunshine Law on meetings when emergencies like COVID-19 are in effect.