(BIVN) – The seven State House representatives from the Big Island have gotten their committee assignments for the upcoming legislative session, and some have even landed leadership roles.

On Tuesday, Hawaiʻi House Speaker Scott Saiki announced the assignments, as well as some general changes to the committees, prior to the start of the Thirtieth Legislature (2019-2020).

According to the House:

• Education and Higher Education have been consolidated into one committee (Lower & Higher Education);
• Ocean, Marine Resources, & Hawaiian Affairs has been consolidated into Water & Land (Water, Land, & Hawaiian Affairs);
• Veterans, Military, & International Affairs, & Culture and the Arts has been folded into two separate committees (Public Safety, Veterans, & Military Affairs and Tourism & International Affairs); and
• Health & Human Services has been split into separate committees, with Human Services also incorporating homelessness issues (Human Services & Homelessness)

“Our members are looking forward to the upcoming session and are focused on tackling some of the biggest challenges facing our state,” said Speaker Saiki. “We have worked hard to establish a leadership team and standing committee assignments that will help facilitate the legislative process and take full advantage of the wealth of knowledge and expertise that each member of the House offers.”

Here is a list of committees and leadership roles assumed by the Hawaiʻi Island representatives:

Mark Nakasima (D-1)

• Vice Speaker

Chris Todd (D-2)

• Finance Committee
• Water, Land & Hawaiian Affairs Committee, VICE CHAIR
• Energy & Environmental Protection Committee

Richard Onishi (D-3)

• Tourism & International Affairs Committee, CHAIR
• Consumer Protection & Commerce Committee
• Agriculture Committee

Joy San Buenaventura (D-4)

• Majority Whip
• Human Services & Homelessness Committee, CHAIR
• Judiciary Committee, VICE CHAIR
• Health Committee

Richard Creagan (D-5)

• Agriculture Committee, CHAIR
• Judiciary Committee
• Tourism & International Affairs Committee

Nicole Lowen (D-6)

• Majority Whip
• Energy & Environmental Protection Committee, CHAIR
• Judiciary Committee
• Water, Land & Hawaiian Affairs Committee

David Tarnas (D-7)

• Lower & Higher Education Committee
• Energy & Environmental Protection Committee
• Water, Land & Hawaiian Affairs Committee