Senate commerce committee advises and consents to 14 nominees, defers two

HONOLULU — The Senate Committee on Commerce and Consumer Protection on Thursday, April 10, 2025, voted to advise and consent to 14 gubernatorial nominees to state boards and commissions and deferred two nominees for later consideration.

The committee, meeting at 9:30 a.m. in Conference Room 229 of the Hawaii State Capitol, approved the slate in a single omnibus vote after brief presentations and written testimony were entered into the record. The committee deferred consideration of Governor's Message (GM) 756 (Leanne Philhower) indefinitely and postponed decision making on GM 747 (Zachary Johnson) to the committee’s April 11, 2025, agenda.

The nominations covered a range of licensing and oversight boards: the Boxing Commission, Board of Nursing, Board of Public Accountancy, Board of Optometry, Motor Vehicle Repair Industry Board, Hawaii Medical Board, Board of Speech Pathology and Audiology, Real Estate Commission, Board of Veterinary Medicine and others. Department representatives and nominees gave short remarks and the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs stood on its written testimony in support for most nominees.

Nominees who spoke included Rebecca Moore, nominated to the State Board of Nursing, who said she has "worked tirelessly for community health and especially for the Outer Islands," and Gary Belcher, nominated for the Hawaii Medical Board, who described workforce challenges and said, "There is a major shortage especially on the neighbor islands." Justin Jones, appearing for the State Boxing Commission, indicated the commission supported its nominees and stood on submitted testimony.

Committee members raised routine questions about nominees’ experience and, in a longer exchange during Gary Belcher’s appearance, discussed potential steps to increase physician licensure and retention, including participation in the Interstate Medical Licensure Compact and pending legislation to permit expanded pathways for certain foreign medical graduates. Chelsea Fukunaga, the executive officer for the Hawaii Medical Board, told the committee the compact has brought physicians into the state and noted pending bill SB1365 (background checks) to enable full compact participation.

At decision time the chair recommended a single consent vote on 14 nominees and the committee approved that recommendation. The roll call recorded the chair and vice chair voting aye; Senator McKelvey voting yes; Senator Richards voting aye; Senator Awa was excused. The committee clerk recorded the recommendation adopted. The committee announced GM 747 would be taken up again at its April 11, 2025, 9:30 a.m. agenda and GM 756 was deferred indefinitely.

Votes at a glance - Advise and consent (omnibus): Falunico Vitale (Boxing Commission), Rebecca Moore (Board of Nursing), Alexander Smith (Board of Public Accountancy), Ashley Porter (Board of Optometry), Catherine Mao (Board of Optometry), Nathan Onishi (Motor Vehicle Repair Industry Board), Gary Belcher (Hawaii Medical Board), Olivia Uchima (Board of Speech Pathology and Audiology), Audrey Abe (Real Estate Commission), Denise LaCosta (Real Estate Commission), Jennifer Andrews (Real Estate Commission), Kimberly Thompson Kerr (Board of Veterinary Medicine), Gail Chang (Board of Optometry), Joel Kim (State Boxing Commission). Outcome: approved; committee recorded four ayes, one excused. - GM 747 (Zachary Johnson), Board of Public Accountancy: deferred to April 11, 2025, for further consideration. - GM 756 (Leanne Philhower), Board of Psychology: deferred indefinitely.

The committee recessed briefly for decision making and then returned to enter votes. The committee chair closed the meeting with the committee’s recommendation adopted; members were instructed when deferred items would be reconsidered.

The committee’s actions will be transmitted to the full Senate as part of the advice-and-consent process for confirmations. The committee did not take up additional legislation at this hearing.