Press Release: Complete List of TN House Committee Assignments and Chairs

(The following press release is published as it was received by the Main Street Journal.) [NOTE: Original release (in .DOC format) can be viewed here.]

Tennessee General Assembly
House of Representatives
Speaker Kent Williams – House District 4
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
19 Legislative Plaza Nashville TN 37243 615.741.7450

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

On Thursday, Speaker of the House Kent Williams (R-Butler) announced the House committee assignments for the 106th General Assembly.

In keeping with his pledge to put in place a balanced Committee system, Speaker Williams asked for input from the leadership of both parties and forged a bipartisan committee structure. He took the unprecedented step of making sure the standing committees and subcommittees were divided as evenly as possible.

“When I was elected Speaker, I promised to serve in a fair, balanced and bipartisan fashion,” said Speaker Kent Williams. “These committee assignments for the House of Representatives have been selected with that same mindset and I am proud of this first step toward a more bipartisan system of government.”

In the Tennessee House of Representatives, the Speaker appoints members to all committees as well as appoints the chairperson, vice chairperson, and secretary of each committee.

Traditionally, the majority party tends to dominate committee chairmanships and leadership positions. With the recent bipartisan election of Speaker Kent Williams, that tradition has now been replaced with a balanced leadership structure. Members of the Republican and Democratic Leadership were both invited to the negotiating table, in order for all voices to be recognized.

“Because of the odd number of standing committees, I made the determination that the Republicans would chair seven and the Democrats would chair six,” said Speaker Kent Williams. “This is as close to a perfect balance as possible. It is a major step forward and one that will hopefully be a first step for future committees.”

Only in two cases were the standing committees not precisely divided. The Calendar and Rules Committee, by virtue of House Rules, has a one member Republican Majority. The Government Operations Committee has a one member Democratic Majority. All other standing committees and subcommittees are equally divided.

Finally, Standing Committee Officers will only be allowed to vote in subcommittee if they are a named member of the subcommittee.

“We have to get past the bickering and partisanship. We have a tremendous budget crisis on our hands. We have a lot of work to do. We have to put our distractions behind us, join hands and work together.”

“I feel like we have a lot of capable and smart people in the House from both parties. In this time of crisis we need to utilize all of this talent and harness everyone who has the desire and ability to be a leader.”

“I have put in place the most balanced committee system possible. Now it is up to the individual members to decide if they want to work together for the good of our state.”

“The people of Tennessee expect and deserve our very best as we move forward to address the major challenges before us.”

Consumer Employee Affairs 6 R 6 D

Matheny Chair
Hackworth Vice-chair
Bell Secretary

McDonald
Moore
S. Jones
Richardson
Hardaway
Eldridge
Campfield
Swafford
Kelsey

Employee R-3, D-3
McDonald-Chairman
Campfield-VC

Moore
S. Jones

Kelsey
Bell

Consumer R-3, D-3
Eldridge-Chairman
Hackworth-VC

Richardson
Hardaway

Matheny
Swafford

Education 11 R 11 D

H. Brooks Chair
Winningham Vice-chair
Coley Secretary

Brown
Cooper
U. Jones
Maddox
Pitts
Towns
L. Turner
Windle
Barker
J. DeBerry

Hawk
Dunn
Harwell
Haynes
Lollar
Hill
Weaver
Hensley
K. Brooks

K-12 Sub: R-6, D-6
Winningham-Chair
Lollar-VC

U. Jones
Maddox
Brown
Barker
L. Turner

Hensley
Harwell
Hawk
Dunn
Weaver

Higher Ed Sub R-6, D-6
Hawk-Chair
Brown-VC

Cooper
Towns
Windle
J. DeBerry
Pitts

Coley
Haynes
Hill
K. Brooks
H. Brooks

Government Operations R 6 D 7

Lynn Chair
Kernell Vice-chair
J. Cobb Secretary

L. DeBerry
Odom
M. Turner
Camper
Cooper
Hardaway

Mumpower
Casada
Campfield
Bell

Health & Human Resources R 13 D 13

Armstrong Chair
Hensley Vice-chair
Favors Secretary

Pruitt
C. Cobb
Curtiss
L. Deberry
Ferguson
S. Jones
Odom
Richardson
Shepard
M. Turner
J. DeBerry

J. Cobb
Dean
Ford
Maggart
Ramsey
Shipley
Mumpower
Harrison
Halford
Dennis
Rich
Evans

Professional Occupations R-7, D-7
Harrison-Chairman
Favors-VC

M. Turner
Armstrong
Ferguson
S. Jones
Odom
Shepard

Rich
Mumpower
Hensley
Maggart
Ramsey
Shipley

Public Health R-4, D-4
Hensley-Chairman
Richardson-VC

Maggart
J. Cobb
Dennis

S. Jones
Curtiss
C. Cobb

Health Care Facilities R-5, D-5
Pruitt-Chair
Ford-VC

L. DeBerry
J. DeBerry
Shepard
M. Turner

Evans
Dean
Halford
Rich

Judiciary R 6 D 6

Coleman Chair
Lundberg Vice-chair
Sontany Secretary

Bass
Camper
Fincher
Stewart

Kelsey
Watson
Dennis
Matheny
Faulkner

Civil Practice R-3, D-3
Kelsey-Chair
Fincher-VC

Lundberg
Dennis

Stewart
Coleman

Criminal R-3, D-3
Watson-Chairman
Sontany-VC

Faulkner
Matheny

Bass
Camper

AGRICULTURE R 6 D 6

Bone Chair
Ford Vice-chair
Borchert Secretary

Bass
Litz
Shaw
Windle

Niceley
Faulkner
Weaver
Halford
McDaniel

General Sub of Agriculture

Nicely, Chair
Litz, Vice-Chair

Bone Ford
Borchert McDaniel

Children & Family R 6 D 6

J. DeBerry Chair
K. Brooks Vice-chair
Brown Secretary

S. Jones
Hardaway
Richardson
Shaw

Rowland
Campfield
Bell
Rich
Weaver

Domestic Relations R-3, D-3
S. Jones-Chair
K. Brooks-VC

Brown
Shaw

Campfield
Weaver

Family Justice R-3, D-3
Rowland-Chair
Richardson-VC

Bell
Rich

John DeBerry
Hardaway

COMMERCE R 15 D 15

Harwell Chair
Shepard Vice-chair
McManus Secretary

Curtiss
Ferguson
Towns
Naifeh
Favors
Fitzhugh
Pitts
Stewart
Hackworth
Harmon
C. Cobb
L. Turner
Yokley
Gilmore
C. Johnson
Roach
McCord
Matlock
Lynn
Lundberg
P. Johnson
Montgomery
Todd
Sargent
Carr
Casada
McCormick

Industrial Impact R-6, D-6
Curtiss-Chairman
Roach-VC

Ferguson
Favors
Naifeh
Shepard
Towns

McCord
Sargent
Todd
McCormick
Lundberg

Utilities & Banking Sub R-5, D-5
Montgomery-Chairman
Pitts-VC

McManus
Casada
Phillip Johnson
Curtiss Johnson

Fitzhugh
Stewart
Hackworth
Harmon

Small Business Sub R-4, D-4
C. Cobb-Chairman
Matlock-VC

L. Turner
Yokley
Gilmore

Lynn
Carr
Harwell

CONSERVATION & ENVIRONMENT R 6 D 6

McCord Chair
Tidwell Vice-chair
Floyd Secretary

Gilmore
Borchert
Kernell
McDonald
Fraley
Lollar
Hawk
Niceley
Rowland

Wildlife Sub R-4, D-4
Lollar-Chair
Borchert-VC

Floyd Kernell
Niceley McDonald
McCord Tidwell

Environment Sub: R-5, D-5
Tidwell-Chair
Rowland-VC

Hawk Borchert
Lollar Fraley
McCord Gilmore
Niceley McDonald

Parks Subcommittee R-3, D-3
Gilmore-Chair
Floyd-VC

Hawk Fraley
Rowland Kernell
CALENDAR & RULES R 12 D 11
Dunn Chair
L. Turner Vice-chair
Hill Secretary

Odom
M. Turner
Moore
Towns
Bone
J. DeBerry
Armstrong
Coleman
Fitzhugh
Harmon

Harwell
Mumpower
McCord
Casada
Matheny
H. Brooks
Lynn
Todd
McManus
McCormick

STATE & LOCAL R 9 D 9

Todd Chair
U. Jones Vice-chair
Swafford Secretary

Miller
Yokley
Ty Cobb
Pruitt
Litz
Tindell
West
Moore
McCormick
Ramsey
Evans
Haynes
Carr
Coley
Watson

Elections R-3, D-3
Yokley-Chairman
Watson- VC

Moore
Tindell

Coley
Evans

State Sub R-3, D-3
McCormick-Chairman
Pruitt-VC

Haynes
Carr

Litz
West

Local Govt Sub R-3, D-3
Miller-Chairman
Swafford-VC

U. Jones
Ty Cobb

Todd
Ramsey

FINANCE, WAYS & MEANS R 15 D 15

Fitzhugh Chair
Sargent Vice-chair
Shaw Secretary

Tindell
Armstrong
Bone
Brown
Coleman
Winningham
L. DeBerry
Maddox
Miller
Odom
Sontany
Naifeh
M. Turner

Dunn
H. Brooks
Harrison
K. Brooks
McDaniel
Mumpower
Roach
Casada
Montgomery
McManus
Maggart
C. Johnson
Eldridge
Rowland

Budget R-7, D-7
Tindell-Chairman
Sargent-VC

Armstrong
L. DeBerry
Fitzhugh
Odom
Naifeh
Shaw

McDaniel
Harrison
Roach
Montgomery
Mumpower
Rowland

TRANSPORTATION R 7 D 7

Harmon Chair
Dean Vice-chair
Fraley Secretary

West
Ty Cobb
Fincher
Tidwell
Barker

P. Johnson
Matlock
Floyd
Shipley
Hill
Rich
Public Safety R-3, D-3
West-Chairman
Dean-VC

Fincher
Ty Cobb

Rich
Shipley
Rural Roads R-4, D-4
Phillip Johnson-Chairman
Fraley-VC

Harmon
Tidwell
Barker

Matlock
Hill
Floyd

House Rules Committee

Rep. Steve McDaniel, Chair Jason Mumpower
Mike Turner Charlie Sargent
Lois DeBerry Richard Montgomery
Craig Fitzhugh Harry Brooks
Henry Fincher Dennis Roach
John Litz Glen Casada
Mark Maddox Kevin Brooks
Jimmy Naifeh Speaker Kent Williams
Gary Odom

House Ethics Committee

Rep. Ulysses Jones, Chair Rep. Jason Mumpower
Rep. Gary Odom Rep. Glen Casada
Rep. Lois Deberry Rep. Beth Harwell
Rep. Henry Fincher Rep. Joe McCord
Rep. Mark Maddox Rep. Steve McDaniel
Rep. Mike Turner Rep Charles Sargent

Joint Legislative Services Committee

Speaker Williams
Rep. Mumpower
Rep.Casada
Rep. Odom
Rep. Mike Turner

Corrections Oversight

Rep. Mike Turner
Rep. Craig Fitzhugh
Rep. Charlie Curtis
Rep. Bill Harmon
Rep. Joe McCord
Rep. Dale Ford
Rep. Judd Matheny

Education Oversight

Rep. Mark Maddox
Rep. Tommie Brown
Rep. U. Jones
Rep. Les Winningham
Rep. David Hawk
Rep. Ron Lollar
Rep. Harry Brooks
Rep. Dennis Roach
Rep. Donna Rowland

Children & Youth

Rep. Chad Faulkner
Rep. Debra Maggart
Rep. Montgomery
Rep. Harwell
Rep. Sontany
Rep. J. Deberry
Rep. L. Deberry
Rep. Tommie Brown
Rep. Sherry Jones

Health Equity Commission

Rep. Armstrong
Rep. Miller
Rep. Hensley

Council on Pensions and Insurance

Recommended by Chairman Fitzhugh
Approved by the Speaker

Rep. Bone
Rep. Dunn
Rep. McDaniel

Reps. Fitzhugh, Sargent and Shaw are members by virtue of their
Finance Committee Officer Positions

Long Term Care Oversight Committee

Rep. Ferguson
Rep. L. Deberry
Rep. Tindell
Rep. McDaniel
Rep. Maggart

Veterans’ Affairs

Rep. Borchert
Rep. Curtis
Rep. Litz
Rep. Windle
Rep. Lundberg
Rep. McDaniel
Rep. Ford
Rep. Curtis Johnson