Arkansas House Makes Committee Assignments, Draws For Seniority

The Arkansas House of Representatives drew for seniority and settled committee assignments on Friday (Nov. 8).

With Republicans owning 64 seats in the 100-member House, they will dominate on several key committees, including Revenue and Tax, Public Health, and Joint Budget.

Democrats, who will have 36 House members, deployed a strategy to garner 10 seats on two of the 20-member House committees – Education and Insurance & Commerce.

Chairmen and vice-chairmen of the committees will be named in January by House Speaker-elect Jeremy Gillam, R-Judsonia.

Here is a breakdown of the partisan make-up of the major committees.

A Committees
Education: 10 Republicans, 10 Democrats
Judiciary: 12 Republicans, 8 Democrats
Public Health: 14 Republicans, 6 Democrats
Public Transportation: 14 Republicans, 6 Democrats
Revenue & Tax: 14 Republicans, 6 Democrats

B Committees
Aging, Children/Youth, Legislative & Military Affairs: 15 Republicans, 5 Democrats
Agriculture, Forestry & Econ Development: 14 Republicans, 6 Democrats
City County & Local Affairs: 12 Republicans, 8 Democrats
Insurance & Commerce: 10 Republicans, 10 Democrats
State Agencies & Governmental Affairs: 13 Republicans, 7 Democrats

You can read the full breakdown at this link and this link.

Also, Rep. Stephen Meeks, R-Vilonia, has the top seniority spot. Freshman Rep. Brandt Smith, R-Jonesboro, drew No. 100 on the seniority list. The full list of seniority can be viewed here.