Legislators sworn in, House leadership and committee chairs named

Rep. Jon Eubanks of Paris and Rep. Charlie Collins of Fayetteville were some of the several legislators from the Fort Smith and Northwest Arkansas areas to receive House leadership positions in the newly sworn-in 2015 General Assembly.

On a day of pomp and circumstance, tradition and ritual, all 100 members of the Arkansas House of Representatives – including 40 new members – and 34 state Senators were officially sworn into their roles.

Rep. Jeremy Gillam, R-Judsonia, was also declared the Speaker of the House, a powerful position that not only places him as the face and voice of the House, but also allows him to name chairmen and vice-chairmen to the standing committees of the House.

“I am here today because of the people who invested in me,” Gillam told the full House chamber. “Now because of their investment in us, we have the opportunity to invest back in our communities and state.”

Gillam succeeds Rep. Davy Carter as Speaker of the House.

It is the second consecutive session that Republicans control the House and Senate and in the 2015 General Assembly, the GOP has its largest majorities with 64 members in the 100-member House and 23 in the 35-member Senate.

“As far as I’m concerned, failure is not an option,” Gillam said of the issues and challenges facing lawmakers. “Together, we must forge a collective expectation, build a future for Arkansas that we can be proud of.”

In comments to reporters following his speech, Gillam said he based many of his decisions on the skill sets of lawmakers. That was one reason why he appointed Democrats to nine of the 20 chair or vice-chair positions of the “A” and “B” standing House committees.

One of the biggest surprises was Gillam’s selection of Rep. Joe Jett, D-Success, as chair of the House Revenue and Tax committee. That panel will decide the fate of Gov. Hutchinson’s proposed middle class tax cut plan. However, Republicans control 14 of the 20 seats on the Revenue and Tax committee.

Speaker Gillam named the following speaker assistants and chairmen and vice-chairmen to leadership positions.

Speaker Pro Tempore
Rep. Jon Eubanks – R

1st District Assistant Pro Tempore
Rep. Monte Hodges – D

2nd District Assistant Pro Tempore
Rep. Warwick Sabin – D

3rd District Assistant Pro Tempore
Rep. Charlotte Vining Douglas – R

4th District Assistant Pro Tempore
Rep. Marcus Richmond – R

COMMITTEES
Education

Rep. Bruce Cozart – R, Chair
Rep. Sheila Lampkin – D, Vice-chair

Judiciary
Rep. Matthew Shepherd – R, Chair
Rep. Marshall Wright – D, Vice-chair

Public Health, Welfare and Labor
Rep. Kelly Linck – R, Chair
Deborah Ferguson – D, Vice-chair

Public Transportation
Rep. Mary “Prissy” Hickerson – R, Chair
Rep. Mike Holcomb – D, Vice-chair

Revenue and Tax
Rep. Joe Jett – D, Chair
Rep. Kim Hendren – R, Vice-chair

Aging, Children and Youth, Legislative & Military Affairs
Rep. George McGill – D, Chair
Rep. Justin Harris – R, Vice-chair

Agriculture, Forestry & Economic Development
Rep. Dan Douglas – R, Chair
Rep. David Hillman- D, Vice-chair

City, County & Local Affairs
Rep. Betty Overbey – D, Chair
Rep. Mary Bentley – R, Vice-chair

Insurance & Commerce
Rep. Charlie Collins – R, Chair
Rep. Reginald Murdock – D, Vice-chair

State Agencies & Governmental Affairs
Rep. Nate Bell – R, Chair
Rep. Richard Womack – R, Vice-chair

House Rules
Rep. John Vines – D, Chair
Rep. Andy Davis – R, Vice-chair

House Management
Rep. Bill Gossage – R, Chair
Rep. Kenneth Henderson – R, Vice-chair

Joint Energy
Rep. Bob Ballinger – R, Chair
Rep. Rick Beck – R, Vice-chair

Joint Performance Review
Rep. Kim Hammer – R, Chair
Rep. Charlene Fite – R, Vice-chair

Joint Public Retirement
Rep. David Meeks – R, Chair
Rep. Gary Deffenbaugh – R, Vice-chair

Joint Advanced Communications & Technology
Rep. Stephen Meeks – R, Chair
Rep. Michael John Gray – D, Vice-chair

Joint Budget – Special Language
Rep. Stephen Meeks – R, Chair