Arkansas Senate assigns members to committees, chairmanships

The Arkansas State Senate changed a long-standing rule as its committee members were assigned to key committees and chairmanships for the 91st General Assembly, which begins in January 2017.

Last week, Democratic House members pulled rank and lined up 11 members on the 20-member Revenue and Tax committee despite Republicans holding 74 seats in the 100-member chamber. House committee assignments are made through a combination of seniority and Congressional District, which allowed for the move.

The Senate went a different direction in response. The 35-member chamber, which will have 26 Republicans and 9 Democrats, adopted a rule that requires standing committees to have at least five members of the majority party. Standing committees have eight members in total.

Some key committee appointments include:

Sen. Larry Teague, D-Nashville, chairman of Joint Budget
Sen. Bill Sample, R-Hot Springs, co-chair of Legislative Council
Sen. Jimmy Hickey, R-Texarkana, co-chair of Legislative Audit
Sen. Cecile Bledsoe, R-Rogers, chair of Public Health
Sen. Jason Rapert, R-Bigelow, chair of Insurance and Commerce
Sen. Jeremy Hutchinson, R-Little Rock, chair of Judiciary
Sen. Jane English, R-North Little Rock, chair of Education
Sen. Ronald Caldwell, R-Wynne, chair of Agriculture, Forestry and Economic Development
Sen. Jake Files, R-Fort Smith, chair of Revenue and Tax
Sen. Alan Clark, R-Lonsdale, chair of City, County and Local affairs
Sen. Eddie Joe Williams, R-Cabot, chair of State Agencies
Sen. Bill Sample, R-Hot Springs, chair of Transportation, Technology and Legislative Affairs

Here is a link to all Senate committee assignments for the 2017 session.

Senators-elect also drew for seniority. Sen.-elect Trent Garner, R-El Dorado, drew 32nd in seniority; Sen.-elect Lance Eads, R-Springdale, drew 33rd; Sen.-elect Dave Wallace, R-Leachville, drew 34th; and Sen.-elect Will Bond, D-Little Rock, drew 35th.