Committees Shaping Up

Wisconsin’s 101st legislative session doesn’t begin until January 7, but committee assignments provide a glimpse at what legislators may view as priorities.

Republicans secured the majority in the November elections, so they will chair and have a majority of members on each committee. Each party’s leadership makes the final determination on which members will serve on what committees. Legislators make their preferred committee choices known to their leadership team, but their desires may not match the needs of the caucus; so assignments come after much behind-the-scenes horse trading within each caucus.

Assembly Democrats have yet to announce their committee assignments, although Assembly Speaker-Elect Robin Vos announced that two of the Assembly committees will have bipartisan leadership. Rep. Travis Tranel (R-Cuba City) and Rep. Leon Young (D-Milwaukee) will chair the State and Federal Relations Committee. Rep. Chris Kapenga (R-Delafield) and Rep. Jill Billings (D-La Crosse) will chair the Constitution and Ethics Committee.
 

Senate

Agriculture, Small Business, and Tourism (9 total members)
Terry Moulton (R) (Chair)
Tom Tiffany (R) (Vice-Chair)
Sheila Harsdorf (R)
Jerry Petrowski (R)
Dale Schultz (R)
Kathleen Vinehout (D) (Ranking Member)
Dave Hansen (D)
Julie Lassa (D)
Lena Taylor (D)

Economic Development and Local Government (5 total members)
Rick Gudex (R) (Chair)
Jerry Petrowski (R) (Vice-Chair)
Joe Leibham (R)
Julie Lassa (D) (Ranking Member)
Lena Taylor (D)

Education (9 total members)
Luther Olsen (R) (Chair)
Paul Farrow (R) (Vice-Chair)
Alberta Darling (R)
Leah Vukmir (R)
Rick Gudex (R)
John Lehman (D) (Ranking Member)
Tim Cullen (D)
Nikiya Harris (D)
Kathleen Vinehout (D)

Elections and Urban Affairs (5 total members)
Mary Lazich (R) (Chair)
Joe Leibham (R) (Vice-Chair)
Frank Lasee (R)
Lena Taylor (D) (Ranking Member)
Mark Miller (D)

Energy, Consumer Protection, and Government Reform (5 total members)
Rob Cowles (R) (Chair)
Neal Kedzie (R) (Vice-Chair)
Sheila Harsdorf (R)
Dave Hansen (D) (Ranking Member)
Mark Miller

Financial Institutions and Rural Issues (5 total members)
Dale Schultz (R) (Chair)
Frank Lasee (R) (Vice-Chair)
Jerry Petrowski (R)
Julie Lassa (D) (Ranking Member)
Bob Jauch (D)

Government Operations, Public Works, and Telecommunications (7 total members)
Paul Farrow (R) (Chair)
Rick Gudex (R) (Vice-Chair)
Frank Lasee (R)
Neal Kedzie (R)
Bob Wirch (D) (Ranking Member)
Nikiya Harris (D)
Jennifer Shilling (D)

Health and Human Services (5 total members)
Leah Vukmir (R) (Chair)
Terry Moulton (R) (Vice-Chair)
Mary Lazich (R)
Jon Erpenbach (D) (Ranking Member)
Tim Carpenter (D)

Insurance and Housing (5 total members)
Frank Lasee (R) (Chair)
Luther Olsen (R) (Vice-Chair)
Dale Schultz (R)
Tim Cullen (D) (Ranking Member)
Jon Erpenbach (D)

Judiciary & Labor (5 total members)
Glenn Grothman (R) (Chair)
Leah Vukmir (R) (Vice-Chair)
Paul Farrow (R)
Fred Risser (D) (Ranking Member)
Nikiya Harris (D)

Natural Resources (5 total members)
Neal Kedzie (R) (Chair)
Terry Moulton (R) (Vice-Chair)
Tom Tiffany (R)
Mark Miller (D) (Ranking Member)
Bob Wirch (D)

State and Federal Relations (5 total members)
Mike Ellis (R) (Chair)
Rob Cowles (R) (Vice-Chair)
Luther Olsen (R)
Tim Carpenter (D) (Ranking Member)
Fred Risser (D)

Transportation, Public Safety, and Veterans and Military Affairs (5 total members)
Jerry Petrowski (R) (Chair)
Joe Leibham (R) (Vice-Chair)
Rob Cowles (R)
Tim Carpenter (D) (Ranking Member)
Dave Hansen (D)

Universities and Technical Colleges (5 total members)
Sheila Harsdorf (R) (Chair)
Dale Schultz (R) (Vice-Chair)
Rick Gudex (R)
Jennifer Shilling (D) (Ranking Member)
Jon Erpenbach (D)

Workforce Development, Forestry, Mining, and Revenue (5 total members)
Tom Tiffany (R) (Chair)
Alberta Darling (R) (Vice-Chair)
Glenn Grothman (R)
Bob Jauch (D) (Ranking Member)
John Lehman (D)

Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation
Joe Leibham (R)
 

 

Assembly

Aging and Long Term Care
Mike Endsley (R) (Chair)
Mary Czaja (R) (Vice-Chair)
Mary Williams (R)
Kathy Bernier (R)
Warren Petryk (R)
Lee Nerison (R)

Agriculture
Lee Nerison (R) (Chair)
Gary Tauchen (R) (Vice-Chair)
Howard Marklein (R)
Al Ott (R)
John Murtha (R)
Jeffrey Mursau (R)
Keith Ripp (R)
Travis Tranel (R)
Ed Brooks (R)

Children and Families
Scott Krug (R) (Chair)
Amy Loudenbeck (R) (Vice-Chair)
Mike Endsley (R)
Michael Schraa (R)
John Spiros (R)
Samantha Kerkman (R)

Campaigns and Elections
Kathy Bernier (R) (Chair)
Don Pridemore (R) (Vice-Chair)
Jeremy Thiesfeldt (R)
Chad Weininger (R)
Travis Tranel (R)
Dave Craig (R)

Colleges and Universities
Stephen Nass (R) (Chair)
Dave Murphy (R) (Vice-Chair)
Dean Knudson (R)
Tom Weatherston (R)
Duey Stroebel (R)
Joel Kleefisch (R)
Scott Krug (R)

Constitution and Ethics
Chris Kapenga (R) (Co-Chair)
Jill Billings (D) (Co-Chair)
John Jagler (R)
Jim Ott (R)
Gary Tauchen (R)
Dave Murphy (R)

Consumer Protection
Jeremy Thiesfeldt (R) (Chair)
Paul Tittl (R) (Vice-Chair)
Al Ott (R)
Lee Nerison (R)
Tom Weatherston (R)
John Jagler (R)

Criminal Justice
Joel Kleefisch (R) (Chair)
John Spiros (R) (Vice-Chair)
Andre Jacque (R)
Jim Ott (R)
Erik Severson (R)
Garey Bies (R)

Corrections
Garey Bies (R) (Chair)
Michael Schraa (R) (Vice-Chair)
Ed Brooks (R)
Scott Krug (R)
Jeremy Thiesfeldt (R)
Joel Kleefisch (R)

Education
Steve Kestell (R) (Chair)
John Jagler (R) (Vice-Chair)
Erik Severson (R)
Stephen Nass (R)
Don Pridemore (R)
Howard Marklein (R)
Jeremy Thiesfeldt (R)

Urban Education
Don Pridemore (R) (Chair)
Jeremy Thiesfeldt (R) (Vice-Chair)
John Jagler (R)
Steve Kestell (R)
Dan Knodl (R)
Chad Weininger (R)
Rob Hutton (R)

Energy and Utilities
Mark Honadel (R) (Chair)
Tom Larson (R) (Vice-Chair)
Andre Jacque (R)
Chad Weininger (R)
Erik Severson (R)
John Klenke (R)

Financial Institutions
Dave Craig (R) (Chair)
Chris Kapenga (R) (Vice-Chair)
Duey Stroebel (R)
Joe Sanfelippo (R)
Bill Kramer (R)
Dean Kaufert (R)
Howard Marklein (R)
Chad Weininger (R)

Family Law
Tom Larson (R) (Chair)
Steve Kestell (R) (Vice-Chair)
Mary Williams (R)
Paul Tittl (R)
Dave Craig (R)
Travis Tranel (R)

Environment and Forestry
Jeffrey Mursau (R) (Chair)
Scott Krug (R) (Vice-Chair)
Mary Czaja (R)
Amy Loudenbeck (R)
Duey Stroebel (R)

Gov. Operations & State Licensing
Tyler August (R) (Chair)
Dave Craig (R) (Vice-Chair)
Dan Knodl (R)
Jim Ott (R)
Dale Kooyenga (R)
Rob Hutton (R)

Health
Erik Severson (R) (Chair)
Jeff Stone (R) (Vice-Chair)
Joe Sanfelippo (R)
Pat Strachota (R)
Tyler August (R)
Chris Kapenga (R)
Kevin Petersen (R)

Housing and Real Estate
John Murtha (R) (Chair)
Joe Sanfelippo (R) (Vice-Chair)
Stephen Nass (R)
Dave Murphy (R)
John Jagler (R)
Rob Swearingen (R)

Insurance
Kevin Petersen (R) (Chair)
Chad Weininger (R) (Vice-Chair)
Mary Czaja (R)
John Jagler (R)
Mark Honadel (R)
Dave Craig (R)
Travis Tranel (R)
Mark Born (R)
Dave Murphy (R)
Duey Stroebel (R)

International Trade and Commerce
Chad Weininger (R) (Chair)
Mike Kuglitsch (R) (Vice-Chair)
Mary Williams (R)
Amy Loudenbeck (R)
Gary Tauchen (R)
John Murtha (R)

Jobs, Economy and Mining
Mary Williams (R) (Chair)
Dan Knodl (R) (Vice-Chair)
Tom Larson (R)
Joe Sanfelippo (R)
Chris Kapenga (R)
Mike Kuglitsch (R)
Warren Petryk (R)
Kevin Petersen (R)
Jeff Stone (R)

Judiciary
Jim Ott (R) (Chair)
Andre Jacque (R) (Vice-Chair)
Tyler August (R)
Dave Craig (R)
Samantha Kerkman (R)
Tom Larson (R)

Labor
Dan Knodl (R) (Chair)
Tyler August (R) (Vice-Chair)
Chris Kapenga (R)
Stephen Nass (R)
Mike Kuglitsch (R)
Joan Ballweg (R)

Natural Resources and Sporting Heritage
Al Ott (R) (Chair)
Joel Kleefisch (R) (Vice-Chair)
Mark Born (R)
Garey Bies (R)
Mary Williams (R)
Jeffrey Mursau (R)
Lee Nerison (R)
Warren Petryk (R)
Jim Steineke (R)
Rob Swearingen (R)

Public Safety and Homeland Security
Andre Jacque (R) (Chair)
Ed Brooks (R) (Vice-Chair)
John Murtha (R)
Kathy Bernier (R)
Rob Swearingen (R)

Rural Affairs
Gary Tauchen (R) (Chair)
Kathy Bernier (R) (Vice-Chair)
Scott Krug (R)
John Murtha (R)
Keith Ripp (R)
Michael Schraa (R)
Jeffrey Mursau (R)
Howard Marklein (R)

Small Business Development
Jeff Stone (R) (Chair)
Mike Endsley (R) (Vice-Chair)
Rob Hutton (R)
Dean Kaufert (R)
Rob Swearingen (R)
Tom Larson (R)
Keith Ripp (R)
Mary Czaja (R)
Michael Schraa (R)
Paul Tittl (R)

State Affairs
Mike Kuglitsch (R) (Chair)
Rob Swearingen (R) (Vice-Chair)
Tyler August (R)
Joel Kleefisch (R)
Dan Knodl (R)
Keith Ripp (R)

State and Federal Relations
Travis Tranel (R) (Co-Chair)
Leon Young (D) (Co-Chair)
Jeffrey Mursau (R)
Kevin Petersen (R)
Paul Tittl (R)
Amy Loudenbeck (R)

State and Local Finance
Duey Stroebel (R) (Chair)
Mark Born (R) (Vice-Chair)
Steve Kestell (R)
Tom Weatherston (R)
Stephen Nass (R)
Gary Tauchen (R)

Tourism
Dean Kaufert (R) (Chair)
Garey Bies (R) (Vice-Chair)
Mary Czaja (R)
Joel Kleefisch (R)
Mike Endsley (R)
Mark Born (R)
Al Ott (R)
Rob Swearingen (R)

Transportation
Keith Ripp (R) (Chair)
Jeremy Thiesfeldt (R) (Vice-Chair)
John Spiros (R)
Al Ott (R)
Joe Sanfelippo (R)
Mike Endsley (R)
Tom Larson (R)
Dean Kaufert (R)
Jeff Stone (R)

Urban and Local Affairs
Ed Brooks (R) (Chair)
Rob Hutton (R) (Vice-Chair)
Andre Jacque (R)
Jim Ott (R)
Mark Honadel (R)
Dave Murphy (R)

Veterans
Warren Petryk (R) (Chair)
Tom Weatherston (R) (Vice-Chair)
Stephen Nass (R)
Garey Bies (R)
Mike Endsley (R)
Lee Nerison (R)
Don Pridemore (R)
Ed Brooks (R)
Jim Ott (R)
Paul Tittl (R)

Workforce Development
Amy Loudenbeck (R) (Chair)
Warren Petryk (R) (Vice-Chair)
Mark Honadel (R)
Mike Kuglitsch (R)
Erik Severson (R)
Don Pridemore (R)
Tom Weatherston (R)
Mark Born (R)
Kathy Bernier (R)
Dan Knodl (R)

Ways and Means
Howard Marklein (R) (Chair)
Samantha Kerkman (R) (Vice-Chair)
Keith Ripp (R)
John Spiros (R)
Jeff Stone (R)
Mark Honadel (R)
Steve Kestell (R)

Tax Exemptions
Tyler August (R) (Chair)
Mark Honadel (R)

Information Policy and Technology
Kevin Petersen (R) (Chair)
Warren Petryk (R)
Chad Weininger (R)

Review Committee on Criminal Penalties
Andre Jacque (R) (Chair)

 

Joint Committees

These committees are “joint” because half of the members are from the Senate while half are from the Assembly.

Joint Committee on Finance (JFC)
Senate Members
Alberta Darling (R) (Co-Chair)
Luther Olsen (R) (Vice-Chair)
Glenn Grothman (R)
Sheila Harsdorf (R)
Mary Lazich (R)
Joe Leibham (R)
Sen. Bob Wirch (D)
Sen. Jennifer Shilling (D)

Assembly Members
Rep. John Nygren (R) (Co-Chair)
Rep. Pat Strachota (R) (Vice-Chair)
Rep. John Klenke (R)
Rep. Dale Kooyenga (R)
Rep. Dan LeMahieu (R)
Rep. Dean Knudson (R)

Legislative Council
Senate Members
Fred Risser (D)
Mark Miller (D)

Assembly Members
Joan Ballweg (R) (Chair)
Amy Loudenbeck (R)
Jeff Stone (R)

Joint Audit
Senate Members
Kathleen Vinehout (D) (Ranking Member)
John Lehman (D)

Assembly Members
Samantha Kerkman (R) (Chair)
Howard Marklein (R) (Vice-Chair)
John Nygren (R)

JCRAR
Senate Members
Nikiya Harris (D) (Ranking Member)
Kathleen Vinehout (D)

Assembly Members
Dan LeMahieu (R) (Chair)
Dean Kaufert (R) (Vice-Chair)
Tyler August (R)

Survey of Retirement Systems
Senate Members
Dave Hansen (D)

Assembly Members
Duey Stroebel (R) (Chair)
Erik Severson (R)