Speaker Robin Vos (R-Rochester) announced leadership positions for the standing committees for the 2017-18 legislative session. The Speaker also added five new Assembly committees: Urban Revitalization; Science and Technology; Federalism and Interstate Relations; Government Accountability and Oversight; and Regulatory Licensing Reform.
Recently, Vos announced that Rep. John Nygren (R-Marinette) will remain co-chair of the Joint Finance Committee. Also, returning to the committee is vice-chair Rep. Dale Kooyenga (R-Brookfield), Rep. Amy Loudenbeck (R-Clinton) and Rep. Mary Czaja (R-Irma). Vos added Reps. Mark Born (R-Beaver Dam) and Mike Rohrkaste (R-Neenah) to the committee.
Vos announced Rep. Keith Ripp (R-Lodi) will remain the chair of the Assembly Committee on Transportation. Rep. Mike Kuglitsch (R-New Berlin) will hold his position as chair of the Assembly Committee on Energy and Utilities, as will Rep. Joe Sanfelippo (R-New Berlin) as chair of the Assembly Committee on Health. Rep. Kevin Petersen (R-Waupaca) will remain the chair of the Assembly Committee on Insurance, and Rep. Jeffrey Mursau (R-Crivtiz) will continue as the chair of the Assembly Committee on Environment and Forestry. Rep. Travis Tranel (R-Cuba City) was also reappointed as chair of the Assembly Committee on Tourism.
On the Assembly Committee on Natural Resources and Sporting Heritage, Rep. Joel Kleefisch (R-Oconomowoc) replaced retiring Rep. Alvin Ott (R-Forest Junction) as chair. Rep. Kleefisch’s prior position as chair of the Assembly Committee on Criminal Justice and Public Safety was filled by Rep. John Spiros (R-Marshfield).
Due to the historic GOP majority in the Assembly, five returning GOP members will not chair a committee, serve on the Joint Finance Committee, or hold a leadership position in the Assembly. In his announcement, Speaker Vos stated, “These committees reflect the priorities of Assembly Republicans and address the most pressing needs of the state,” and continued by saying ,“We want to find real solutions to the problems facing Wisconsin families and their communities.”
Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald (R-Juneau) announced in November that he would keep the same GOP members on the JFC next session. Sen. Alberta Darling (R-River Hills) will return as co-chair of the JFC, joined by returning vice-chair Sen. Luther Olsen (R-Berlin). Sens. Sheila Harsdorf (R-River Falls); Leah Vukmir, (R-Brookfield); Thomas Tiffany (R-Hazelhurst); and Howard Marklein (R-Spring Green), will also keep their seats on the committee.
Fitzgerald has not announced full leadership assignments for Senate committees next session.
Below is a full listing of the 2017-18 leadership positions for Assembly committees.
Assembly Committee on Aging and Long Term Care:
Chair: Rep. Weatherston, Vice-Chair: Rep. Petryk
Assembly Committee on Agriculture:
Chair: Rep. Nerison, Vice-Chair: Rep. Novak
Assembly Committee on Campaigns and Elections:
Chair Rep. Bernier, Vice-Chair Rep. Sanfelippo
Assembly Committee on Children and Families:
Chair: Rep. Kitchens, Vice-Chair: Rep. Gannon
Assembly Committee on Colleges and Universities:
Chair: Rep. Murphy, Vice-Chair: Rep. Tranel
Assembly Committee on Constitution and Ethics:
Chair: Rep. Allen, Vice-Chair Rep. Thiesfeldt
Assembly Committee on Consumer Protection:
Chair: Rep. Duchow, Vice-Chair Rep. Tittl
Assembly Committee on Corrections:
Chair: Rep. Schraa, Vice-Chair: Rep. Hutton
Assembly Committee on Criminal Justice and Public Safety:
Chair: Rep. Spiros, Vice-Chair: Rep. Kremer
Assembly Committee on Education:
Chair: Rep. Thiesfeldt, Vice-Chair: Rep. Kitchens
Assembly Committee on Energy and Utilities:
Chair: Rep. Kuglitsch, Vice-Chair: Rep. Steffen
Assembly Committee on Environment and Forestry:
Chair: Rep. Mursau, Vice-Chair: Rep. Krug
Assembly Committee on Family Law:
Chair: Rep. Rodriguez, Vice-Chair: Rep. Duchow
Assembly Committee on Federalism and Interstate Relations:
Chair: Rep. Vorpagel, Vice-Chair: Rep. Schraa
Assembly Committee on Financial Institutions:
Chair: Rep. Katsma, Vice-Chair: Rep. Jarchow
Assembly Committee on Government Accountability and Oversight:
Chair: Rep. Hutton, Vice-Chair: Rep. Brandtjen
Assembly Committee on Health:
Chair: Rep. Sanfelippo, Vice-Chair: Rep. Bernier
Assembly Committee on Housing and Real Estate:
Chair: Rep. Jagler, Vice-Chair: Rep. Allen
Assembly Committee on Insurance:
Chair: Rep. Petersen, Vice-Chair: Rep. Duchow
Assembly Committee on Jobs and the Economy:
Chair: Rep. Neylon, Vice-Chair: Rep. Ed Brooks
Assembly Committee on Judiciary:
Chair: Rep. J. Ott, Vice-Chair: Rep. Horlacher
Assembly Committee on Labor:
Chair: Rep. Kulp, Vice-Chair: Rep. Kuglitsch
Assembly Committee on Mental Health:
Chair: Rep. Tittl, Vice-Chair: Rep. Jagler
Assembly Committee on Rural Development and Mining:
Chair: Rep. VanderMeer, Vice-Chair: Rep. Kulp
Assembly Committee on Natural Resources and Sporting Heritage:
Chair: Rep. Kleefisch, Vice-Chair: Rep. Quinn
Assembly Committee on Public Benefit Reform:
Chair: Rep. Krug, Vice-Chair: Rep. Vorpagel
Assembly Committee on Regulatory Licensing Reform:
Chair: Rep. Horlacher, Vice-Chair: Rep. Ballweg
Assembly Committee on Science and Technology:
Chair: Rep. Quinn, Vice-Chair: Rep. Petersen
Assembly Committee on Small Business Development:
Chair: Rep. Tauchen, Vice-Chair: Rep. Edming
Assembly Committee on State Affairs:
Chair: Rep. Swearingen, Vice-Chair: Rep. Tauchen
Assembly Committee on Tourism:
Chair: Rep. Tranel, Vice-Chair: Rep. Swearingen
Assembly Committee on Transportation:
Chair: Rep. Ripp, Vice-Chair Rep. Spiros
Assembly Committee on Local Government:
Chair: Rep. Brooks, Vice-Chair: Rep. Ripp
Assembly Committee on Urban Revitalization:
Chair: Rep. Gannon, Vice-Chair: Rep. Fields (D)
Assembly Committee on Veterans and Military Affairs:
Chair: Rep. Skowronski, Vice-Chair: Rep. VanderMeer
Assembly Committee on Ways and Means:
Chair: Rep. Macco, Vice-Chair: Rep. Katsma
Assembly Committee on Workforce Development:
Chair: Rep. Petryk, Vice-Chair: Rep. Weatherston
Joint Audit Committee:
Chair: Rep. Kerkman, Vice-Chair: Rep. Macco
Assembly Committee on JCRAR:
Chair: Rep. Ballweg, Vice-Chair: Rep. Neylon
Joint Finance Committee:
Co-Chair: Rep. Nygren, Vice-Chair: Rep. Kooyenga
Legislative Council:
Chair: Rep. Brooks
Assembly Committee on Tax Exemptions:
Chair: Rep. August
Assembly Committee on Retirement Systems:
Chair: Rep. Novak
Assembly Committee on Information Policy and Technology:
Chair: Rep. Knodl, Vice-Chair: Rep. Jacque
Review Committee on Criminal Penalties:
Chair: Rep. Jarchow
Assembly Committee on Law Revision:
Chair: Rep. J. Ott
Assembly Committee on Building Commission:
Chair: Rep. Swearingen, Vice-Chair: Rep. Katsma