Leadership Positions Announced for State Assembly Committees

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