House Speaker-elect J.D. Mesnard has announced his assignments to House Committees. Democratic Leader Rebecca Rios is expected to announce committee assignments in the near future.
Mesnard named Rep. T.J. Shope as Speaker Pro Tem. In that capacity, Shope, not known for his intellect, will serve as Mesnard’s right-hand-man.
| Committee on Appropriations Rep. Shooter, Chair Rep. Livingston, Vice Chair Rep. Bowers Rep. Carter Rep. Cobb Rep. Leach Rep. Norgaard Rep. Rivero Rep. Ugenti-Rita | Sub-Committee on Appropriations—Education Rep. Norgaard, Chair Rep. Heather Carter, Vice Chair Sub-Committee on Appropriations—Public Safety, Infrastructure & Resources Rep. Leach, Chair Rep. Livingston, Vice Chair Subcommittee on Appropriations—Health & Welfare Rep. Regina Cobb, Chair Rep. Tony Rivero, Vice Chair |
| Committee on Rules Rep. Phil Lovas, Chair Rep. Paul Boyer, Vice Chair Rep. John Allen Rep. Eddie Farnsworth Rep. TJ Shope Rep. Kelly Townsend | Committee on Ways & Means Rep. Michelle Ugenti-Rita, Chair Rep. Leach, Vice Chair Rep. Kern Rep. Lawrence Rep. Payne Rep. Weninger |
| Committee on Banking & Insurance Rep. David Livingston, Chair Rep. Farnsworth, Vice Chair Rep. Lovas Rep. Paul Mosley Rep. Jeff Weninger | Committee on Military, Veterans & Regulatory Affairs Rep. Jay Lawrence, Chair Rep. Mark Finchem, Vice Chair Rep. Noel Campbell Rep. Travis Grantham Rep. Anthony Kern |
| Committee on Judiciary & Public Safety Rep. Farnsworth, Chair Rep. Kern, Vice Chair Rep. Boyer Rep. Finchem Rep. Stringer Rep. Syms | Committee on Transportation & Infrastructure Rep. Campbell, Chair Rep. John, Vice Chair Rep. Cook Rep. Mosley Rep. Payne |
| Committee on Commerce Rep. Weninger, Chair Rep. Norgaard, Vice Chair Rep. Todd Clodfelter Rep. Darin Mitchell Rep. Shope Rep. Maria Syms | Committee on Federalism, Property Rights & Public Policy Rep. Bob Thorpe, Chair Rep. Finchem, Vice Chair Rep. Campbell Rep. Grantham Rep. Kevin Payne Rep. Stringer |
| Committee on Education Rep. Boyer, Chair Rep. Coleman, Vice Chair Rep. Rusty Bowers Rep. Jill Norgaard Rep. Becky Nutt Rep. Don Shooter Rep. David Stringer Rep. Michelle Udall | Committee on Energy, Environment & Natural Resources Rep. Bowers, Chair Rep. Brenda Barton, Vice Chair Rep. Cook Rep. Vince Leach Rep. Mosley Rep. Udall |
| Committee on Local & International Affairs Rep. Rivero, Chair Rep. Clodfelter, Vice Chair Rep. Drew John Rep. Nutt | Committee on Health Rep. Carter, Chair Rep. Cobb, Vice Chair Rep. Lawrence Rep. Rivero Rep. Syms Rep. Udall |
| Committee on Government Rep. Coleman, Chair Rep. Thorpe, Vice Chair Rep. Clodfelter Rep. John Rep. Ugenti-Rita | Committee on Land, Agriculture & Rural Affairs Rep. Barton, Chair Rep. Mitchell, Vice Chair Rep. Cook Rep. Grantham Rep. Nutt |
Rep. Anthony Kern was made chair of the Joint Legislative Audit Committee. Rep. Eddie Farnsworth was named chair of the Ethics Committee.
Despite the fact that Rep. Darin Mitchell pulled out of the race for speaker, allowing Mesnard to run unopposed, Mesnard still made the petty choice of denying him a chairmanship.
Mesnard gained attention when he attempted to spar with members of the public during a House Elections Committee hearing last year. While Rep. Ugenti-Rita earned high praise for her handling of the hearing, Mesnard showed contempt for the public. Later his website was attacked by hackers. Visitors to his site were redirected to a hardcore pornography site.
Mesnard has said he is interested in reintroducing the National Popular Vote (NPV) bill. He has not responded to an inquiry has to whether he will push a NPV bill this session.
| Speaker of the House J.D. Mesnard |