House Speaker Richard Corcoran announced a flurry of committee and subcommittee assignments for the 2016-2018 legislative sessions on Monday.
Corcoran has already begun to usher in what he considers a “new era” of lawmaking in Florida and the new committee members are onboard to help lead along the way. The House’s new leaders, Corcoran said, will have a great deal of involvement in setting the tone for the chamber’s priorities down the road.
Corcoran said the committee chairs were the ones who chose subcommittee chairs and committee members.
“We’ve changed the Rules of the House to increase accountability and transparency and we’ve changed the way committee and subcommittee chairmanships are chosen to decentralize authority,” he explained. “These reforms, and those to come, clearly demonstrate our commitment to changing the way business is done in Tallahassee. They should also reassure the people of Florida that when the House makes a promise, it is kept.”
Members receiving chair positions were upbeat about their new leadership roles.
"I am truly honored in the trust the speaker has placed in me to make sure we are investing our state dollars efficiently and effectively for the students in our great state," said PreK-12 Subcommittee chair Manny Diaz, Jr., R-Hialeah. "We look forwarded to investing in having a direct impact on student's lives and making that our priority."
Highlights of the list included:
Agriculture & Natural Resources Appropriations Subcommittee
Chair: Ben Albritton
Vice Chair: Charlie Stone
Democratic Ranking Member: Clovis Watson, Jr.
Agriculture & Property Rights Subcommittee
Chair: Tom Goodson
Vice Chair: Elizabeth Porter
Democratic Ranking Member: Katie Edwards
Appropriations Committee
Chair: Carlos Trujillo
Vice Chair: George Moraitis Jr.
Democratic Ranking Member: Jared Moskowitz
Children, Families & Seniors Subcommittee
Chair: Gayle Harrell
Vice Chair: Julio Gonzalez
Democratic Ranking Member: Clovis Watson, Jr.
Civil Justice & Claims Subcommittee
Chair: Heather Fitzenhagen
Vice Chair: Jay Fant
Democratic Ranking Member: Barbara Watson
Commerce Committee
Chair: Jose Felix Diaz
Vice Chair: Bryan Avila
Democratic Ranking Member: Evan Jenne
Criminal Justice Subcommittee
Chair: Ross Spano
Vice Chair: Julio Gonzalez
Democratic Ranking Member: Sharon Pritchett
Education Committee
Chair: Michael Bileca
Vice Chair: Robert Cortes
Democratic Ranking Member: Shevrin Jones
Government Accountability Committee
Chair: Matt Caldwell
Vice Chair: Charlie Stone
Democratic Ranking Member: Clovis Watson, Jr.
Government Operations & Technology Appropriations Subcommittee
Chair: Blaise Ingoglia
Vice Chair: Neil Combee
Democratic Ranking Member: John Cortes
Health & Human Services Committee
Chair: Travis Cummings
Vice Chair: David Santiago
Democratic Ranking Member: Bobby DuBose
Health Care Appropriations Subcommittee
Chair: Jason Brodeur
Vice Chair: Gayle Harrell
Democratic Ranking Member: David Richardson
Higher Education Appropriations Subcommittee
Chair: Larry Ahern
Vice Chair: Elizabeth Porter
Democratic Ranking Member: Larry Lee, Jr.
Judiciary Committee
Chair: Chris Sprowls
Vice Chair: Ross Spano
Democratic Ranking Member: Cynthia Stafford
Justice Appropriations Subcommittee
Chair: Bill Hager
Vice Chair: Eric Eisnaugle
Democratic Ranking Member: Sharon Pritchett
Local, Federal & Veterans Affairs Subcommittee
Chair: Scott Plakon
Vice Chair: Colleen Burton
Democratic Ranking Member: Joseph Abruzzo
Natural Resources & Public Lands Subcommittee
Chair: Holly Raschein
Vice Chair: Ben Albritton
Democratic Ranking Member: Kristin Jacobs
Post-Secondary Education Subcommittee
Chair: Elizabeth Porter
Vice Chair: Larry Ahern
Democratic Ranking Member: Richard Stark
PreK-12 Appropriations Subcommittee
Chair: Manny Diaz, Jr.
Vice Chair: Jake Raburn
Democratic Ranking Member: Larry Lee Jr.
Rules & Policy Committee
Chair: Jose Oliva
Vice Chair: Shawn Harrison
Democratic Ranking Member: Lori Berman
Tourism & Gaming Control Subcommittee
Chair: Mike La Rosa
Vice Chair: Mike Miller
Democratic Ranking Member: Joe Geller
Transportation & Infrastructure Subcommittee
Chair: Brad Drake
Vice Chair: Clay Ingram
Democratic Ranking Member: Barbara Watson
Transportation & Tourism Appropriations Subcommittee
Chair: Clay Ingram
Vice Chair: Brad Drake
Democratic Ranking Member: Evan Jenne
To see the full list of appointments, click here or view the document below.
Reach reporter Allison Nielsen by email at allison@sunshinestatenews.com or follow her on Twitter: @AllisonNielsen.
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