As the 2021 Legislative Session quickly approaches, each chamber’s Republican and Democratic caucuses have been meeting to discuss their legislative priorities for the upcoming session, electing each caucus’ leadership and assigning committee chairs and vice chairs.
Senate Republican leadership remains the same, with Democrats electing Reggie Thomas as Caucus Chair. The lone change in House Republican leadership is Steven Rudy, who was chosen by his peers as Floor Leader. House Democrats re-elected their current leadership team.
The Local Government committees in each chamber hear the vast majority of bills that affect counties. In the House, Chairman Michael Meredith (Oakland) will continue in that role. The Senate State and Local Government committee will see a new chair in Robby Mills (Henderson), replacing former chair Wil Schroder (Wilder), who will take over the helm of Economic Development, Tourism and Labor.
Another key committee, Appropriations and Revenue, will have a new House chair in Jason Petrie (Elkton), while Chris McDaniel (Taylor Mill) remains the Senate committee chair.
House Republican Leadership
Speaker David Osborne (Prospect)
Speaker Pro Tem David Meade (Stanford)
Majority Floor Leader Steven Rudy (Paducah)
Majority Caucus Chair Suzanne Miles (Owensboro)
Majority Whip Chad McCoy (Bardstown)
House Democratic Leadership
Minority Floor Leader Joni Jenkins (Shively)
Minority Caucus Chair Derrick Graham (Frankfort)
Minority Whip Angie Hatton (Whitesburg)
Senate Republican Leadership
President Robert Stivers (Manchester)
President Pro Tem David Givens (Greensburg)
Majority Floor Leader Damon Thayer (Georgetown)
Majority Caucus Chair Julie Raque Adams (Louisville)
Majority Whip Mike Wilson (Bowling Green)
Senate Democratic Leadership
Minority Floor Leader Morgan McGarvey (Louisville)
Minority Whip Dennis Parrett (Elizabethtown)
Minority Caucus Chair Reggie Thomas (Lexington)
This week, House and Senate leadership announced chairs for the 2021 legislative standing committees. All chairs are in the Republican party.
Representatives appointed to chair standing House committees
Agriculture ‒ Richard Heath (Mayfield)
Appropriations and Revenue ‒ Jason Petrie (Elkton)
Banking and Insurance ‒ Bart Rowland (Tompkinsville)
Economic Development and Workforce Investment ‒ Russell Webber (Shepherdsville)
Education ‒ Regina Huff (Williamsburg)
Elections, Constitutional Amendments and Intergovernmental Affairs ‒ Kevin Bratcher (Louisville)
Heath and Family Services ‒ Kim Moser (Taylor Mill)
Judiciary ‒ Ed Massey (Hebron)
Licensing, Occupations and Administrative Regulations ‒ Adam Koenig (Erlanger)
Local Government ‒ Michael Meredith (Oakland)
Natural Resources and Energy ‒ Jim Gooch (Providence)
Small Business and Information Technology ‒ Phillip Pratt (Georgetown)
State Government ‒ Jerry Miller (Louisville)
Tourism and Outdoor Recreation ‒ Kim King (Harrodsburg)
Transportation ‒ Ken Upchurch (Monticello)
Veterans, Military Affairs and Public Protection ‒ Walker Thomas (Hopkinsville)
Senators appointed to chair standing Senate committees
Agriculture ‒ Paul Hornback (Shelbyville)
Appropriations and Revenue ‒ Chris McDaniel (Taylor Mill)
Banking and Insurance ‒ Jared Carpenter (Berea)
Economic Development, Tourism and Labor ‒ Wil Schroder (Wilder)
Education ‒ Max Wise (Campbellsville)
Enrollment ‒ Brandon Storm* (London)
Health and Welfare ‒ Ralph Alvarado (Winchester)
Judiciary ‒ Whitney Westerfield (Hopkinsville)
Licensing, Occupations and Administrative Regulations ‒ John Schickel (Union)
Natural Resources and Energy ‒ Brandon Smith (Hazard)
State and Local Government ‒ Robby Mills (Henderson)
Transportation ‒ Jimmy Higdon (Lebanon)
Veterans, Military Affairs and Public Protection ‒ C.B. Embry (Morgantown)
*Newly elected senator