House Appoints Committee Chairs

The Kentucky House of Representatives announced who will chair and cochair committees for the upcoming session. Several new legislators will head up standing committees, including the House Local Government Committee. The House also divided the former Health and Family Services Committee into two separate groups.

House standing committees meet while the legislature is in session to deliberate bills and issues. All legislation must go through the committee process before being considered by the full House. Here are the 2023 committee chairs and vice chairs:

*Designates new appointment

  • Agriculture ‒ Richard Heath (R-Mayfield) Chair, * Mark Hart (R-Falmouth) Vice Chair
  • Appropriations & Revenue ‒ Jason Petrie (R-Elkton) Chair, Brandon Reed (R-Hodgenville) Vice Chair
    • Budget Review Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Protection, Tourism, and Energy – *Chris Fugate (R-Chavies) Chair
    • Budget Review Subcommittee on General Government – *Chris Freeland (R-Benton) Chair
    • Budget Review Subcommittee on Health and Family Services – Danny Bentley (R-Russell) Chair
    • Budget Review Subcommittee on Justice, Public Safety, and Judiciary – *Patrick Flannery (R-Olive Hill) Chair
    • Budget Review Subcommittee on Personnel, Public Retirement, and Finance – *Ken Fleming (R-Louisville) Chair
    • Budget Review Subcommittee on Postsecondary Education – *James Tipton (R-Taylorsville) Chair
    • Budget Review Subcommittee on Primary and Secondary Education and Workforce Development – *Kim Banta (R-Fort Mitchell) Chair
    • Budget Review Subcommittee on Transportation – *Ken Upchurch (R-Monticello) Chair
  • Banking and Insurance – *Michael Meredith (R-Oakland) Chair, *Matt Lockett (R-Nicholasville) and Sarge Pollock (R-Campbellsville) Vice Chairs
  • Economic Development and Workforce Investment – Russell Webber (R-Shepherdsville) Chair, *Josh Branscum (R-Russell Springs) Vice Chair
  • Education – *James Tipton (R-Taylorsville) Chair, *Timmy Truett (R-McKee) and *Shane Baker (R-Somerset) Vice Chairs
  • Elections, Constitutional Amendments and Intergovernmental Affairs – Kevin Bratcher (R-Louisville) Chair, *Josh Calloway (R-Irvington) Vice Chair
  • Enrollment – *Thomas Huff (R-Shepherdsville) Chair
  • Health – Kim Moser (R-Taylor Mill) Chair, *Ryan Dotson (R-Winchester) Vice Chair
  • Family Services – *Samara Heavrin (R-Leitchfield) Chair, *Steve Riley (R-Glasgow) Vice Chair
  • Judiciary – *Daniel Elliott (R-Danville) Chair, *Jennifer Decker (R-Waddy) Vice Chair
  • Licensing, Occupations, and Administrative Regulations – *Matt Koch (R-Paris) Chair, *Tom O’Dell Smith (R-Corbin) Vice Chair
  • Local Government – *Randy Bridges (R-Paducah) Chair, *Josh Bray (R-Mount Vernon) Vice Chair
  • Natural Resources and Energy – Jim Gooch (R-Providence) Chair, *Bill Wesley (R-Ravenna) and Richard White (R-Morehead) Vice Chairs
  • Small Business and Information Technology – Phillip Pratt (R-Georgetown) Chair, *William Lawrence (R-Maysville) Vice Chair
  • State Government – *David Hale (R-Wellington) Chair, *Mary Beth Imes (R-Murray) Vice Chair
  • Tourism and Outdoor Recreation – Kim King (R-Harrodsburg) Chair, *Shawn McPherson (R-Scottsville) Vice Chair
  • Transportation – *John Blanton (R-Salyersville) Chair, *Jonathan Dixon (R-Corydon) Vice Chair
  • Veterans, Military Affairs, and Public Protection – Walker Thomas (R-Hopkinsville) Chair, *Scott Sharp (R-Ashland) Vice Chair

The House also appointed leadership to statutory committees, which consist of members of both the House and Senate and focus on specific areas.

  • Administrative Regulation Review Subcommittee – *Derek Lewis (R-London) Chair
  • Capital Planning Advisory Board – *Nancy Tate (R-Brandenburg) Chair
  • Capital Projects and Bond Oversight – *Deanna Frazier Gordon (R-Richmond) Chair
  • Commission on Race and Access to Opportunity – *Killian Timoney (R-Nicholasville) Chair
  • Education Assessment and Accountability Review Subcommittee – *Scott Lewis (R-Hartford) Chair
  • Government Contract Review – *Mark Hart (R-Falmouth) Chair
  • Legislative Oversight and Investigations – *Adam Bowling (R-Middlesboro) Chair
  • Public Pension Oversight Board – *DJ Johnson (R-Owensboro) Chair
  • Tobacco Settlement Agreement Fund Oversight Committee – Myron Dossett (R-Pembroke) Chair

“This is a tremendously talented group of individuals who are well-prepared to take the lead on these issues,” remarked House Speaker David Osborne (R-Prospect). “I’m grateful that they are willing to serve our commonwealth and look forward to continuing our efforts to make Kentucky an even better place to call home.”