Iowa House Speaker Kraig Paulsen has announced who will lead all the standing and appropriations committees for the 2013 legislative session. Below I’ve posted the full list of Republican House leaders and committee chairs. Where relevant, I’ve noted changes since last year.
Iowa House Republican leadership team
Speaker Kraig Paulsen was first elected in 2002 and just re-elected from House district 67, covering suburban and rural areas in Linn County.
Majority Leader Linda Upmeyer was first elected in 2002 and just re-elected in House district 54, covering all of Franklin County and parts of Cerro Gordo and Butler counties.
Speaker Pro Tem Steve Olson was first elected in 2002 and just re-elected in House district 97, including parts of Scott and Clinton counties. Last year’s Speaker Pro Tem Jeff Kaufmann retired.
Majority Whip Chris Hagenow was first elected in 2008 and just re-elected (subject to a recount) in House district 43, covering some western suburbs of Des Moines. Last year’s Majority Whip Erik Helland lost the 2012 Republican primary in Iowa House district 39.
Assistant majority leaders: Matt Windschitl was first elected in 2006 from district 56 and just re-elected in district 17, covering all of Ida and Monona Counties and parts of Harrison and Woodbury Counties. Windschitl was also an assistant majority leader in 2012.
Walt Rogers was first elected in 2010 and just re-elected in House district 60, covering parts of Waterloo and Black Hawk County.
Jeff Smith was first elected in 2010 and just re-elected in House district 1, covering all of Lyon and Osceola Counties and part of Dickinson County.
Joel Fry was first elected in 2010 and just re-elected in House district 27, covering Clarke, Decatur, and Wayne Counties, and part of Lucas County.
Standing committees
Administrative Rules Review
Dawn Pettengill was first elected in 2004 (as a Democrat) and switched to the Republican caucus in 2007. She was just re-elected in House district 75, covering Benton County and part of Iowa County.
Administration and Rules
Matt Windschitl (see above). Last year Renee Schulte chaired this committee, but she lost her re-election bid in House district 66.
Agriculture
Pat Grassley was first elected in 2006 and just re-elected in House district 50, covering Grundy County and parts of Hardin and Butler. Last year Annette Sweeney chaired this committee, but Grassley defeated her in the GOP primary to represent House district 50.
Appropriations
Chuck Soderberg was first elected in 2004 and just re-elected in House district 5, covering most of Plymouth and part of Woodbury Counties. Last year Scott Raecker chaired the Appropriations Committee, but he did not seek re-election. Last year’s vice chair, Nick Wagner, was expected to take over this committee, but he lost his re-election bid in House district 68.
Administration and Regulation Appropriations Subcommittee: Ralph Watts was first elected in 2002 and just re-elected in House district 19, covering part of Dallas County and a small area in northern Polk County.
Agriculture and Natural Resources Appropriations Subcommittee: Jack Drake was first elected in 1992 and just re-elected in House district 21, covering all of Union and Adams Counties and parts of Cass and Pottawattamie Counties.
Economic Development Appropriations Subcommittee: Dave Deyoe was first elected in 2006 and just re-elected in House district 49, covering parts of Story and Hardin Counties. Last year Jason Schultz chaired this appropriations subcommittee.
Education Appropriations Subcommittee: Cecil Dolecheck was first elected in 1996 and just re-elected in House district 24, covering Ringgold, Taylor and Page Counties and part of Montgomery County.
Health and Human Services Appropriations Subcommittee: Dave Heaton was first elected in 1994 and just re-elected in House district 84, covering Henry County and parts of Lee, Washington and Jefferson Counties.
Justice System Appropriations Subcommittee: Gary Worthan was first elected in 2006 and just re-elected in House district 11, covering all of Buena Vista and Sac Counties.
Transportation, Infrastructure, and Capitals Appropriations: Dan Huseman was first elected in 1994 and just re-elected in House district 3, covering O’Brien and Cherokee Counties and parts of Sioux and Plymouth.
Commerce
Peter Cownie was first elected in 2008 and just re-elected in House district 42, covering parts of Des Moines and West Des Moines. Last year Chuck Soderberg chaired this committee.
Economic Growth
Mary Ann Hanusa was first elected in 2010 and just re-elected in House district 16, covering part of Council Bluffs. Last year Pat Grassley chaired this committee, and Hanusa served as vice chair.
Education
Ron Jorgensen was first elected in 2010 and just re-elected in House district 6, covering parts of Sioux City and Woodbury County. Last year Greg Forristall chaired this committee. He publicly criticized a bill that would have restricted early school opening dates, which House Speaker Paulsen supported.
Environmental Protection
Lee Hein was first elected in 2010 and just re-elected in House district 96, covering all of Delaware County and part of Jones County. Last year Steve Olson (just named House speaker pro tem) chaired this committee.
Ethics
Jeff Smith (see bio above) is the new chair of this committee, as well as an assistant majority leader. Last year Kevin Koester chaired this committee.
Government Oversight
Kevin Koester was first elected in 2008 and just re-elected in House district 38, covering a large part of northeast Polk County. Last year Chris Hagenow, now majority whip, chaired this committee.
Human Resources
Linda Miller was first elected in 2006 and just re-elected in House district 94, covering part of Bettendorf in Scott County.
Judiciary
Chip Baltimore was first elected in 2010 and just re-elected in House district 47, covering most of Boone County and all of Greene County. Last year Rich Anderson chaired this committee, but he retired.
Labor
Greg Forristall was first elected in 2006 and just re-elected in House district 22, covering most of Pottawattamie County outside Council Bluffs. Last year Lance Horbach chaired this committee, but he retired.
Local Government
Jason Schultz was first elected in 2008 and just re-elected in House district 18, covering all of Shelby County and parts of Crawford and Harrison Counties. Last year Nick Wagner chaired this committee, but he lost his re-election bid.
Natural Resources
Henry Rayhons was first elected to the Iowa House in 1996 and just re-elected in House district 8, covering Wright and Hancock Counties and part of Kossuth County.
Public Safety
Clel Baudler was first elected in 1998 and just re-elected in House district 20, covering all of Guthrie and Adair Counties and parts of Cass and Dallas Counties.
State Government
Guy Vander Linden was first elected in 2010 and just re-elected in House district 79, covering most of Mahaska County and the Pella area of Marion County. Last year Peter Cownie chaired this committee.
Transportation
Josh Byrnes was first elected in 2010 and just re-elected in House district 51, covering Worth, Mitchell, and Howard Counties, and part of Winneshiek. Last year Dave Tjepkes chaired this committee, but he retired.
Veterans Affairs
Dwayne Alons was first elected in 1998 and just re-elected in House district 4, covering most of Sioux County. Although he is one of the longest-serving Iowa House Republicans, Alons was shut out of the committee chairmanships in 2011 and 2012. Paulsen didn’t even make him a vice chair of any committee before now. Last year Royd Chambers chaired the Veterans Affairs Committee, but he retired.
Ways and Means
Tom Sands was first elected in 2002 and just re-elected in House district 88, covering all of Louisa County and large parts of Des Moines and Muscatine Counties.