New Senate committee chairs were announced Wednesday, and all but one committee has a new Senator leading it.
The May primaries set the gears in motion for a windfall of changes to the Republican supermajority controlled state Senate. Sen. President Craig Blair, R-Berkely, lost the Republican primary election to Tom Willis.
In early December there was a three way election between two of the most powerful senators, Eric Tarr, R-Putnam, and Tom Takubo, R-Kanawha, and Sen. Randy Smith, R-Tucker to determine who would lead the Senate.
Smith won that election.
Now less than a month out from the beginning of the 2025 Regular session 9 out of 16 committees have rolled out new leadership.
“I knew that I wanted fresh perspectives and a new approach to how we work as a team to address the challenges that are facing West Virginia,” Smith said. “Each one of our committee chairmen and vice chairmen brings a unique perspective to the table, and I am very excited about the work that we will accomplish together.”
The two biggest and most influential committees, Judiciary and Finance, have new chairs. The Finance chair is now Sen. Jason Barrette, R-Berkeley, and the vice chairperson is Sen. Rollan Roberts, R-Raleigh.
Barrette said he wants to focus on keeping the budget flat and addressing public employee health insurance.
The new Judiciary Committee chair is Sen. Mike Stuart, R-Kanawha, and the vice chairperson is Willis. Both Senators are in their first term, with Willis being elected in 2024
These committees are powerful in part due to the broad topics they cover. Most bills that make it over the finish line spend some time in one, or both of these committees. Another power they have is the ability to look at, and possibly kill, any bill that could remotely fall under their umbrellas. For example, in 2024 former Finance Chair Tarr sent a bill that he disagreed with to his committee where it died.
Sen. Amy Grady, R-Mason, was notably re-assigned to chair the Education. Grady’s assignment carried over from the 2023 appointments, where she was assigned to the position by Blair. Education is another powerful, and potentially controversial committee. The committee weighed in on issues on school discipline, arming teachers, and transgendered persons’ access to bathrooms.
Patricia Rucker, R-Jefferson, was removed from the House Education Committee by Blair. Now Senate President Smith has assigned her to chair the Government Organization Committee, another influential committee.
The chair of the Health and Human Resources Committee is Sen. Laura Wakim Chapman, R-Ohio. This committee has been in the mix of a litany of problems involving the break up of the Department of Health and Human Services, and the three departments they were broken into. That committee was previously chaired by Sen. Mike Maroney, R-Monongalia, who was removed from the assignment after being arrested. Maroney then lost his 2024 election bid for that Senate seat.
The Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee will be split into two separate committees. The Agriculture Committee will be chaired by the newly elected Sen. Craig Hart, R-Mingo. The Natural Resources Committee will be chaired by Sen. Bill Hamilton, R-Upshur.
In addition, Senate President Smith has authorized the creation of the Select Committee on Substance Abuse and Mental Health.
“Our Senate committees focus on issues that touch the lives of every West Virginian,” Smith said. “I am lucky to have such a variety of members with vast experiences willing to step up and assume these roles, and I look forward to getting our hard work started.”
That committee will be chaired by incoming Sen. Brian Helton, R-Fayette.
The Energy, Industry and Mining committee that was previously chaired by Smith, has been assigned to Sen. Chris Rose, a newly elected Republican from Monongalia.
The Military Committee will be chaired by former majority whip Sen. Ryan Weld, R-Brooke. The Pensions Committee will be chaired by Sen. Mike Oliverio, R-Monongalia. Banking and Insurance will be Chaired by Sen. Mike Azinger, R-Wood. Economic Development will be chaired by Sen. Glen Jeffries, R-Putnam. Sen. Confirmations will be chaired by Sen. Donna Boley, R-Pleasants. Enrolled Bills will be chaired by Jack Woodrum, R-Summers.
Smith’s opponents in the bid for the Senate Presidency, Eric Tarr and Tom Takubo did not receive a position in Senate leadership, or a committee chair or vice chair assignment.