While the Ohio Senate has completed the process of filling committee assignments, the House has revised the number and scope of its standing committees and named the corresponding chairs.
The Senate kept intact the committee structure from the 126th General Assembly with some familiar faces serving as chairmen.
The House revisions have yielded two new committees, one of which is designed to address the biggest challenges facing small business, the rising cost of health care and the increasing number of uninsured. The Healthcare Access and Affordability Committee, chaired by Rep. Jim Raussen (Cincinnati), will focus on examining the state's health care and insurance system "to ensure it best serves the needs of Ohioans," according to Speaker Jon Husted (Kettering).
Rep. Steve Reinhard (Bucyrus) will head the newly formed Infrastructure, Homeland Security and Veterans' Affairs Committee.
Eight committees in the House will be led by NFIB members. They include:
- Agriculture and Natural Resources - Rep. Jim Aslanides (Coshocton)
- Criminal Justice - Rep. Bob Latta (Bowling Green)
- Economic Development and Environment - Rep. Thom Collier (Mt. Vernon)
- Financial Institutions, Real Estate and Securities - Rep. Chris Widener (Springfield)
- Infrastructure, Homeland Security and Veterans' Affairs - Rep. Steve Reinhard (Bucyrus)
- Local and Municipal Government and Urban Revitalization - Rep. Larry Wolpert (Hilliard)
- Public Utilities - Rep. John Hagan (Alliance)
- Ways and Means - Rep. Bob Gibbs (Lakeville)
