OKPOLICY.ORG
Incoming Oklahoma House Speaker Kyle Hilbert, R-Bristow, finalized his leadership and committee chair appointments last week in preparation for the upcoming legislative session that begins Feb. 3. Several of the top appointments have been poorly kept secrets for a while.
Topping the appointments are Majority Floor Leader Josh West, R-Grove; Appropriations and Budget Chair Trey Caldwell, R-Faxon, who moved up from Vice Chair when former Chair Kevin Wallace, R-Wellston, was defeated in his primary runoff election; and Majority Leader Rep. Mark Lawson, R-Sapulpa, a close friend and ally of the Speaker-elect. Rep. John Kane, R-Bartlesville, will replace Caldwell as Appropriations & Budget Vice Chair.
West and Hilbert, also good friends, vowed not to run against each other. After they both sounded out support for a speaker’s race last year, West decided to support Hilbert and angle for the Majority Floor Leader position.
Rounding out the House leadership team will be Speaker Pro Tem-elect Anthony Moore, R-Clinton, who earlier won a close race for Speaker Pro Tem against Rep. Carl Newton, R-Cherokee; Rep. Stan May, R-Broken Arrow, who was re-elected as Republican Caucus Chair; Caucus Vice Chair Rep. Nick Archer, R-Elk City; Caucus Secretary Rep. Josh Cantrell, R-Kingston; Floor Leader Josh West; Deputy Floor Leaders Rep. John Pfeiffer, R-Mulhall, and Rep. Steve Bashore, R-Miami, who both continue from last session to serve as in those positions; Majority Whip Tammy West, R-Oklahoma City; Majority Leader Lawson; and Deputy Majority Leader Rep. Toni Hasenbeck, R-Elgin.
Also included on the leadership team will be two newly created leadership positions: Tribal and External Affairs, Rep. Scott Fetgatter, R-Okmulgee, and Counselor to the Speaker, Rep. Chris Kannady, R-Oklahoma City.
In a new committee structure, Hilbert has also created six Committee Oversight chairs and vice chairs. The chairs will serve on the floor leader team that screens bills that have passed out of committee and are available to be heard on the floor.
The new Commerce and Economic Development Oversight committee will be chaired by Rep. Brian Hill, R-Mustang, with Rep. Mark Tedford, R-Tulsa serving as vice chair. The Business Committee will be chaired by Rep. Chris Banning, R-Bixby; Government Modernization and Technology Committee will be chaired by Rep. Cody Maynard, R-Durant; the Insurance Committee will be chaired by Rep. Chris Sneed, R-Fort Gibson; the Tourism committee will be chaired by Rep. Tammy Townley, R-Ardmore; and the Transportation committee will be chaired by Rep. Ronny Johns, R-Ada.
The Education Oversight Committee will be chaired by Rep. Dell Kerbs, R-Shawnee, with Rep. Toni Hasenbeck, R-Elgin, serving as vice chair. The Common Education committee will be chaired by Rep. Dick Lowe, R-Amber, and the Postsecondary Education Committee will be chaired by Rep. Hasenbeck.
The Government Oversight Committee will be chaired by Rep. Kevin West, R-Moore with Rep. Neil Hays, R-Checotah, serving as vice chair. The County and Municipal Government Committee will be chaired by Rep. Eddy Dempsey, R-Valliant; the Elections & Ethics Committee will be chaired by Rep. Jim Olsen, R-Roland; the General Government Committee will be chaired by Rep. Eric Roberts, R-Oklahoma City; the Banking, Financial Services & Pensions Committee will be chaired by Rep. Mark Lepak, R-Claremore; and the State Powers Committee, will be chaired by Rep. Jay Steagall, R-Yukon.
The Health & Human Services Oversight Committee will be chaired by Rep. Carl Newton, R-Cherokee, and Josh Cantrell, R-Kingston will serve as vice chair. The Public Health Committee will be chaired by Rep. Cynthia Roe, R-Lindsay; the Alcohol, Tobacco and Controlled Substances Committee will be chaired by Rep. TJ Marti, R-Tulsa; the Children, Youth and Family Services Committee will be chaired by Rep. Danny Williams, R-Seminole; and the Veteran and Military Affairs Committee will be chaired by Rep David Smith, R-McAlester.
The Energy and Natural Resources Oversight Committee will be chaired by Rep. Brad Boles, R-Marlow, and Rep. John Pfeiffer, R-Mulhall, will serve as vice chair. The Agriculture Committee will be chaired by Rep. Kenton Patzkowsky, R-Balko; the Utilities Committee will be chaired by Rep. Mike Dobrinski, R-Okeene; the Wildlife Committee will be chaired by Rep. John George, R-Newalla; and the Energy Committee, chaired by Rep. Nick Archer, R-Elk City.
The Judiciary and Public Safety Oversight Committee will be chaired by Rep. Robert Manger, R-Oklahoma City, and Rep. Collin Duel, R-Guthrie, will serve as vice chair. The Civil Judiciary Committee will be chaired by Rep. Duel; the Criminal Judiciary Committee chaired by Rep. Rande Worthen, R-Lawton; and the Public Safety Committee will be chaired by Rep. David Hardin, R-Stilwell.
It remains to be seen exactly how these oversight committees will function. The idea is to provide another layer of scrutiny for bills before they reach the House floor.
Finally, of great importance, are the 11 Appropriations and Budget subcommittee chairs and vice chairs. The Appropriations and Budget subcommittees provide the first level of detailed scrutiny over the budgets and performance of the state agencies under their jurisdiction and will help write the budget for Fiscal Year 2026, which starts July 1, 2025.
These are the Appropriations and Budget subcommittee leaders:
- Education Appropriations: Chair Rep. Chad Caldwell, R-Enid, and Vice Chair Rep. Mark Vancuren, R-Owasso (who last week announced his resignation to take a position with the Tulsa County);
- Finance, which hears bills affecting state revenue: Chair Rep. Ty Burns, R-Morrison, and Vice Chair Rep. Ryan Eaves, R-Atoka;
- General Government Appropriations: Chair, Rep. Judd Strom, R-Copan, and Vice Chair Rep. Eric Roberts, R-Oklahoma City;
- Health Appropriations: Chair Rep. Preston Stinson, R-Edmond, and Vice Chair Rep. TJ Marti, R-Tulsa;
- Human Services Appropriations: Chair Rep. Daniel Pae, R-Lawton; Vice Chair, and Rep. Emily Gise, R-Oklahoma City;
- Judiciary Appropriations: Chair Rep. Danny Sterling, R-Tecumseh, and Vice Chair Rep. Erick W. Harris, R-Edmond;
- Natural Resources Appropriations: Chair, Rep. Jim Grego, R-Wilburton, and Vice Chair Rep. Carl Newton, R-Cherokee;
- Public Safety Appropriations: Chair Rep. Ross Ford, R- Broken Arrow, and Vice Chair, Rep. Tim Turner, R-Kinta;
- Select Agencies: Chair Rep. Ken Luttrell, R-Ponca City, and Vice Chair Rep. Clay Staires, R-Skiatook; and
- Transportation Appropriations: Chair Rep. Nicole Miller, R-Edmond, and Vice Chair Rep. Jason Blair, R-Moore.
Remaining decisions for the Speaker include the membership on each committee, which should be announced before session begins.
