House committee structure and chairs named for upcoming biennium

House Republican leadership has announced the committee structure and chairs for the 90th legislative biennium scheduled to convene Jan. 3, 2017.

The plan is for 27 committees, divisions or subcommittees, one more than the 2015-16 biennium. Committee membership is expected to be named in mid-December.

“Our committee chairs are eager to get to work tackling the critical issues facing Minnesota families,” House Speaker Kurt Daudt (R-Crown) said in a statement. “Lowering health care costs, growing good-paying jobs, and reducing the tax burden on middle-class families will be shared priorities of Republicans in Saint Paul, and we look forward to working with the new Senate Republican Majority to build a Minnesota that works.”

“We’re particularly excited about subcommittees that will focus on key issues including making childcare more affordable, caring for our aging loved ones, and ensuring that key industries like mining, forestry, and tourism remain vibrant,” added House Majority Leader Joyce Peppin (R-Rogers).

Senate Republicans also announced their committee chairs Tuesday.

The House committee schedule will change slightly.

Floor sessions remain at 3:30 p.m. Monday and Thursday. The two morning block start times of 8:15 a.m. and 10: 15 a.m. Tuesday through Thursday will remain. However, the afternoon meetings are each pushed back 15 minutes with start times of 1 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday and 3 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday.

Monday has a single committee block of 1 p.m. to 2:45 p.m., with the exception of the House Ways and Committee, which, when it meets, is scheduled to do so at 10:15 a.m. The House will have no regularly scheduled Friday meetings.

Committees act as filters, deciding which of the thousands of bills introduced during the two-year biennium will get a hearing and move through the legislative process.

Under House Rules, 30 days before a session convenes, the speaker-designate submits to the leader of the minority caucus the committee structure, along with the number of minority caucus members to be appointed to each committee. The minority caucus members make their assignment request through the minority leader, who submits the names to the speaker-designate at least 15 days before convening a new session.