New House Local Government Committee Chair Announced

When lawmakers return for the first week of the 30-day short session on Jan. 7, some fresh faces will be holding the gavels in committees.

The all-important Local Government Committee, where most city bills are heard, will now be chaired by Representative Patrick Flannery, R-Olive Hill. The committee Vice-Chair is Representative Amy Neighbors, R-Edmonton.

Speaker David Osborne announced the formation of two new committees, the House Committee on Postsecondary Education and the House Committee on Primary and Secondary Education, to better address the issues currently before the House Education Committee. The committee jurisdictions will mirror the companion budget review subcommittees and allow lawmakers to focus on the specific issue areas.

“The creation of these two committees is further evidence of our commitment to ensuring every Kentucky student has an opportunity to reach their potential. These two areas of education have vastly different needs and challenges. By focusing our efforts on the unique needs of each level, we can strengthen our approach,” Osborne added. “We invest more in education than almost every other category of the budget put together.

House standing committees meet while the legislature is in session to deliberate the issues under consideration. Each committee has jurisdiction over the issues in specific subject matter. All legislation must go through the committee process before being considered by the full House. When the legislature is not in session, House and Senate standing committees combine to become interim joint committees. The 2025 House Standing Committee Chairs and Vice Chairs include:

Agriculture – Representative Myron Dossett, Chair, and Representative Dan Fister, Vice Chair

Appropriations and Revenue – Representative Jason Petrie, Chair, Representative Adam Bowling, Vice Chair, and Representative Josh Bray, Vice Chair

Budget Review Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Protection, Tourism, and Energy – Representative Chris Fugate, Chair

Budget Review Subcommittee on General Government – Representative Chris Freeland, Chair

Budget Review Subcommittee on Health and Family Services – Representative Ken Fleming, Chair, and Representative Wade Williams, Vice Chair

Budget Review Subcommittee on Justice, Public Safety, and Judiciary – Representative Stephanie Dietz, Chair

Budget Review Subcommittee on Personnel, Public Retirement, and Finance – Representative Walker Thomas, Chair

Budget Review Subcommittee on Postsecondary Education – Representative Steve Riley, Chair

Budget Review Subcommittee on Primary and Secondary Education and Workforce Development – Representative Kim Banta, Chair

Budget Review Subcommittee on Transportation – Representative Ken Upchurch, Chair, and Representative Randy Bridges, Vice Chair

Banking and Insurance – Representative Michael Meredith, Chair, Representative Matt Lockett, Vice Chair, and Representative Sarge Pollock, Vice Chair

Economic Development and Workforce Investment – Representative Josh Branscum, Chair, and Representative Thomas Huff, Vice Chair

Elections, Constitutional Amendments and Intergovernmental Affairs – Representative DJ Johnson, Chair, and Representative John Hodgson, Vice Chair

Enrollment – Representative Thomas Huff, Chair

Family Services – Representative Samara Heavrin, Chair, and Representative Nick Wilson, Vice Chair

Health Services – Representative Kim Moser, Chair, and Representative Robert Duvall, Vice Chair

Judiciary – Representative Daniel Elliott, Chair, and Representative Jennifer Decker, Vice Chair

Licensing, Occupations, and Administrative Regulations – Representative Matt Koch, Chair, and Representative Tom O’Dell Smith, Vice Chair

Local Government – Representative Patrick Flannery, Chair, and Representative Amy Neighbors, Vice Chair

Natural Resources and Energy – Representative Jim Gooch, Chair, Representative Richard White, Vice Chair, and Representative Jared Bauman, Vice Chair

Postsecondary Education – Representative James A. Tipton, Chair, and Representative Shane Baker, Vice Chair

Primary and Secondary Education – Representative Scott Lewis, Chair, and Representative Mike Clines, Vice Chair

Small Business and Information Technology – Representative Deanna Frazier Gordon, Chair, and Representative William Lawrence, Vice Chair

State Government – Representative David Hale, Chair, and Representative Rebecca Raymer, Vice Chair

Tourism and Outdoor Recreation – Representative Kim King, Chair, and Representative Susan Witten, Vice Chair

Transportation – Representative John Blanton, Chair, and Representative Mary Beth Imes, Vice Chair

Veterans, Military Affairs, and Public Protection – Representative Bobby McCool, Chair, and Representative Bill Wesley, Vice Chair