Ohio House Speaker Announces Committee Chairs for 135th General Assembly

Jennifer Price
President & CEO, OEDA 

Speaker Jason Stephens has announced his appointments for 28 House Committees, selecting members who both supported and opposed his bid for the speakership.

Rep. Merrin, who was expected to be speaker but lost in a last minute bid by Rep. Stephens, was named vice chair of the Ways & Means Committee.  This is seen by many as a demotion since he chaired the committee during the last General Assembly. 

As expected, Speaker Stevens appointed Rep. Jay Edwards (Nelsonville) to chair the Finance Committee.  Speaker Stephens has also created new Finance Sub Committees including two dedicated to Public Safety and one dedicated to Infrastructure & American Rescue Plan.  

Other chairmanships include:

• Agriculture, Rep. Rodney Creech (R-W. Alexandria).
• Armed Services, Rep. Mike Loychik (R-Cortland).
• Aviation & Aerospace, Rep. Holmes.
• Behavioral Health, Rep. Gail Pavliga (R-Atwater).
• Civil Justice, Rep. Brett Hillyer (R-Uhrichsville).
• Commerce & Labor, Rep. Mark Johnson (R-Chillicothe).
• Criminal Justice, Rep. Cindy Abrams (R-Harrison).
• Economic & Workforce Development, Rep. D.J. Swearingen (R-Huron).
• Financial Institutions, Rep. Kris Jordan (R-Ostrander).
• Government Oversight, Rep. Bob Peterson (R-Sabina).
• Homeland Security, Rep. Haraz Ghanbari (R-Perrysburg).
• Infrastructure, Rep. Reggie Stoltzfus (R-Paris Twp.).
• Insurance, Rep. Brian Lampton (R-Fairborn).
• Pensions, Rep. Bob Young (R-N. Canton).
• Public Utilities, Rep. Dick Stein (R-Norwalk).
• State & Local Government, Rep. Marilyn John (R-Shelby).
• Technology & Innovation, Rep. Thomas Hall (R-Middletown).
• Transportation, Rep. Riordan McClain (R-Upper Sandusky).
• Joint Committee on Agency Rule Review Track, Rep. Jamie Callender (R-Concord).
• Joint Legislative Ethics Committee Track, Speaker Stephens.

Finance subcommittee chairs are:

• Agriculture, Development & Natural Resources, Rep. Don Jones (R-Freeport).
• Health & Human Services, Rep. Sara Carruthers (R-Hamilton).
• Primary & Secondary Education, Rep. Tracy Richardson (R-Marysville).
• Public Safety, Rep. Kevin Miller (R-Newark).
• Transportation, Rep. Thomas Patton (R-Strongsville).
• Infrastructure & American Rescue Plan, Rep. Callender.