By Don Knox, STATE BILL COLORADO
Colorado’s Senate Democratic leadership, overseen by Senate President Brandon Shaffer, announced committee assignments that included naming new chairs for committees on agriculture, business and the judiciary.
The new committee chairs are Sen. Mary Hodge on Agriculture, Livestock & Natural Resources; Sen Lois Tochtrop on Business, Labor & Technology; and Sen. Morgan Carroll on Judiciary.
Vice chair jobs went to recent senators including Pat Steadman (Judiciary), Evie Hudak (Education), Michael Johnston (Finance) and Linda Newell (Health and Human Services). Chris Romer, who had been vice chair of the education committee, was moved to become the appropriations committee vice chair.
Shaffer, who was elevated to the Senate presidency following the departure of Peter Groff to the Obama Administration, assumes the chair of the Executive Committee of the Legislative Council, which manages the General Assembly’s operations.
Virtually all the chair and vice chair changes came as a result of senators who resigned their terms early (including Groff, Jennifer Veiga and Jim Isgar) and the elevation of vice chairs to chair posts.
Agriculture, Livestock & Natural Resource
Chair: Senator Mary Hodge (NEW: Succeeds Jim Isgar, who resigned.)
Vice-Chair: Senator Bruce Whitehead (NEW)
Members: Senators Dan Gibbs and Gail Schwartz
Appropriations:
Chair: Senator Abel Tapia
Vice-Chair: Senator Chris Romer (NEW: Succeeds Moe Keller)
Members: Senators Bob Bacon, Rollie Heath (NEW), Mary Hodge, Moe Keller
Business, Labor and Technology
Chair: Senator Lois Tochtrop (NEW: Succeeds Jennifer Veiga, who resigned.)
Vice-Chair: Senator Suzanne Williams (NEW: Succeeds Rollie Heath)
Members: Senators Joyce Foster, Mike Johnston (NEW)
Education
Chair: Senator Bob Bacon
Vice-Chair: Senator Evie Hudak (NEW: Succeeds Chris Romer)
Members: Senators Mike Johnston (NEW), Rollie Heath, Pat Steadman (NEW)
Finance
Chair: Senator Paula Sandoval
Vice-Chair: Senator Mike Johnston (NEW)
Members: Senators Evie Hudak, Pat Steadman (NEW)
Health and Human Services
Chair: Senator Betty Boyd
Vice-Chair: Senator Linda Newell (NEW: Succeeds Lois Tochtrop)
Members: Senators Morgan Carroll, Paula Sandoval
Judiciary
Chair: Senator Morgan Carroll (NEW: Succeeds John Morse)
Vice-Chair: Senator Pat Steadman (NEW: Succeeds Morgan Carroll, who was elevated.)
Members: Senators Linda Newell, Evie Hudak
Local Government & Energy
Chair: Senator Gail Schwartz
Vice-Chair: Senator Joyce Foster
Members: Senators Mary Hodge, Linda Newell
Transportation
Chair: Senator Dan Gibbs
Vice-Chair: Senator Suzanne Williams
Members: Senators Bruce Whitehead (NEW), Lois Tochtrop (NEW)
Joint Budget Committee
Vice-Chair: Senator Moe Keller (NEW: Was chair)
Members: Senator Abel Tapia
Executive Committee of Legislative Council:
Chair: President Brandon Shaffer (NEW)
Members: Senator John Morse (NEW)
Legal Services
Chair: Senator John Morse (NEW)
Vice-Chair: Senator Gail Schwartz
Members: Senator Morgan Carroll
