Legislators get committee assignments
(Courtesy photo) Newly elected Idaho Senator Jim Woodward is pictured, top left, during the swearing in ceremony of the Idaho State Senate on Dec. 6.
SANDPOINT — The Idaho Legislature convened briefly this past week for the organizational session of the 65th Legislature.
The organizational session is a one to two day session for swearing in the new members, determining leadership in the House and Senate, selecting committee chairs, and making committee assignments for legislators. Newly elected District 1 Sen. Jim Woodward, R-Sandpoint, said in a statement that local legislators “fared well” in the process.
Rep. Sage Dixon, R-Ponderay, was selected as a committee chairman for the House Business Committee. He will also serve as a member of the House Revenue and Taxation Committee and the House Transportation Committee. Rep. Heather Scott, R-Blanchard, will serve on the House Environment, Energy and Technology Committee, the House Judiciary, Rules and Administration Committee, and the House State Affairs Committee. Woodward will serve on the Senate Finance Committee, which meets with the House Appropriations Committee as the Joint Finance and Appropriations Committee. The Joint Committee is responsible for authorization of the state budget, which last year was $8.3 billion, Woodward said. Woodward will also serve on the Senate Education Committee.
The regular session of the legislature will convene Jan. 7, beginning with the governor’s State of the State address to the House and Senate. All legislative activity can be viewed online through Idaho Public Television. There is a link to the live streaming on the legislative website at legislature.idaho.gov, or access it directly at idahoptv.org/insession/leg.