Following up the Assembly’s announcement earlier this month, the new President Pro Tem of the Senate, Kevin de Leon (D-Los Angeles) released the list of Committee Chairmanships for the California State Senate this week.
Senator Ricardo Lara (D-Bell Gardens) became the Chair of the Appropriations Committee with Senator Mark Leno (D-San Francisco) maintaining his long time Chairmanship of the Senate Budget Committee. Other noteworthy chairmanships include new Senator Bob Hertzberg (D-Van Nuys), former Speaker of the State Assembly from 2000-2002 heading up the Senate Governance and Finance Committee.
Only two Senate Chairmanships were assigned to Senators representing RCRC counties. Senator Lois Wolk (D-Davis) was assigned to chair Budget Subcommittee #2 handling issues of Resources, Environmental Protection, Energy and Transportation, as well as being part of Senator de Leon’s new leadership team as Majority Whip. Senator Mike McGuire (D-Healdsburg) was assigned to chair both the Human Services Committee and the Joint Committee on Fisheries and Aquaculture. Senator McGuire was also selected for a leadership role as the Democratic Caucus Vice-Chair. Other leadership roles include Senator Bill Monning (D-Carmel) as Majority Leader, and Senator Connie M. Leyva (D-Chino) as Democratic Caucus Chair. A detailed list of Senate Committee Chair assignments can be accessed here.
As in the Assembly, it is expected that the full membership of each committee will be announced some time prior to the beginning of session on January 5, 2015.