Speaker Moore announces NC House committee assignments | Eastern North Carolina Now

    Publisher's Note: This post appears here courtesy of the Carolina Journal. The author of this post is Alex Baltzegar.

    On Tuesday, North Carolina House Speaker Tim Moore, R-Cleveland, announced committee assignments for House members of the 2023-24 legislative biennium.

    Rep. Michael Wray, D-Northampton, was notably appointed as a senior chairman of one of the House's most important committees, Finance. Wray was also appointed as a vice chairman on the Agriculture Committee.

    House Republicans have 71 out of 120 seats, and would need 72 out of 120 for a gubernatorial veto override. This will likely be a focus when issues that are especially partisan - abortion, 2nd Amendment laws, voter ID, tax policy - come before members.

    Wray, a moderate Democrat, has been speculated as one possibility to be the 72nd vote needed for Republicans to override Governor Roy Cooper's vetoes on certain issues.

    In total, 12 Democrats were appointed to committee leadership positions.

    Other Democrats appointed to leadership positions include Rep. Shelly Willingham, D-Edgecombe, on Alcoholic Beverage Control, Rep. Becky Carney, D-Mecklenburg, on Banking, Rep. Garland Pierce, D-Cumberland, on Commerce, Reps. Tricia Cotham, D-Mecklenburg, and Cecil Brockman, D-Guilford, on K-12 Education, Rep. Allison Dahle, D-Wake, on Election Law and Campaign Finance Reform, Rep. Pricey Harrison, D-Guilford, on Environment. Cotham was also appointed to the Health and Human Services Committee along with Carla Cunningham, D-Anson. Willingham was also appointed to the Insurance Committee with fellow Democrat Marvin Lucas of Cumberland County. Nasif Majeed, D-Mecklenburg, was tapped for Military and Veterans Affairs Committee, and Rep. Rosa Gill, D-Wake, is on Pensions and Retirement.

    "As the long session gets underway, I look forward to working with this bipartisan group of leaders to ensure an even stronger North Carolina," said Speaker Tim Moore, who was responsible for appointment decisions. "We have a strong group of committee chairs this session, and I am confident that they will continue to propel our state forward and to the top of the pack."

    Rep. Destin Hall, R-Caldwell, will return as chairman of the powerful Rules, Calendar and Operations of the House Committee. The Appropriations senior chairs will remain the same-Rep. Dean Arp, R-Union, Donny Lambeth, R-Forsyth, and Jason Saine, R-Lincoln.

    The committees, chairs, and members of each committee are listed below.

    Agriculture:

    Chairs: Jimmy Dixon (Senior Chair), Jeffrey C. McNeely

    Vice Chairs: Karl E. Gillespie, Michael H. Wray

    Members: Eric Ager, Kelly M. Alexander, Jr., Jennifer Balkcom, John R. Bell, IV, William D. Brisson, Mark Brody, Kanika Brown, Tricia Ann Cotham, Jeffrey Elmore, Terence Everitt, Edward C. Goodwin, Kyle Hall, Chris Humphrey, B. Ray Jeffers, Keith Kidwell, Brandon Lofton, Jarrod Lowery, Nasif Majeed, Howard Penny, Jr., Robert T. Reives, II, Wayne Sasser, Larry C. Strickland, Sam Watford

    Alcoholic Beverage Control:

    Chairs: John R. Bradford, III, Grey Mills, Shelly Willingham

    Vice Chair: Ray Pickett

    Members: Kelly M. Alexander, Jr., John R. Bell, IV, Kanika Brown, Allison A. Dahle, Jon Hardister, Marvin W. Lucas, Erin Paré, Joseph Pike, Caleb Rudow, Jason Saine, David Willis, Matthew Winslow, Michael H. Wray

    Appropriations:

    Chairs: Dean Arp (Senior Chair), Donny Lambeth (Senior Chair), Jason Saine (Senior Chair), William D. Brisson, Jeffrey Elmore, John Faircloth, Kyle Hall, Brenden H. Jones, Wayne Sasser, Larry C. Strickland

    Vice Chairs: Kristin Baker, M.D., George G. Cleveland, Ted Davis, Jr., Jimmy Dixon, Karl E. Gillespie, Edward C. Goodwin, Dudley Greene, Jon Hardister, Kelly E. Hastings, Frank Iler, Jake Johnson, Charles W. Miller, Larry W. Potts, Dennis Riddell, Phil Shepard, Carson Smith, John A. Torbett, Donna McDowell White, David Willis

    Members: Jay Adams, Eric Ager, Vernetta Alston, John Autry, Amber M. Baker, Cynthia Ball, Mary Belk, Brian Biggs, Hugh Blackwell, Cecil Brockman, Mark Brody, Gloristine Brown, Kanika Brown, Terry M. Brown Jr., Allen Buansi, Laura Budd, Celeste C. Cairns, Maria Cervania, Allen Chesser, Mike Clampitt, Sarah Crawford, Kevin Crutchfield, Carla D. Cunningham, Allison A. Dahle, Rosa U. Gill, Pricey Harrison, Zack Hawkins, Chris Humphrey, Frances Jackson, PhD, B. Ray Jeffers, Joe John, Abe Jones, Ya Liu, Donnie Loftis, Carolyn G. Logan, Marvin W. Lucas, Nasif Majeed, Jeffrey C. McNeely, Grey Mills, Marcia Morey, Ben T. Moss, Jr., Erin Paré, Howard Penny, Jr., Ray Pickett, Garland E. Pierce, Mark Pless, Lindsey Prather, Renée A. Price, A. Reece Pyrtle, Jr., Amos L. Quick, III, Timothy Reeder, MD, Robert T. Reives, II, James Roberson, Caleb Rudow, Charles Smith, Frank Sossamon, Diamond Staton-Williams, RN, BSN, MHA, Sarah Stevens, Julie von Haefen, Bill Ward, Diane Wheatley, Shelly Willingham

    Appropriations, Agriculture and Natural and Economic Resources:

    Chairs: Jimmy Dixon (Senior Chair), Karl E. Gillespie, Edward C. Goodwin

    Vice Chairs: Kyle Hall, Larry C. Strickland

    Members: Eric Ager, Mark Brody, Gloristine Brown, Celeste C. Cairns, Allison A. Dahle, Pricey Harrison, Chris Humphrey, B. Ray Jeffers, Jeffrey C. McNeely, Amos L. Quick, III, James Roberson

    Appropriations, Capital:

    Chair: Kelly E. Hastings

    Vice Chair: Dean Arp

    Members: Allen Chesser, Sarah Crawford, Frances Jackson, PhD, Ray Pickett, Diamond Staton-Williams, RN, BSN, MHA

    Appropriations, Education:

    Chairs: Jon Hardister, John A. Torbett, David Willis

    Vice Chair: Jeffrey Elmore

    Members: Hugh Blackwell, Cecil Brockman, Kevin Crutchfield, Rosa U. Gill, Zack Hawkins, Marvin W. Lucas, Lindsey Prather, Frank Sossamon, Diane Wheatley

    Appropriations, General Government:

    Chairs: George G. Cleveland, Dennis Riddell

    Vice Chair: William D. Brisson

    Members: Kanika Brown, Nasif Majeed, Howard Penny, Jr., Charles Smith, Julie von Haefen, Bill Ward

    Appropriations, Health and Human Services:

    Chairs: Kristin Baker, M.D., Larry W. Potts, Donna McDowell White

    Vice Chairs: Donny Lambeth, Erin Paré, Wayne Sasser

    Members: Cynthia Ball, William D. Brisson, Terry M. Brown Jr., Allen Buansi, Maria Cervania, Carla D. Cunningham, Ya Liu, Mark Pless, Timothy Reeder, MD

    Appropriations, Information Technology:

    Chair: Jake Johnson

    Vice Chairs: Kyle Hall, Jason Saine

    Members: John Autry, Brian Biggs, Laura Budd, Renée A. Price

    Appropriations, Justice and Public Safety

    Chairs: Ted Davis, Jr., Dudley Greene, Charles W. Miller, Carson Smith

    Vice Chairs: Mike Clampitt, John Faircloth

    Members: Joe John, Abe Jones, Carolyn G. Logan, Marcia Morey, Garland E. Pierce, A. Reece Pyrtle, Jr., Robert T. Reives, II, Sarah Stevens

    Appropriations, Transportation:

    Chairs: Frank Iler, Phil Shepard

    Vice Chair: Brenden H. Jones

    Members: Jay Adams, Vernetta Alston, Amber M. Baker, Mary Belk, Donnie Loftis, Carolyn G. Logan, Grey Mills, Ben T. Moss, Jr., Caleb Rudow, Shelly Willingham

    Banking:

    Chair: Matthew Winslow

    Vice Chair: Becky Carney

    Members: Jennifer Balkcom, Deb Butler, Celeste C. Cairns, Terence Everitt, Julia C. Howard, Neal Jackson, Jake Johnson, Keith Kidwell, Ya Liu, Nasif Majeed, Steve Tyson, Jeff Zenger

    Commerce:

    Chairs: Stephen M. Ross, John Sauls

    Vice Chairs: Jake Johnson, Garland E. Pierce, Steve Tyson

    Members: Jay Adams, John Autry, Amber M. Baker, John R. Bradford, III, Kanika Brown, Deb Butler, Ashton Wheeler Clemmons, Sarah Crawford, Carla D. Cunningham, Terence Everitt, Kyle Hall, Julia C. Howard, Frank Iler, Brandon Lofton, Ben T. Moss, Jr., Joseph Pike, Timothy Reeder, MD, Jason Saine, Phil Shepard, Frank Sossamon, Larry C. Strickland, Matthew Winslow

    Disaster Recovery and Homeland Security:

    Chairs: John R. Bell, IV, Mark Pless

    Vice Chair: Brenden H. Jones

    Members: Eric Ager, Ted Davis, Jr., Karl E. Gillespie, Chris Humphrey, Tim Longest, Caleb Rudow, Diamond Staton-Williams, RN, BSN, MHA

    Education - Community Colleges:

    Chair: David Willis

    Vice Chair: Diane Wheatley

    Members: Jay Adams, Hugh Blackwell, John R. Bradford, III, Mark Brody, Gloristine Brown, Mike Clampitt, Ashton Wheeler Clemmons, Jeffrey Elmore, Joe John, Tim Longest, Howard Penny, Jr., Lindsey Prather, Renée A. Price, John Sauls, Steve Tyson, Donna McDowell White

    Education - K-12:

    Chairs: Hugh Blackwell, Tricia Ann Cotham, John A. Torbett

    Vice Chairs: Cecil Brockman, Diane Wheatley, David Willis

    Members: Cynthia Ball, Brian Biggs, Laura Budd, Ashton Wheeler Clemmons, Jeffrey Elmore, Ken Fontenot, Rosa U. Gill, Frank Iler, Jake Johnson, Donny Lambeth, Brandon Lofton, Marvin W. Lucas, Larry W. Potts, Dennis Riddell, James Roberson, Phil Shepard, Frank Sossamon, Larry C. Strickland, Julie von Haefen

    Education - Universities:

    Chairs: Jon Hardister, Ray Pickett

    Vice Chair: Kelly E. Hastings

    Members: Kelly M. Alexander, Jr., Kristin Baker, M.D., Gloristine Brown, Allen Buansi, Becky Carney, Kevin Crutchfield, Ted Davis, Jr., Wesley Harris, PhD, Julia C. Howard, Neal Jackson, Donny Lambeth, Marcia Morey, Lindsey Prather, Timothy Reeder, MD

    Election Law and Campaign Finance Reform:

    Chair: Grey Mills

    Vice Chairs: Allison A. Dahle, Harry Warren

    Members: Amber M. Baker, Kristin Baker, M.D., Cynthia Ball, Brian Biggs, Hugh Blackwell, Allen Buansi, Tricia Ann Cotham, Ted Davis, Jr., Jimmy Dixon, John Faircloth, Pricey Harrison, Frank Iler, Joe John, Dennis Riddell, Bill Ward, Shelly Willingham, David Willis, Jeff Zenger

    Energy and Public Utilities:

    Chairs: Dean Arp, Kyle Hall, Matthew Winslow

    Vice Chairs: Brenden H. Jones, Charles W. Miller, Erin Paré

    Members: Kelly M. Alexander, Jr., John R. Bell, IV, William D. Brisson, Cecil Brockman, Terry M. Brown Jr., Celeste C. Cairns, Becky Carney, Maria Cervania, Tricia Ann Cotham, Sarah Crawford, Carla D. Cunningham, Jimmy Dixon, Destin Hall, Pricey Harrison, Kelly E. Hastings, Zack Hawkins, Julia C. Howard, Grey Mills, Garland E. Pierce, Dennis Riddell, Jason Saine, John Sauls, Mitchell S. Setzer, Larry C. Strickland, Sam Watford, Michael H. Wray, Jeff Zenger

    Environment:

    Chairs: Karl E. Gillespie, Frank Iler

    Vice Chairs: Ted Davis, Jr., Pricey Harrison

    Members: Kelly M. Alexander, Jr., Vernetta Alston, John Autry, Mary Belk, Cecil Brockman, Jimmy Dixon, Edward C. Goodwin, Kyle Hall, Keith Kidwell, Jeffrey C. McNeely, Howard Penny, Jr., Ray Pickett, Amos L. Quick, III, Diamond Staton-Williams, RN, BSN, MHA, Diane Wheatley, Donna McDowell White

    Ethics:

    Chairs: John Sauls, Michael H. Wray

    Vice Chair: Mitchell S. Setzer

    Members: Becky Carney, Tricia Ann Cotham, Allison A. Dahle, Ted Davis, Jr., Jason Saine

    Families Children and Aging Policy:

    Chair: Mike Clampitt

    Members: Kristin Baker, M.D., Sarah Crawford, Dudley Greene, Ya Liu, Jarrod Lowery, Marcia Morey, Garland E. Pierce, A. Reece Pyrtle, Jr., Timothy Reeder, MD, Wayne Sasser, Charles Smith, Donna McDowell White

    Federal Relations and American Indian Affairs:

    Chair: Mike Clampitt

    Vice Chairs: Karl E. Gillespie, Mark Pless

    Members: Vernetta Alston, Kelly E. Hastings, Brenden H. Jones, Jarrod Lowery, Dennis Riddell, Diamond Staton-Williams, RN, BSN, MHA, Shelly Willingham

    Finance:

    Chairs: John R. Bradford, III (Senior Chair), Keith Kidwell (Senior Chair), Mitchell S. Setzer (Senior Chair), Michael H. Wray (Senior Chair), Julia C. Howard, Stephen M. Ross, Steve Tyson

    Vice Chairs: Harry Warren, Jeff Zenger

    Members: Kelly M. Alexander, Jr., Jennifer Balkcom, John R. Bell, IV, Deb Butler, Becky Carney, Ashton Wheeler Clemmons, Tricia Ann Cotham, Terence Everitt, Ken Fontenot, Destin Hall, Wesley Harris, PhD, Neal Jackson, Brandon Lofton, Tim Longest, Jarrod Lowery, Joseph Pike, John Sauls, Sam Watford, Matthew Winslow

    Health:

    Chairs: Larry W. Potts (Senior Chair), Kristin Baker, M.D., Donny Lambeth, Erin Paré, Wayne Sasser, Donna McDowell White

    Vice Chairs: Tricia Ann Cotham, Carla D. Cunningham

    Members: Cynthia Ball, Mary Belk, Hugh Blackwell, William D. Brisson, Cecil Brockman, Allen Buansi, Becky Carney, Maria Cervania, Allen Chesser, Kevin Crutchfield, Jimmy Dixon, Ken Fontenot, Julia C. Howard, Chris Humphrey, Ya Liu, Donnie Loftis, Marvin W. Lucas, Garland E. Pierce, A. Reece Pyrtle, Jr., Timothy Reeder, MD, Mitchell S. Setzer, Phil Shepard, Steve Tyson, Sam Watford, Diane Wheatley, Michael H. Wray

    Insurance:

    Chairs: Chris Humphrey, Mitchell S. Setzer

    Vice Chairs: Marvin W. Lucas, Wayne Sasser, Shelly Willingham

    Members: Kristin Baker, M.D., John R. Bradford, III, Terry M. Brown Jr., Allen Chesser, George G. Cleveland, Rosa U. Gill, Kyle Hall, Julia C. Howard, Donny Lambeth, Nasif Majeed, Garland E. Pierce, Larry W. Potts, James Roberson, Steve Tyson, Harry Warren, Michael H. Wray

    Judiciary 1:

    Chair: Ted Davis, Jr.

    Vice Chair: Grey Mills

    Members: John R. Bradford, III, Tricia Ann Cotham, Rosa U. Gill, Jon Hardister, Pricey Harrison, Abe Jones, Larry W. Potts, Jason Saine

    Judiciary 2:

    Chair: Sarah Stevens

    Vice Chair: Charles W. Miller

    Members: Vernetta Alston, Laura Budd, Dudley Greene, Marcia Morey, A. Reece Pyrtle, Jr., Robert T. Reives, II, Carson Smith, David Willis

    Judiciary 3:

    Chair: Hugh Blackwell

    Vice Chair: Bill Ward

    Members: Terry M. Brown Jr., Terence Everitt, John Faircloth, Wesley Harris, PhD, Julia C. Howard, Joe John, Keith Kidwell, Jeff Zenger

    Local Government:

    Chairs: Howard Penny, Jr., Sam Watford

    Members: John Autry, John Faircloth, Frances Jackson, PhD, B. Ray Jeffers, Donnie Loftis, Brandon Lofton, Charles W. Miller, Ben T. Moss, Jr., Ray Pickett, Lindsey Prather, Wayne Sasser, Mitchell S. Setzer, Julie von Haefen, Donna McDowell White

    Local Government - Land Use Planning and Development:

    Chair: Mark Brody

    Members: Jay Adams, Jennifer Balkcom, Cynthia Ball, Gloristine Brown, Kevin Crutchfield, Allison A. Dahle, Ben T. Moss, Jr., Renée A. Price, Caleb Rudow, Sam Watford, Jeff Zenger

    Marine Resources and Aquaculture:

    Chair: George G. Cleveland

    Vice Chair: Celeste C. Cairns

    Members: Edward C. Goodwin, Wesley Harris, PhD, Pricey Harrison, Zack Hawkins, Frank Iler, Keith Kidwell, Tim Longest, Charles W. Miller, Harry Warren

    Military and Veterans Affairs:

    Chairs: Edward C. Goodwin, Donnie Loftis

    Vice Chairs: George G. Cleveland, Nasif Majeed

    Members: Dean Arp, John Autry, Celeste C. Cairns, Allen Chesser, Ken Fontenot, Frances Jackson, PhD, Carolyn G. Logan, Erin Paré, Garland E. Pierce, Larry W. Potts, Charles Smith, Julie von Haefen

    Oversight Reform:

    Chairs: Jake Johnson, Harry Warren

    Members: Dean Arp, Maria Cervania, Allen Chesser, George G. Cleveland, Allison A. Dahle, Jeffrey C. McNeely, Amos L. Quick, III, Sarah Stevens, Shelly Willingham

    Pensions and Retirement:

    Chairs: Carson Smith, Diane Wheatley

    Vice Chair: Rosa U. Gill

    Members: Mark Brody, Jeffrey Elmore, Donny Lambeth, Joseph Pike, Amos L. Quick, III, James Roberson, Stephen M. Ross

    Redistricting:

    Chair: Destin Hall

    Vice Chairs: Jason Saine, John A. Torbett

    Members: Cecil Brockman, Becky Carney, Jimmy Dixon, Ken Fontenot, Jon Hardister, Pricey Harrison, Kelly E. Hastings, Zack Hawkins, Abe Jones, Brenden H. Jones, Jarrod Lowery, Grey Mills, Robert T. Reives, II, Sarah Stevens, Harry Warren

    Regulatory Reform:

    Chairs: Dennis Riddell, Jeff Zenger

    Members: Eric Ager, Amber M. Baker, Mary Belk, Brian Biggs, Hugh Blackwell, John R. Bradford, III, Mark Brody, Terry M. Brown Jr., Deb Butler, Mike Clampitt, Allison A. Dahle, Keith Kidwell, Erin Paré, Renée A. Price, Sarah Stevens

    Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House:

    Chair: Destin Hall

    Vice Chairs: Kelly E. Hastings, Brenden H. Jones, John A. Torbett

    Members: John R. Bell, IV, William D. Brisson, Becky Carney, Ashton Wheeler Clemmons, Tricia Ann Cotham, Carla D. Cunningham, Allison A. Dahle, Ted Davis, Jr., Jimmy Dixon, Kyle Hall, Jon Hardister, Neal Jackson, Grey Mills, Erin Paré, Amos L. Quick, III, Robert T. Reives, II, Jason Saine, Steve Tyson, Shelly Willingham, Michael H. Wray

    State Government:

    Chair: Harry Warren

    Members: Jennifer Balkcom, Dudley Greene, Frances Jackson, PhD, B. Ray Jeffers, Joseph Pike, Stephen M. Ross, Charles Smith, John A. Torbett, Bill Ward

    State Personnel:

    Chair: A. Reece Pyrtle, Jr.

    Vice Chair: Dudley Greene

    Members: Amber M. Baker, Edward C. Goodwin, Neal Jackson, Carolyn G. Logan, Bill Ward, Shelly Willingham

    Transportation:

    Chairs: Brenden H. Jones, Jeffrey C. McNeely, Phil Shepard, Steve Tyson

    Vice Chairs: Jay Adams, George G. Cleveland, Frank Iler, Ben T. Moss, Jr.

    Members: Vernetta Alston, Dean Arp, Mary Belk, Brian Biggs, Deb Butler, Becky Carney, John Faircloth, Edward C. Goodwin, Wesley Harris, PhD, Zack Hawkins, Joe John, Donnie Loftis, Carolyn G. Logan, Charles W. Miller, Marcia Morey, Ray Pickett, Mark Pless, James Roberson, Stephen M. Ross, Frank Sossamon, Harry Warren, Matthew Winslow

    UNC Board of Governors Nominations:

    Chair: Kelly E. Hastings

    Vice Chairs: Ted Davis, Jr., Jon Hardister

    Members: Amber M. Baker, Laura Budd, Abe Jones, Donny Lambeth, Nasif Majeed, Ray Pickett, Mitchell S. Setzer, Diamond Staton-Williams, RN, BSN, MHA, John A. Torbett

    Unemployment Insurance:

    Chair: Julia C. Howard

    Members: Terry M. Brown Jr., Deb Butler, Destin Hall, Tim Longest, Mitchell S. Setzer, Harry Warren

    Wildlife Resources:

    Chairs: Jay Adams, Ben T. Moss, Jr.

    Vice Chairs: Mike Clampitt, Karl E. Gillespie

    Members: William D. Brisson, Carla D. Cunningham, Jake Johnson, Abe Jones, Brandon Lofton, Marvin W. Lucas, Mark Pless, Caleb Rudow, Carson Smith, Michael H. Wray

    Committee assignments for the N.C. Senate were announced last week. The state legislature gaveled in on January 11 to open the session and administer the oath of office. The chambers will reconvene for business on January 25, 2023.