As stated in Rule of the House 4.3, “Unless otherwise ordered, committees shall have jurisdiction only over matters pertaining to the subjects indicated by the names of the respective committees, and to the subject matter indicated in parenthesis following the names” (p. 277).
House Agriculture, Natural Resources, & Environmental Affairs Committee #
Website #
Membership, schedule, reports, and video available on website.
Purpose/Jurisdiction #
Agriculture, natural resources, environmental affairs, fish, game, forestry, state parts, and rural development.
Subcommittees #
Memberships available in .doc download.
- Agriculture
- Environmental Affairs
- Wildlife
House Education and Public Works Committee #
Website #
Membership, schedule, reports, and video available on website.
Purpose/Jurisdiction #
Education, highways, state house and grounds, railroad, aviation.
Subcommittees #
Memberships available in .doc download.
- K-12
- Higher Education
- Early Childhood
- Public Safety
- Transportation
- Motor Vehicles
House Ethics Committee #
Website #
Membership, schedule, reports, committee rules, advisory opinions, video, and more available on website.
Purpose/Jurisdiction #
“B. Jurisdiction
- “The committee shall have jurisdiction over individuals and entities pursuant to Chapter 13, Title 8.
- “No matter shall be considered later than four (4) years after the violation allegedly occurred.
- “No complaint may be accepted by the Ethics Committee concerning a member of or candidate for the House during the fifty-day (50) period before an election in which the member or candidate is participating.
“C. Duties
“The committee shall:
- “ascertain whether a person has failed to comply fully and accurately with the disclosure requirements of Chapter 13, Title 8, which may include, but are not limited to, an audit of filed reports and applicable campaign bank statements, and to promptly notify the person to file the necessary notices and reports to satisfy the requirements of Chapter 13, Title 8;
- “receive complaints or allegations concerning any person under the jurisdiction of the committee alleging a violation of Chapter 13, Title 8 or Chapter 17, Title 2 and refer any complaint except for a complaint regarding a violation of the Rules of the House of Representatives to the State Ethics Commission (commission) for investigation in compliance with Sections 8-13-530 through 8-13-550;
- “upon a majority vote of the members of the committee initiate a complaint concerning any person under the jurisdiction of the committee alleging a violation of Chapter 13, Title 8 or Chapter 17, Title 2 and refer the complaint for investigation to the commission except for a complaint concerning a violation of the Rules of the House of Representatives;
- “cause to be investigated any complaints or allegations regarding a violation of the Rules of the House of Representatives or technical violation;
- “upon request of any member, officer, or employee of the House render committee advisory opinions with regard to legislative ethics when, in its judgment, these opinions would serve the public interest. Such advisory opinions shall serve as binding precedent for the committee until specifically altered or withdrawn;
- “act as an advisory body to the House and to individual members of or candidates for the House on questions pertaining to Chapter 13, Title 8 or Chapter 17, Title 2;
- “issue through its staff a written informal advisory opinion, based on real or hypothetical sets of circumstances, to a person or entity within the committee’s jurisdiction upon that person’s or entity’s request. If an informal advisory opinion is raised as a defense in response to a complaint, the committee shall consider whether the respondent is the person who requested the informal advisory opinion or is a member of the entity that requested the informal opinion. The committee also shall consider the accuracy of the facts presented in the informal advisory opinion and determine whether the respondent relied in good faith upon the written informal advisory opinion. The committee shall consider this information prior to making a probable cause determination;
- “administer or recommend appropriate sanctions or dismiss charges as the result of a properly filed complaint including a complaint which has been investigated by the commission;
- “ascertain whether a person has failed to comply fully and accurately with the disclosure requirements of Chapter 13, Title 8 and promptly notify the person to file the necessary disclosures to satisfy the requirements and assess and collect any fines or fees authorized by state law for the failure to timely file a disclosure statement; and
- “recommend a Rule or statutory change relating to ethics as the committee deems appropriate” (Rules of the House, p. 283 – 285).
House Invitations and Memorial Resolutions Committee #
Website #
Membership, schedule, video and ethics compliance forms available on website.
Purpose/Jurisdiction #
Invitations and memorial resolutions.
House Judiciary Committee #
Website #
Membership, schedule, reports, redistricting, and video available on website.
Purpose/Jurisdiction #
Judiciary, privileges, and elections.
Subcommittees #
Memberships available in .doc download.
- Constitutional Laws
- Criminal Laws
- General Laws
- Family, Business, & Probate Law
- Special Laws
House Labor, Commerce, and Industry Committee #
Website #
Membership, schedule, reports, and video available on website.
Purpose/Jurisdiction #
Labor, commerce and manufacturing, industry, banking and insurance, merchants and mercantile affairs.
Subcommittees #
Memberships available in .doc download.
- Business & Commerce
- Banking & Consumer Affairs
- Real Estate
- Public Utilities
- Insurance
- Administration and Regulations
House Medical, Military, Public, and Municipal Affairs Committee #
Website #
Membership, schedule, reports, committee rules, and video available on website.
Purpose/Jurisdiction #
Medical affairs, social security, penitentiary, state hospital police regulations, military affairs, veterans’ affairs.
Subcommittees #
Memberships available in .doc download.
- Medical and Health Affairs
- Military and Veterans Affairs
- Municipal and Public Affairs
House Operations and Management Committee #
Website #
Membership, schedule, reports, and video available on website.
Purpose/Jurisdiction #
Personnel, administration and administration and management of facilities, including management of the Blatt Building.
House Regulations and Administrative Procedures Committee #
Website #
Membership, schedule, reports, committee rules, regulation review process, video, and regulations tracking matrix available on website.
Purpose/Jurisdiction #
State agency rule making.
Subcommittees #
Memberships available in .doc download.
- Business, Commerce, and Administration
- Education and Public Works
- Environment and Natural Resources
- Health and Healthcare Industries
House Rules Committee #
Website #
Membership, schedule, reports, and video available on website.
Purpose/Jurisdiction #
Legislative rules.
Joint Interstate Cooperation Committee #
Website #
Membership, schedule, and video available on website.
Purpose/Jurisdiction #
Interstate cooperation.
As stated in Rule of the Senate 19A, “The Standing Committees of the Senate shall be as follows and shall have jurisdiction over legislation, appointments and other matters which fall within the title or titles of the Code of Laws as are herein below enumerated for each of the Committees.”
Senate Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee #
Website #
Membership, schedule, and video available on website.
Purpose/Jurisdiction #
“Titles 4 (county fairs), 39 (agricultural and food products), 46, 47, 48 (land resources, soil and water conservation, mining, oil and gas, and wetlands), and 49” (Senate Rule 19A).
Senate Banking and Insurance Committee #
Website #
Membership, schedule, reports, and video available on website.
Purpose/Jurisdiction #
“Titles 21 (trust companies), 29, 34, 35, 36, 37, and 38” (Senate Rule 19A).
Senate Corrections and Penology Committee #
Website #
Membership, schedule, and video available on website.
Purpose/Jurisdiction #
“Titles 2 (community corrections) and 24, and 63 (DJJ & Juv. Parole Bd.)” (Senate Rule 19A).
Senate Education Committee #
Website #
Membership, schedule, bills in committee, reports, video, and weekly updates available on website.
Purpose/Jurisdiction #
“Titles 2 (higher education), 51, 59, and 60 (school governance and structure at all levels)” (Senate Rule 19A).
Senate Ethics Committee #
Website #
Membership, schedule, advisory opinions, and video available on website.
Purpose/Jurisdiction #
“In the Senate there shall be a Committee on Ethics, consisting of ten (10) members. The ethics committee has the following powers and duties:
- “ascertain whether a person has failed to comply fully and accurately with the disclosure requirements of Chapter 13, Title 8, which may include, but is not limited to, an audit of filed reports and applicable campaign bank statements, and to promptly notify the person to file the necessary notices and reports to satisfy these requirements;
- “receive complaints filed by individuals and, upon a majority vote of the total membership of the committee, file complaints when alleged violations are identified;
- “upon the filing of a complaint alleging a violation by a Senate member or staff, or a member or staff of a legislative caucus committee, or a Senate candidate, for a violation of Chapter 13, Title 8 or Chapter 17, Title 2, other than a violation of a rule of the appropriate house, the ethics committee shall refer the complaint to the State Ethics Commission for an investigation pursuant to Section 8 13 540;
- “receive, investigate, and hear a complaint which alleges a possible violation of a breach of a privilege or a rule governing a Senate member or staff or legislative caucus committee, or Senate candidate;
- “a complaint may not be accepted by the ethics committee concerning a Senate member or candidate during the fifty day period before an election in which the member or candidate is a candidate. During this fifty day period, any person may petition the court of common pleas alleging the violations complained of and praying for appropriate relief by way of mandamus or injunction, or both. Within ten days, a rule to show cause hearing must be held, and the court must either dismiss the petition or direct that a mandamus order or an injunction, or both, be issued. A violation of Chapter 13, Title 8 by a candidate during this fifty day period must be considered to be an irreparable injury for which no adequate remedy at law exists. The institution of an action for injunctive relief does not relieve any party to the proceeding from any penalty prescribed for violations of Chapter 13, Title 8. The court must award reasonable attorney’s fees and costs to the nonpetitioning party if a petition for mandamus or injunctive relief is dismissed based upon a finding that the:
- “petition is being presented for an improper purpose such as harassment or to cause delay;
- “claims, defenses, and other legal contentions are not warranted by existing law or are based upon a frivolous argument for the extension, modification, or reversal of existing law or the establishment of new law; and
- “allegations and other factual contentions do not have evidentiary support or, if specifically so identified, are not likely to have evidentiary support after reasonable opportunity for further investigation or discovery.
“Action on a complaint filed against a Senate member or candidate which was received more than fifty days before the election but which cannot be disposed of or dismissed by the ethics committee at least thirty days before the election must be postponed until after the election;
- “obtain information, investigate technical violation complaints, and hear complaints as provided in Section 8 13 540 with respect to any complaint filed pursuant to Chapter 13, Title 8 or Chapter 17, Title 2 and to that end may compel by subpoena issued by a majority vote of the committee the attendance and testimony of witnesses and the production of pertinent books and papers;
- “administer or recommend sanctions appropriate to a particular Senate member or staff, or candidate for Senate, pursuant to Section 8 13 540, including the recovery of the value of anything transferred or received in breach of the ethical standards, or dismiss the charges; and
- “act as an advisory body to the Senate and to individual Senate members or candidates on questions pertaining to the disclosure and filing requirements of Senate members or candidates, and may issue, upon request from a Senate member or staff, or legislative caucus committee, or Senate candidate, and publish advisory opinions on the requirements of Chapter 13, Title 8 and Chapter 17, Title 2.
- “levy an enforcement or administrative fee on a person who is found in violation, or who admits to a violation, pursuant to Title 2 or Title 8. The fee must be used to reimburse the ethics committee for costs associated with the investigation and hearing of a violation as provided in Section 8 13 130. These fees and costs are in addition to any fines as otherwise provided by law.
- “To recommend any rule or statutory change relating to ethics as the committee deems appropriate” (Senate Rule 44A).
Senate Family and Veterans’ Services Committee #
Website #
Membership, schedule, and video available on website.
Purpose/Jurisdiction #
“Titles 1 (state emblems and observances), 5 (cemeteries), 25, 26, 27 (cemeteries), 39 (blind persons), 43, 45, 52, 53, and 63 (children’s services, childcare)” (Senate Rule 19A).
Senate Fish, Game, and Forestry Committee #
Website #
Membership, schedule, reports, and video available on website.
Purpose/Jurisdiction #
“Titles 48 (forestry and fire protection), 49, 50, and 51” (Senate Rule 19A).
Senate Judiciary Committee #
Website #
Membership, schedule, reports, redistricting, and video available on website.
Purpose/Jurisdiction #
“Constitution, Titles 1, 2, 4, 5 through 8, 14 through 23, 27, 28, 30, 32, 33 (electric cooperatives), 42, 44 (drug related offenses), 56 (criminal offenses), 58, 61, 62 and 63 (family court, legal issues)” (Senate Rule 19A).
Senate Labor, Commerce, and Industry Committee #
Website #
Membership, schedule, and video available on website.
Purpose/Jurisdiction #
“Titles 1, (occupational licensing, building codes), 4 through 6 (building, construction, planning, fire codes), 13, 23 (firefighting), 31, 33, 39 (business matters, chemicals, industrial products), 40 and 41” (Senate Rule 19A).