This week the House Democrats released a new committee structure for the 2015 session. The structure will eliminate, create and refocus committees.  Overall the number of committees will shrink from 23 to 21.

Gone are two of the three appropriation subcommittees on health and human services and education as well as the government accountability and oversight panel.

A new committee will make its debut this session the House Commerce and Gaming Committee. The Committee will consider issues related to commerce in alcohol, tobacco, and marijuana and issues relating to the regulation and oversight of gaming.

Finally some committees will see a change in focus.  The House State Government Committee will absorb the issues handled by the former Government Operations and Elections panel.  The Labor and Workforce Development Committee will be changed to the Labor Committee and workforce development issues will be absorbed by the House Higher Education Committee.  The former Appropriations Subcommittee on General Government will see a new title (General Government and Information Technology) and a revamped focus.

It is anticipated that the leaders and members of the House committees could be identified as early as this week in both the House and Senate. The Senate will also reveal its committee structure.