Fields tabbed to chair agriculture committee

OKLAHOMA CITY — Top leadership positions for the 55th Oklahoma Legislature were announced Friday, Dec. 12.

Senate President Pro Tempore Brian Bingman (R-Sapulpa) named chairmen and made vice chair assignments for all standing committees and appropriations subcommittees of the Oklahoma Senate.

Sen. Eddie Fields of Wynona will serve as chairman of the Agriculture and Rural Development Committee. Fields, a Republican who is beginning his second Senate term after spending two years in the House, also was selected as vice chairman for the Rules Committee.

The Senate Education Committee is to have John Ford as its chairman. Due to term limitations, the Bartlesville Republican will be serving his final two years in the Senate District 29 seat.

House Speaker Jeffrey W. Hickman (R-Fairview) announced the chairs and vice chairs of standing committees and appropriation subcommittees for the 2014-15 session of the Oklahoma House of Representatives.

Chairman of the House Appropriations and Budget Committee will be Rep. Earl Sears (R-Bartlesville). Named to serve as the vice chair of that key committee was Morrison Republican Dennis Casey, whose 35th district extends into southern Osage County.

Rep. Sean Roberts was selected as chairman of the County and Municipal Government Committee. The Republican from Hominy was elected to his second District 36 House term in November.

Newly-elected, first-term Rep. Travis Dunlap of Bartlesville will serve as vice chair of the Environmental Law Committee. Dunlap, whose 10th District includes a portion of eastern Osage County, was elected as the successor to retiring state Rep. Steve Martin.

Also, Rep. Steve Vaughan (R-Ponca City) was named chairman of the House Wildlife Committee.

The Oklahoma Legislature will reconvene on Feb. 2, 2015.