New Legislative Leadership Announced

The newly seated Legislature was in town this week to elect leadership for the next two years, select committee chairs and vice chairs, and make committee appointments. In Idaho, majority party leadership and committee chairs have significant influence over legislative priorities, which bills are granted hearings, and the timing of hearings. 

House leadership is as follows:

Speaker of the House: Mike Moyle, District 10 (Ada and Canyon)

House Majority Leader: Jason Monks, District 22 (Ada)

House Assistant Majority Leader: Josh Tanner, District 14 (Ada and Gem)

House Majority Caucus Chair: Jaron Crane, District 12 (Canyon)

House Minority Leader: Ilana Rubel, District 18 (Ada)

House Assistant Minority Leader: Steve Birch, District 15 (Ada)

House Minority Caucus Chair: Theodore Achilles, District 16 (Ada)

Senate leadership is as follows:

Senate President Pro Tempore: Kelly Anthon, District 27 (Cassia, Minidoka, and Oneida)

Senate Majority Leader: Lori Den Hertog, District 22 (Ada)

Senate Assistant Majority Leader: Mark Harris, District 35 (Bannock, Bear Lake, Bonneville, Caribou, and Teton)

Senate Majority Caucus Chair: Ben Toews, District 4 (Kootenai)

Senate Minority Leader: Melissa Wintrow, District 19 (Ada)

Senate Assistant Minority Leader: James Ruchti, District 29 (Bannock)

Senate Minority Caucus Chair: Janie Ward-Engelking, District 18 (Ada)

House leadership is dominated by legislators from the Boise/Nampa metro area while Senate leadership includes representation from each region of the state, including both urban and rural districts.

Committee leadership is largely unchanged from prior years with the big exception of House Education which is now chaired by Representative Doug Pickett (District 27). It is also important to note that former county commissioners fill a number of key committee chair and vice chair positions, including Senator Todd Lakey (chair of Senate Judiciary and Rules), Senator Jim Guthrie (chair of Senate State Affairs), Representative Jon Weber (vice chair of House Revenue & Taxation), Representative Steve Miller (vice chair of House Appropriations), and Representative Jerald Raymond (vice chair of House Agriculture). Counties are fortunate to have former county commissioners serving in such key committee positions. You can access House committee rosters by clicking here and Senate committee rosters by clicking here.

The 2025 Legislative Session officially kicks off on Monday, January 6th with the Governor’s State of the State Address which will be streamed live via Idaho In Session. Starting in January, IAC will also provide weekly legislative updates via the IAC Legislative Bulletin and Friday legislative update webinars. Stay tuned for more information on the upcoming legislative session and how you can stay connected.