New Minnesota House DFL Majority Sets Committee Structure

ST. PAUL (AP)-- The incoming DFL majority in the Minnesota House has announced its new committee structure and chairs.

The assignments announced Wednesday are the first step in setting the DFL's agenda for the session starting in January.

Many House veterans will lead key tax and spending committees. But House DFLers also have chosen newer members to lead some committees.

Speaker-designate Melissa Hortman says Democrats are adding finance committees in Energy and Climate, Housing, Greater Minnesota Jobs and Economic Development, and Criminal Justice Reform - areas she says affect Minnesotans but have not received enough consideration.

But Republican Rep. Kurt Daudt, who will switch from speaker to House minority leader, says the Democrats' moves will make the Legislature less transparent.

Democrats won control of the state House in November's elections. Republicans will maintain their narrow Senate margin while Tim Walz will succeed fellow Democrat Mark Dayton as governor.