A guide to the gatekeepers: Here’s who’s running the most powerful committees in Harrisburg

Out of the 50 legislative committees in the General Assembly, 41 of them have new majority chairs this year

By: - March 21, 2023 6:30 am
Pennsylvania Capitol Building. May 24, 2022. Harrisburg, Pa. (Photo by Amanda Berg, for the Capital-Star).

Pennsylvania Capitol Building. (Photo by Amanda Berg for the Capital-Star).

By Justin Sweitzer

The leaders of state legislative committees have the power to determine whether a bill ultimately makes it to the governor’s desk or languishes in committee until the end of the term. And while rule changes in one chamber will limit the ability of committee chairs to prevent votes on certain bills, committee leaders still hold considerable sway as the gatekeepers standing between a bill and a vote.

Out of the 50 legislative committees in the General Assembly, 41 of them have new majority chairs this year. The shakeup, caused by a combination of lawmaker turnover and a power shift in the state House, has left many committees looking much different than they did last session.

To help you keep tabs on all the changes, City & State has put together a list tracking all the standing committee chairs in Harrisburg.

The Pennsylvania House (Capital-Star photo by Stephen Caruso)

Committees in the House of Representatives

Aging & Older Adult Services

Majority chair: Democratic Rep. Patty Kim

Ranking Republican: Rep. Steven Mentzer

Previous majority chair: Former Republican  Rep. Gary Day

Agriculture & Rural Affairs

Majority chair: Democratic Rep. Eddie Day Pashinski

Ranking Republican: Rep. Dan Moul

Previous majority chair: Moul

Appropriations

Majority chair: Democratic Rep. Jordan Harris

Ranking Republican: Rep. Seth Grove

Previous majority chair: Former Rep. Stan Saylor

Children & Youth

Majority chair: Democratic Rep. Donna Bullock

Ranking Republican: Rep. Barry Jozwiak

Previous majority chair: Republican Rep. Sheryl Delozier

Commerce

Majority chair: Democratic Rep. John Galloway

Ranking Republican: Rep. Joe Emrick

Previous majority chair: Republican Rep. Brad Roae

Committee on Committees

Majority chair: Democratic Rep. Carol Hill Evans

Ranking Republican: Rep. Tina Pickett

Previous majority chair: Rep. Stan Saylor

Consumer Protection, Technology & Utilities*

Majority chair: Democratic Rep. Robert Matzie

Ranking Republican: Rep. Jim Marshall

Previous majority chair: Marshall

** The committee was known as the House Consumer Affairs Committee last session.

Education

Majority chair: Democratic Rep. Peter Schweyer

Ranking Republican: Republican Rep. Jesse Topper

Previous majority chair: Former Republican Rep. Curt Sonney

Environmental Resources & Energy

Majority chair: Democratic Rep. Greg Vitali

Ranking Republican: Rep. Martin Causer

Previous majority chair: Former Republican Rep. Daryl Metcalfe

Ethics*

Chair: Democratic Rep. Donna Bullock

Vice chair: Republican Rep. Kate Klunk

Previous majority chair: Former Republican Rep. Todd Stephens

** The House Ethics Committee has an equal number of Democrats and Republicans.

Finance

Majority chair: Democratic Rep. Steve Samuelson

Ranking Republican: Rep. Keith Greiner

Previous majority chair: Former Republican Rep. Michael Peifer

Game & Fisheries

Majority chair: Democratic Rep. Anita Astorino Kulik

Ranking Republican: Rep. David Maloney

Previous majority chair: Former Republican Rep. Keith Gillespie

Gaming Oversight

Majority chair: Democratic Rep. Patrick Harkins

Ranking Republican: Rep. Russ Diamond

Previous majority chair: Former Republican Rep. Susan Helm

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