The new House leadership team, led by House Speaker-elect Mike O’Neal, R-Hutchinson, on Wednesday released its list of committee chairs and vice chairs, and there were some significant changes and numerous new committees.State Rep. Kevin Yoder, R-Overland Park, a former Kansas University student body president, was named chair of the powerful Appropriations Committee to replace state Rep. Sharon Schwartz, R-Washington.State Rep. Melvin Neufeld, R-Ingalls, who O’Neal successfully challenged for the speakership, was made chairman of the Federal and State Affairs Committee. And state Rep. Lance Kinzer, R-Olathe, who has sought to repeal the city of Lawrence’s domestic partnership registry, is now chairman of the Judiciary Committee.There are a number of new committees, including higher education, financial institutions, corrections and juvenile justice, local government, aging and longterm care, and Vision 2020.

Here is the lineup of chairs and vice chairs in the House for the 2009 legislative session, which starts Jan. 12:
Agriculture and Natural Resources – Chair: Larry Powell (R-Garden City), Vice Chair: Rocky Fund (R-Hoyt)
Aging and Long Term Care – Chair: Bob Bethell (R-Alden), Vice Chair: Don Hill (R-Emporia)
Appropriations – Chair: Kevin Yoder (R-Overland Park), Vice Chair: Jason Watkins (R-Wichita)
Calendar and Printing – Chair: Ray Merrick (R-Stilwell), Vice Chair: Mike O’Neal (R-Hutchinson)
Commerce and Labor – Chair: Steve Brunk (R-Bel Aire), Vice Chair: John Grange (R-El Dorado)
Corrections and Juvenile Justice – Chair: Pat Colloton (R-Leawood), Vice Chair: Joe Patton (R-Topeka)
Economic Development and Tourism – Chair: Lana Gordon (R-Topeka), Vice Chair: Owen Donohoe
(R-Shawnee)Education – Chair: Clay Aurand (R-Courtland), Vice Chair: Deena Horst (R-Salina)
Elections – Chair: Steve Huebert (R-Valley Center), Vice Chair: Scott Schwab (R-Olathe)
Energy and Utilities – Chair: Carl Holmes (R-Liberal), Vice Chair: Forrest Knox (R-Altoona)
Federal and State Affairs – Chair: Melvin Neufeld (R-Ingalls), Vice Chair: Mike Kiegerl (R-Olathe)
Financial Institutions – Chair: Anthony Brown (R-Eudora), Vice Chair: Richard Proehl (R-Parsons)
Government Efficiency and Fiscal Oversight – Chair: Jim Morrison (R-Colby), Vice Chair: Mike Burgess (R-Topeka)
Health and Human Services – Chair: Brenda Landwehr (R-Wichita), Vice Chair: David Crum (R-Augusta)
Higher Education – Chair: Terrie Huntington (R-Mission Hills), Vice Chair: Marc Rhoades (R-Newton)
Insurance – Chair: Clark Schultz (R-Lindsborg), Vice Chair: Virgil Peck (R-Tyro)
Interstate Cooperation – Chair: Arlen Siegfreid (R-Olathe), Vice Chair: Ray Merrick (R-Stilwell)
Judiciary – Chair: Lance Kinzer (R-Olathe), Vice Chair: Jeff Whitham (R-Garden City)
Local Government – Chair: Sharon Schwartz (R-Washington), Vice Chair: Mitch Holmes (R-St. John)
Rules and Journal – Chair: Clark Schultz (R-Lindsborg)
Taxation – Chair: Richard Carlson (R-St. Marys), Vice Chair: Jeff King (R-Independence)
Transportation – Chair: Gary Hayzlett (R-Lakin), Vice Chair: Jene Vickrey (R-Louisburg)
Veterans, Military and Homeland Security – Chair: Don Myers (R-Derby), Vice Chair: Mario Goico (R-Wichita)
Vision 2020 – Chair: Tom Sloan (R-Lawrence), Vice Chair: Pat George (R-Dodge City)
Agriculture and Natural Resources Budget – Chair John Faber (R-Brewster), Vice Chair: Larry Powell (R-Garden City)
Education Budget – Chair: Joe McLeland (R-Wichita), Vice Chair: Clay Aurand (R-Courtland)
General Government Budget – Chair: Jason Watkins (R-Wichita), Vice Chair: Kasha Kelley (R-Arkansas City)
Legislative Budget – Chair: Kevin Yoder (R-Overland Park), Vice Chair: Ray Merrick (R-Stilwell)
Transportation and Public Safety Budget – Chair: Lee Tafanelli (R-Ozawkie), Vice Chair Vern Swanson (R-Clay Center)
Social Services Budget – Chair: Peggy Mast (R-Emporia), Vice Chair: Marc Rhoades (R-Newton)
Select Committee on KPERS – Chair: Sharon Schwartz (R-Washington), Vice Chair: Clark Schultz (R-Lindsborg)