State Senator Todd Gardenhire (R-Chattanooga) has been appointed to several key committees in the Tennessee Senate, including reappointment to the powerful Finance, Ways and Means Committee which holds the purse strings for all state government. The announcement was made by Lt. Governor Randy McNally as the General Assembly prepares to close the 2019 organizational session on Saturday.
“Todd is a huge asset to our committee,” said Senate Finance, Ways and Means Committee Chairman Bo Watson (R-Hixson). “He has extensive financial expertise which is invaluable to our deliberations. He is also a strong fiscal conservative who strives for government efficiency and taxpayer accountability. I am confident that he will continue to focus on serving the people of Hamilton and Bradley Counties, and all Tennesseans,with a strong voice on this committee.”
Sen. Todd Gardenhire
The Senate Finance, Ways and Means Committee has the responsibility of considering all measures dealing with the appropriation of state funds and has oversight regarding legislation pertaining to bonds, pensions, investments or indebtedness. Gardenhire has served on the committee since 2017.
Gardenhire’s financial expertise also netted him a seat on the General Assembly’s prestigious Joint Fiscal Review Committee, where he was elected by his Senate and House colleagues as Vice-Chairman. He was confirmed for the position by the full Senate last week after being nominated by his peers as a representative of the Senate Republican Caucus.The joint committee conducts a continuing review of the financial operations of state government, including oversight of state contracts.
In addition, Gardenhire was appointed as a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, on which he served from 2013 until 2017, and the Senate State and Local Government Committee, on which he served for the past two years. The Judiciary Committee is responsible for hearing all bills dealing with civil laws, criminal laws, judicial proceedings, apportionment of elected officials and governing bodies, and all matters relating to the courts, as well as law enforcement. As one of the busiest committees in the General Assembly, members are expected to consider key criminal justice reform measures during the 111th General Assembly.
The State and Local Government Committee hears all matters pertaining to state and local governments in general, including utility districts, employees, ordinances, boundary lines, veterans’ affairs, penal and correctional institutions, alcoholic beverages and election laws.
Finally, Gardenhire is Chairman of the General Assembly’s Ad Hoc Committee on Open Records which is studying exemptions to Tennessee’s public records laws.
“I am very pleased to serve as a member of these committees and am looking forward to working with my colleagues and Governor-elect Lee on the issues facing Tennessee this year.”
The Senate will meet for the first day of the regular legislative session after the inauguration of Governor-elect Bill Lee on Saturday.
