Rep. Jim Boyd named chairman of House Commerce Committee

Florida House Speaker Richard Corcoran has announced committee assignments for the 2018 legislative session, with Rep. Jim Boyd, the senior member of the Manatee County delegation, drawing three choice assignments.

Boyd, R-Bradenton, who cannot run for re-election next year because of term limits, was named chairman of the House Commerce Committee, and member of the Appropriations and Rules & Policy committees.

Rep. Joe Gruters, R-Sarasota, who was elected in 2016, drew six assignments as a member of the Commerce and Joint Legislative Auditing committees; and the Careers & Competition, Energy & Utilities, Justice Appropriations and Tourism & Gaming Control subcommittees.

Rep. Wengay Newton, D-St. Petersburg, also a freshman lawmaker, was assigned to the Government Accountability Committee; the Joint Select Committee Collective Bargaining; and the Health Quality, PreK-12 Appropriations and Transportation & Infrastructure subcommittees.

Corcoran announced the assignments on Thursday.

Senate committee assignments were announced earlier this week.

This story was originally published August 18, 2017 at 7:44 AM with the headline "Rep. Jim Boyd named chairman of House Commerce Committee."