*Editor's note: This story has been updated throughout.

House Speaker Joe Straus released his committee assignments Wednesday, including new chairmen for the two high-profile committees that will take the lead on writing the budget and crafting tax cuts.

Straus picked state Rep. John Otto, R-Dayton, as chairman of the powerful House Appropriations Committee, which crafts the chamber's budget plan. Otto, who has served in the House since 2005, has been a member of the Appropriations Committee since 2007. He is the first certified public accountant to serve as the House’s lead budget writer in more than 25 years.

For the House Ways and Means Committee, which handles most tax-related bills, Straus tapped state Rep. Dennis Bonnen, R-Angleton, as chairman. Gov. Greg Abbott said Tuesday that he would not sign a budget that doesn't include tax cuts for businesses.

“The work ahead is too important for this to be a status-quo session,” Straus said. “These appointments will allow some of our committee chairs to bring their perspectives and leadership to a fresh set of issues, and that new thinking will benefit the entire House. Many other members are also moving into new positions of responsibility, and I am very confident in the work they’re going to do.”

The previous chairmen of the Appropriations and Ways and Means committees — Republicans Jim Pitts of Waxahachie and Harvey Hilderbran of Kerrville — opted to not seek re-election. They were among 10 members who served as committee chairs in the 2013 session who are not back for this session.

Among other leadership changes, state Rep. John Zerwas, R-Richmond, a supporter of continuing the state's policy of providing in-state tuition rates for some undocumented immigrants, will chair the Higher Education Committee; Myra Crownover, R-Denton, a prominent supporter of a statewide smoking ban, will chair Public Health; Joe Pickett, D-El Paso, will chair Transportation; and Larry Phillips, R-Sherman, will chair Homeland Security.

Straus picked 27 Republicans and 12 Democrats to chair 39 committees. Thirteen of his chairs are minorities and nine are women.

State Rep. Scott Turner, R-Frisco, who launched an unsuccessful bid to unseat Straus, landed spots on two committees: Government Transparency and Operation; and International Trade and Intergovernmental Affairs.

State Rep. Molly White, a freshman Republican from rural Belton who drew national attention last week for comments about Muslims, will serve on the Urban Affairs Committee and the Homeland Security and Public Safety Committee.

State Rep. Gary Elkins, R-Jersey Village, will chair the Government Transparency and Operations Committee. Elkins, who is in the payday lending business, raised eyebrows in 2011 when he spoke on the House floor against proposed measures that he described as harmful to his industry.

Straus launched a new committee this session focused on issues of juvenile justice and family issues, two areas that were previously under the purview of the Corrections Committee. State Rep. Harold Dutton, D-Houston, will chair that committee. He also created two select committees, one on emerging issues in law enforcement chaired by state Rep. Allen Fletcher, R-Cypress, and one on state and federal power and responsibility, chaired by state Rep. Phil King, R-Weatherford.

State Rep. John Kuempel, R-Seguin, will take over for Zerwas as chairman of the General Investigating and Ethics Committee, which has subpoena power. In the new House rules approved by the members last month, the committee was given greater authority to investigate state agencies and employees.

Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick announced his committee assignments for the Senate nearly two weeks ago.

Below is the list of committee members.

Agriculture & Livestock

Chair: King, Tracy

King, Tracy Vice Chair: Anderson, Charles "Doc"

Anderson, Charles "Doc" González, Mary

Springer, Jr., Drew

Rinaldi, Matt

Simpson, David

District 17

Appropriations

Chair: Otto, John

Otto, John Vice Chair: Turner, Sylvester

Turner, Sylvester Burkett, Cindy

Davis, Sarah

Dukes, Dawnna

Giddings, Helen

Gonzales, Larry

Howard, Donna

Hughes, Bryan

Márquez, Marisa

McClendon, Ruth Jones

Miles, Borris L.

Price, Four

Walle, Armando

Ashby, Trent

Bell, Jr., Cecil

Bonnen, Greg

Capriglione, Giovanni

Koop, Linda

Longoria, Oscar

Miller, Rick

Muñoz, Jr., Sergio

Phelan, Dade

Raney, John

Rodriguez, Justin

Sheffield, J.D.

VanDeaver, Gary

Business & Industry

Chair: Oliveira, René

Oliveira, René Vice Chair: Simmons, Ron

Simmons, Ron Collier, Nicole

Fletcher, Allen

Rinaldi, Matt

Romero, Jr., Ramon

Villalba, Jason

Calendars

Chair: Hunter, Todd

Hunter, Todd Vice Chair: Lucio III, Eddie

Lucio III, Eddie Alonzo, Roberto

Cook, Byron

Davis, Sarah

Geren, Charlie

Giddings, Helen

Harless, Patricia

Huberty, Dan

Johnson, Eric

King, Ken

Larson, Lyle

Price, Four

Riddle, Debbie

Rodriguez, Eddie

Corrections

Chair: Murphy, Jim

Murphy, Jim Vice Chair: White, James

White, James Allen, Alma

Keough, Mark

Krause, Matt

Tinderholt, Tony

District 13

County Affairs

Chair: Coleman, Garnet

Coleman, Garnet Vice Chair: Farias, Joe

Farias, Joe Romero, Jr., Ramon

Spitzer, Stuart

Burrows, Dustin

Stickland, Jonathan

Tinderholt, Tony

Wu, Gene

District 13

Criminal Jurisprudence

Chair: Herrero, Abel

Herrero, Abel Vice Chair: Moody, Joseph

Moody, Joseph Simpson, David

Canales, Terry

Hunter, Todd

Leach, Jeff

Shaheen, Matt

Culture, Recreation & Tourism

Chair: Guillen, Ryan

Guillen, Ryan Vice Chair: Dukes, Dawnna

Dukes, Dawnna Larson, Lyle

Smith, Wayne

Frullo, John

Márquez, Marisa

Murr, Andrew

Defense & Veterans' Affairs

Chair: King, Susan

King, Susan Vice Chair: Frank, James

Frank, James Schaefer, Matt

Aycock, Jimmie Don

Blanco, César José

Farias, Joe

Shaheen, Matt

Economic & Small Business Development

Chair: Button, Angie Chen

Button, Angie Chen Vice Chair: Johnson, Eric

Johnson, Eric Anderson, Charles "Doc"

Rodriguez, Eddie

Vo, Hubert

Faircloth, Wayne

Isaac, Jason

Metcalf, Will

Villalba, Jason

Elections

Chair: Laubenberg, Jodie

Laubenberg, Jodie Vice Chair: Goldman, Craig

Goldman, Craig Fallon, Pat

Israel, Celia

Phelan, Dade

Reynolds, Ron

Schofield, Mike

Energy Resources

Chair: Darby, Drew

Darby, Drew Vice Chair: Paddie, Chris

Paddie, Chris Anchia, Rafael

Craddick, Tom

Herrero, Abel

King, Phil

Riddle, Debbie

Canales, Terry

Dale, Tony

Keffer, Jim

Landgraf, Brooks

Meyer, Morgan

Wu, Gene

Environmental Regulation

Chair: Morrison, Geanie

Morrison, Geanie Vice Chair: Rodriguez, Eddie

Rodriguez, Eddie Kacal, Kyle

Reynolds, Ron

Thompson, Ed

Isaac, Jason

King, Ken

King, Phil

Lozano, J. M.

General Investigating & Ethics

Chair: Kuempel, John

Kuempel, John Vice Chair: Collier, Nicole

Collier, Nicole Davis, Sarah

Hunter, Todd

Larson, Lyle

Moody, Joseph

Turner, Chris

Government Transparency & Operation

Chair: Elkins, Gary

Elkins, Gary Vice Chair: Walle, Armando

Walle, Armando Leach, Jeff

Turner, Scott

Galindo, Rick

Gonzales, Larry

Gutierrez, Roland

Higher Education

Chair: Zerwas, John

Zerwas, John Vice Chair: Howard, Donna

Howard, Donna Crownover, Myra

Morrison, Geanie

Zerwas, John

Alonzo, Roberto

Clardy, Travis

Martinez, Armando

Raney, John

Turner, Chris

Homeland Security & Public Safety

Chair: Phillips, Larry

Phillips, Larry Vice Chair: Nevárez, Poncho

Nevárez, Poncho Metcalf, Will

White, Molly

Burns, DeWayne

Dale, Tony

Johnson, Eric

Moody, Joseph

Wray, John

House Administration

Chair: Geren, Charlie

Geren, Charlie Vice Chair: Márquez, Marisa

Márquez, Marisa Allen, Alma

Alonzo, Roberto

Ashby, Trent

Farney, Marsha

Howard, Donna

King, Ken

Paddie, Chris

Raney, John

Vo, Hubert

Human Services

Chair: Raymond, Richard Peña

Raymond, Richard Peña Vice Chair: Rose, Toni

Rose, Toni Klick, Stephanie

Naishtat, Elliott

Peña, Gilbert

Keough, Mark

King, Susan

Price, Four

Spitzer, Stuart

Insurance

Chair: Frullo, John

Frullo, John Vice Chair: Muñoz, Jr., Sergio

Muñoz, Jr., Sergio Sheets, Kenneth

Workman, Paul

Bonnen, Greg

Guerra, R.D. "Bobby"

Meyer, Morgan

Paul, Dennis

Vo, Hubert

International Trade & Intergovernmental Affairs

Chair: Anchia, Rafael

Anchia, Rafael Vice Chair: Lozano, J. M.

Lozano, J. M. Koop, Linda

Anderson, Rodney

Burrows, Dustin

Turner, Scott

District 123

Investments & Financial Services

Chair: Parker, Tan

Parker, Tan Vice Chair: Longoria, Oscar

Longoria, Oscar Flynn, Dan

Capriglione, Giovanni

Landgraf, Brooks

Pickett, Joe

Stephenson, Phil

Judiciary & Civil Jurisprudence

Chair: Smithee, John

Smithee, John Vice Chair: Farrar, Jessica

Farrar, Jessica Hernandez, Ana

Laubenberg, Jodie

Raymond, Richard Peña

Clardy, Travis

Schofield, Mike

Sheets, Kenneth

Thompson, Senfronia

Juvenile Justice & Family Issues

Chair: Dutton, Jr., Harold

Dutton, Jr., Harold Vice Chair: Riddle, Debbie

Riddle, Debbie Rose, Toni

White, James

Hughes, Bryan

Peña, Gilbert

Sanford, Scott

Land & Resource Management

Chair: Deshotel, Joe

Deshotel, Joe Vice Chair: Thompson, Ed

Thompson, Ed Bell, Jr., Cecil

Krause, Matt

Lucio III, Eddie

Sanford, Scott

District 17

Licensing & Administrative Procedures

Chair: Smith, Wayne

Smith, Wayne Vice Chair: Gutierrez, Roland

Gutierrez, Roland Guillen, Ryan

Thompson, Senfronia

Geren, Charlie

Goldman, Craig

Kuempel, John

Miles, Borris L.

Miller, Doug

Local & Consent Calendars

Chair: Thompson, Senfronia

Thompson, Senfronia Vice Chair: Clardy, Travis

Clardy, Travis Burkett, Cindy

Capriglione, Giovanni

Dale, Tony

Gonzales, Larry

Guerra, R.D. "Bobby"

Gutierrez, Roland

Isaac, Jason

Muñoz, Jr., Sergio

Nevárez, Poncho

Sheets, Kenneth

Springer, Jr., Drew

Natural Resources

Chair: Keffer, Jim

Keffer, Jim Vice Chair: Ashby, Trent

Ashby, Trent Bonnen, Dennis

King, Tracy

Lucio III, Eddie

Burns, DeWayne

Frank, James

Kacal, Kyle

Larson, Lyle

Nevárez, Poncho

Workman, Paul

Pensions

Chair: Flynn, Dan

Flynn, Dan Vice Chair: Alonzo, Roberto

Alonzo, Roberto Stephenson, Phil

Hernandez, Ana

Klick, Stephanie

Paul, Dennis

Rodriguez, Justin

Public Education

Chair: Aycock, Jimmie Don

Aycock, Jimmie Don Vice Chair: Allen, Alma

Allen, Alma Deshotel, Joe

Dutton, Jr., Harold

Farney, Marsha

Bohac, Dwayne

Galindo, Rick

González, Mary

Huberty, Dan

King, Ken

VanDeaver, Gary

Public Health

Chair: Crownover, Myra

Crownover, Myra Vice Chair: Naishtat, Elliott

Naishtat, Elliott Coleman, Garnet

Guerra, R.D. "Bobby"

Sheffield, J.D.

Zedler, William "Bill"

Blanco, César José

Collier, Nicole

Davis, Sarah

Miller, Rick

Zerwas, John

Redistricting

Chair: Lozano, J. M.

Lozano, J. M. Vice Chair: Davis, Yvonne

Davis, Yvonne Gonzales, Larry

Hunter, Todd

Keffer, Jim

Oliveira, René

Parker, Tan

Pickett, Joe

Thompson, Senfronia

Rules & Resolutions

Chair: McClendon, Ruth Jones

McClendon, Ruth Jones Vice Chair: Kacal, Kyle

Kacal, Kyle Alvarado, Carol

Bell, Jr., Cecil

Blanco, César José

Button, Angie Chen

Faircloth, Wayne

Murr, Andrew

Rodriguez, Justin

Rose, Toni

Sheffield, J.D.

Special Purpose Districts

Chair: Miller, Doug

Miller, Doug Vice Chair: Alvarado, Carol

Alvarado, Carol Stickland, Jonathan

Faircloth, Wayne

Fallon, Pat

Martinez Fischer, Trey

Zedler, William "Bill"

State Affairs

Chair: Cook, Byron

Cook, Byron Vice Chair: Giddings, Helen

Giddings, Helen Farrar, Jessica

Menéndez, José

Oliveira, René

Smithee, John

Turner, Sylvester

Craddick, Tom

Farney, Marsha

Geren, Charlie

Harless, Patricia

Huberty, Dan

Kuempel, John

Transportation

Chair: Pickett, Joe

Pickett, Joe Vice Chair: Martinez, Armando

Martinez, Armando Davis, Yvonne

Fletcher, Allen

Phillips, Larry

Burkett, Cindy

Harless, Patricia

Israel, Celia

McClendon, Ruth Jones

Menéndez, José

Murr, Andrew

Paddie, Chris

Simmons, Ron

Urban Affairs

Chair: Alvarado, Carol

Alvarado, Carol Vice Chair: Hunter, Todd

Hunter, Todd Anderson, Rodney

Elkins, Gary

Schaefer, Matt

White, Molly

District 123

Ways & Means

Chair: Bonnen, Dennis

Bonnen, Dennis Vice Chair: Davis, Yvonne

Davis, Yvonne Bohac, Dwayne

Button, Angie Chen

Murphy, Jim

Turner, Chris

Darby, Drew

Martinez Fischer, Trey

Parker, Tan

Springer, Jr., Drew

Wray, John

House Select Committee on Emerging Issues in Texas Law Enforcement

Chair: Fletcher, Allen

Fletcher, Allen Vice Chair: Dukes, Dawnna

Dukes, Dawnna Flynn, Dan

Koop, Linda

Márquez, Marisa

Martinez, Armando

White, James

House Select Committee on State and Federal Power and Responsibility

Chair: King, Phil

King, Phil Vice Chair: Workman, Paul

Workman, Paul Anderson, Charles "Doc"

Clardy, Travis

Miles, Borris L.

Parker, Tan

Walle, Armando

Reference 2015 House Committee Assignments by Committee