Rep. Jim Boyd to chair Ethics and Elections subcommittee

Rep. Jim Boyd, R-Bradenton,  was named Monday as chairman of the House Ethics and Elections Subcommittee -- which could give him a big say in any efforts to change Florida election law in the wake of complaints about changes made last year.

The panel, which has been dormant for six years, is under the House State Affair Committee, of which Boyd was also named a member by Speaker Will Weatherford.

The major election law change last year was the compression of the early voting period, which critics charge was designed to suppress the votes of some Florida residents; and was responsible for long lines at some locations during early voting and on Election Day.

Boyd, who was re-elected this month to a second term, will also be a member of the Agriculture and Natural Resources Subcommittee, also under State Affairs; the Civil Justice Subcommittee, under the Judiciary Committee; and the Joint Committee on Public Counsel Oversight.

Rep. Greg Steube, R-Parrish, also re-elected to a second term, was named vice-chairman of two separate subcommittees, Health Innovation, under the Health and Human Services Committee; and Business and Professional Regulation, under Regulatory Affairs, of which he also is a member.

Steube was also named to the Appropriations Committee and the Rulemaking Oversight & Repeal Subcommittee, under the Rules and Calendar Committee.

Rep. Darryl Rouson, D-St. Petersburg, whose district includes part of Manatee, was named to the

Appropriations Committee, the  Business & Professional Regulation Subcommittee, the  Justice Appropriations Subcommittee, the  Regulatory Affairs Committee and the State Affairs Committee.

Newly elected state Sen. Bill Galvano, R-Bradenton, has not yet received his committee assignments for the new Legislature, which will convene March 5.