Committee elects new chair and vice chair for Joint Legislative Committee on Water Supply During Drought

Members of the Joint Legislative Committee on Water Supply During Drought elected a senate member as chair and Representative Christine Reeves as vice chair during a 2025 virtual meeting, with the committee recording unanimous support for both positions.

The election followed a brief caucus among members to resolve customary rotation between the chambers. Committee members discussed a prior informal arrangement that alternates leadership between a Senate Democrat and a House Republican; after caucus, senators nominated and the committee voted to seat Senator Mazzell as chair. Representative Christine Reeves was nominated and elected vice chair.

Committee members debated the customary rotation before proceeding to nominations and the vote. Several members explained the convention as meant to balance representation between the Senate and the House; a staff member confirmed there is no statutory requirement prescribing chamber or party for the vice chair position. Members had about 10 minutes for caucus before returning to conduct the formal vote.

There were no other formal agenda actions tied to the election. After the vote, the outgoing chair asked to finish the current agenda before transferring day-to-day leadership; the committee agreed to proceed with the scheduled presentations.

The committee will continue regular business under its newly elected leaders; no committee-level policy decisions or funding commitments were made during the leadership vote.