Arizona Senate Adds Banking/Insurance Committee

The Arizona Senate will add three more committees under a postelection reorganization by majority Republicans.

Senate President-designee Russell Pearce announced appointments for chairmanships of 15 committees, up from 12 currently.

The new committees include one for Banking and Insurance. Another is called Border Security, Federalism and States’ Sovereignty. And the current Commerce and Economic Development Committee will be divided into one on Commerce and Energy and another on Economic Development and Job Creation.

Legislature chambers often add committees when majorities win additional seats and have more members angling for chairmanships and other leadership posts.

Republicans will have 21 of the 30 senators, up from 18 now.