The Tennessee Senate is changing the Republican leadership of five committees.
Republican Speaker Randy McNally’s office announced the changes Thursday in the early days of a legislative session expected to last for months.
Sen. Mike Bell of Riceville will replace Sen. Brian Kelsey of Germantown as the judiciary chairman. Sen. Kerry Roberts of Springfield will take over Bell’s old post as government operations chairman.
Sen. Jack Johnson of Franklin has become majority leader, so Sen. Paul Bailey of Sparta is taking Johnson’s old job as commerce and labor chairman. Sen. Becky Duncan Massey of Knoxville will head the transportation committee that Bailey previously led.
Sen. Ken Yager of Kingston is serving as GOP caucus chairman, leaving an opening for Sen. Steve Dickerson of Nashville to become state and local chairman.