Senate and House Elect New Leadership for 136th General Assembly

Senate President Matt Huffman will lead the Ohio House of Representatives as Speaker at the start of the 136th General Assembly in January.

The House Republican Caucus unanimously elected Senator Huffman during a meeting of its members Wednesday night. Huffman, a Lima Republican, served as Speaker Pro-Tempore under the late and legendary Speaker of the House William “Batch” Batchelder. Huffman has served as Senate President since January of 2021.

“I want to thank the Republican members of the Ohio House for their vote of confidence,” said President Huffman. “It is time the Republican majority unites for the greater good of our neighborhoods across the state. I look forward to the new leadership teams from the House and Senate working together to make this the most effective and efficient Ohio General Assembly in decades.”

The start of each new General Assembly comes with the crafting of Ohio's two-year state budget.

Throughout his career, Speaker-elect Huffman has worked to make sure the budget prioritizes taxpayers with the idea that it’s not the government’s money, it's their money. They earned it.

Ohio's income tax brackets have been reduced from nine down to the current two during Huffman's time in the General Assembly.
 
Senate President Huffman has practiced law for more than thirty years, and he and his wife Sheryl are grandparents of ten grandchildren.

The Ohio Senate Majority Caucus elected its leadership team for the 136th General Assembly which begins in January. 

Senator Rob McColley (R-Napoleon) was elected to serve as the next President of the Ohio Senate.

"I am extremely honored to have been elected to serve as the next President of the Ohio Senate," said Senator McColley. "I would like to thank my colleagues for the incredible confidence and trust they have placed in me. I would also like to thank my loving wife and family for supporting me in my journey to get to this point."

Senator McColley has served in the Ohio Senate since 2017, and graduated from law school at the University of Toledo.

Senator Bill Reineke (R-Tiffin) will serve as Senate President Pro Tempore. Senator Reineke enters his second term in the Senate beginning in January. He is a successful businessman and a strong advocate for economic development. He has served on the Senate's Finance Committee, Workforce and Higher Education Committee, and worked to transform Ohio's Department of Education into the Department of Education and Workforce.
 
Senator Theresa Gavarone (R-Bowling Green) continues her role as a member of Senate leadership. She will now serve as Senate Majority Floor Leader for the 136th General Assembly. Senator Gavarone vice-chaired the Senate Finance Committee during the 135th General Assembly, playing a crucial role in crafting the state's operating budget.
 
Senator George Lang (R-West Chester) will serve in his first leadership role in the Senate as Majority Whip. Senator Lang led a successful career in business and industry, and is respected as a strong advocate for small businesses in Ohio. He has served in both chambers and enters his second term in the Ohio Senate this January.

Senator McColley was very pleased with the election of the new leadership team for the next General Assembly which will face the important work of approving the next two-year balanced budget for Ohio.

"I would like to congratulate Senators Reineke, Gavarone, and Lang for their elections to serve as President Pro-Tempore, Majority Floor Leader, and Majority Whip. I look forward to working with them and the rest of our caucus to implement our collective vision to make Ohio an even better place to live, work, and raise a family."

Members of leadership will be officially sworn in at the Senate's first session in 2025.