Sen. Patti Anne Lodge, R-Huston, former chairwoman of the Senate Health & Welfare Committee, is the new chair of the Senate Judiciary & Rules Committee, taking over from longtime Chairman Denton Darrington, R-Declo, who retired from the Senate. "It wasn't something I was aspiring to do, follow in Denton's footsteps," Lodge said. "But it's a great challenge. I've been on the committee for 12 years."

Lodge's husband, Edward, is the state's senior federal judge.

Said the seventh-term senator, "I hope I'll provide something important that's beneficial for the taxpayers."