Bismarck Republican leaders have decided who will serve as leaders of the powerful budget-writing committees.

House Majority Leader Mike Lefor, says GOP Representative Don Vigesaa, of Cooperstown will become the chairman of the House Appropriations Committee.

Senate Majority Leader David Hogue, says Williston Republican Brad Bekkedahl will head the Senate Appropriations Committee.

The head budget writers from last year’s session are among the dozens of former legislators who will not returm in 2023. The two majority leaders and two appropriations chairmen — generally seen as the state’s most influential lawmakers — will all be new on the job next year.

Former longtime Senate Appropriations Chairman Ray Holmberg, a Grand Forks Republican, resigned in June following a Forum report that revealed he exchanged text messages with a jailed man accused of child pornography crimes.

Former longtime House Appropriations Chairman Jeff Delzer lost his bid for reelection during the June primary.

Vigesaa, a retired car salesman, has served in the House for two decades previously occuping the assistant majority leader’s seat. The legislator says he’s a fiscal conservative and said he wants budgets to benefit the whole state — not just his constituency.

Bekkedahl, is a dentist and retired member of the North Dakota National Guard, was first elected to the Senate in 2014 and has served as Williston’s finance commissioner for more than 25 years. Bekkedahl said he’ does not micro-manag, and he wants to empower other budget writers to make decisions.

Bekkedahl concurred with Vigesaa that lawmakers funding infrastructure projects would position the state for economic growth.