WIREGRASS, Ala. (WDHN) — An Alabama legislator out of Ozark will no longer serve as a chairman in the state House of Representatives.

Steve Clouse has served as chairman of the Ways and Means General Fund committee for nine years.

He has been replaced by Rex Reynolds, a representative out of Huntsville after an appointment by Nathaniel Ledbetter, who is in line to become the next speaker of the Alabama House of Representatives early next year.

Clouse is challenging Ledbetter for speaker of the house after former speaker Mac McCutcheon is retiring.

Ledbetter was chosen by the House Republican caucus as its nominee for speaker in November.

The speaker of the house will be officially elected on January 10th during the legislature’s organizational session.

The regular legislative session begins on March 7th.