VIDALIA — When the Louisiana legislature session gets cranking, Rep. Andy Anders wants to hit the ground running.

Anders was recently appointed chair of the House agriculture committee — a committee he served on as a member last session — by Governor-elect Bobby Jindal.

“My job is to work with the governor’s staff to make sure Louisiana moves forward as far as agriculture is concerned,” Anders said.

The appointment to the committee chair position came after a short meeting with Jindal.

“I met with (Jindal) and he asked me if I was going to work with him,” Anders said. “I told him, ‘I’m willing to work as long as it’s a good bill, so don’t bring any bad bills.”

Senator-elect Francis Thompson will serve as the chair of the Senate agriculture committee, and Anders said having a good working relationship with Thompson, who previously served in the House, will be beneficial.

“(Thompson) was the House chair of the committee last year, and we are friends and well acquainted for sure,” Anders said.

He will attend a committee chair orientation session with the governor Jan. 17-18, Anders said.

Anders’ plans also include getting separate building code guidelines for north and south Louisiana, a move he attempted last session but with which he was unsuccessful.

Currently, all newly constructed buildings in Louisiana, no matter where they are located, must meet International Construction Code standards, which includes being able to withstand hurricane force winds.

“The last governor was pretty much determined it was going to be a mandatory code for both north and south, so we’re going to go back and see if we can work on it for a more fair building code for the north and south,” Anders said.