Gov. C.L. "Butch" Otter has appointed state Sen. Dean Cameron of Rupert to oversee the Idaho Department of Insurance.
Otter announced Friday that the 13-term Republican lawmaker will be the new director effective June 15.
Cameron is co-chair of the Joint Finance Appropriations Committee, one of the most powerful legislative committees in the Idaho Statehouse. He also owns an insurance and securities investment company in Rupert.
The insurance position has been open since former Director Bill Deal left at the end of 2014.
It is not yet known who will replace Cameron on the state's budget setting panel.
A Republican legislative committee from Cameron's legislative district will nominate candidates to succeed him in the Senate. The governor will then choose one of those candidates to complete Cameron's term.