Members of the Texas House of Representatives have been awaiting an announcement from House Speaker Dade Phelan (R-Beaumont) on this session's committee assignments. The announcements were made Thursday afternoon, including some high-profile surprises and a clear sign of the new speaker's commitment to bipartisan leadership.

Rep. Harold Dutton (D-Houston) is taking over as chair of of the House Public Education Committee. The high-profile committee had been chaired since the 2017 legislative session by Rep. Dan Huberty (R-Kingwood), who will remain on the committee. Rep. J.M. Lozano (R-Kingsville), a newcomer to the committee, becomes the vice chair.  The committee also includes new members Terry Meza (D-Irving) and Brad Buckley (R-Salado). The full committee composition is as follows:

House Committee on Public Education

• Harold Dutton (D), Chair
• J.M. Lozano (R), Vice Chair

SENIORITY APPOINTMENTS:

• Alma Allen (D-Houston)
• Diego Bernal (D-San Antonio)
• Dan Huberty (R-Kingwood)
• Ken King (R-Hemphill)

SPEAKER APPOINTMENTS:

• Allison, Steve (R-San Antonio)
• Bell, Keith of Kaufman (R-Athens)
• Buckley, Brad (R-Salado)
• González, Mary of El Paso (D)
• Meza, Terry (D-Irving)
• Talarico, James (D-Round Rock)
• VanDeaver, Gary (R-New Boston)

Below are a few more committees responsible for hearing bills of interest to the public education community, along with the committee that will oversee redistricting in the lower chamber this session:

House Committee on Appropriations

• Greg Bonnen (R), Chair
• Mary Gonzalez (D), Vice Chair

SENIORITY APPOINTMENTS:

• Ashby, Trent (R)
• Bell, Cecil (R)
• Capriglione, Giovanni (R)
• Dean, Jay (R)
• Howard, Donna (D)
• Johnson, Jarvis (D)
• Minjarez, Ina (D)
• Raney, John (R)
• Rose, Toni (D)
• VanDeaver, Gary (R)
• Wu, Gene (D)

SPEAKER APPOINTMENTS:

• Dominguez, Alex (D)
• Gates, Gary (R)
• Holland, Justin (R)
• Johnson, Ann (D)
• Johnson, Julie (D)
• Morrison, Geanie (R)
• Schaefer, Matt (R)
• Sherman, Carl (R)
• Stucky, Lynn (R)
• Thompson, Ed (R)
• Toth, Steve (R)
• Walle, Armando (D)
• Wilson, Terry (R)
• Zwiener, Erin (D)

House Committee on Calendars

• Dutin Burrows (R), Chair
• Joe Moody (D), Vice Chair

SPEAKER APPOINTMENTS:

• Craddick, Tom (R)
• Harris, Cody (R)
• Hefner, Cole (R)
• Hernandez, Ana (D)
• Leman, Ben (R)
• Patterson, Jared (R)
• Rose, Toni (D)
• Slawson, Shelby (R)
• Talarico, James (D)

House Committee on State Affairs

• Chris Paddie (R), Chair
• Ana Hernandez (D), Vice Chair

SENIORITY APPOINTMENTS:

• Deshotel, Joe (D)
• Hunter, Todd (R)
• King, Phil of Parker (R)
• Raymond, Richard Peña (D)
• Smithee, John (R)

SPEAKER APPOINTMENTS:

• Harless, Sam (R)
• Howard, Donna (D)
• Lucio, Eddie (D)
• Metcalf, Will (R)
• Shaheen, Matt (R)
• Slawson, Shelby (R)

House Committee on Pensions, Investments, and Financial Services

• Rafael Anchia (D), Chair
• Tan Parker (R), Vice Chair

SENIORITY APPOINTMENTS:

• Rogers, Glenn (R)
• Stephenson, Phil (R)

SPEAKER APPOINTMENTS:

• Capriglione, Giovanni (R)
• Muñoz, Sergio (D)
• Perez, Mary Ann (D)
• Slawson, Shelby (R)
• Vo, Hubert (D)

House Committee on Redistricting

• Todd Hunter (R), Chair
• Toni Rose (D), Vice Chair

SPEAKER APPOINTMENTS:

• Anchia, Rafael (D)
• Goldman, Craig (R)
• Guillen, Ryan (D)
• Jetton, Jacey (R)
• Landgraf, Brooks (R)
• Minjarez, Ina (D)
• Moody, Joseph (D)
• Morrison, Geanie (R)
• Murr, Andrew (R)
• Schofield, Mike (R)
• Thompson, Senfronia(D)
• Turner, Chris (D)
• White, James (R)

View the complete list of House committee assignments here.

For a list of Senate committees, which were already announced in January, click here, or check out our earlier blog post here on Teach the Vote.