House Speaker Joe Straus announced committee assignments for the Legislature's lower chamber on Thursday, ending speculation over key chairmanships and giving lawmakers the go-ahead to start considering bills.
Of the standing committees, 32 are chaired by men, six by women. That's one more female chair than the 2011 session.
Among the committee chairs, 26 are white, five are black and seven are Hispanic, one more than last session.
Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst released his state Senate appointments on Jan. 18. A full list of those can be found here.
State Rep. Jimmie Don Aycock takes over the Public Education Committee as battle lines are already being drawn over accountability, student testing and school choice reforms. He is well-regarded in public education circles and has drawn support from advocacy groups that oppose private school vouchers — an indication that any legislation enacting such a policy — a
Vice Chairman: Charles “Doc” Anderson
Vice Chairman: Sylvester Turner
Vice Chairman: Eddie Lucio III
Vice Chairman: Ralph Sheffield
Economic and Small Business Development
Vice Chairwoman: Myra Crownover
Vice Chairwoman: Marisa Marquez
General Investigating & Ethics
Government Efficiency & Reform
Chairwoman: Linda Harper-Brown
Homeland Security & Public Safety
Chairman: Richard Peña Raymond
Vice Chairwoman: Naomi Gonzalez
International Trade & Intergovernmental Affairs
Investments & Financial Services
Judiciary & Civil Jurisprudence
Vice Chairwoman: Jessica Farrar
Licensing & Administrative Procedures
Chairwoman: Senfronia Thompson
Chairman: William “Bill” Callegari
Vice Chairman: Elliott Naishtat
Chairwoman: Ruth Jones McClendon
Vice Chairwoman: Angie Chen Button
Vice Chairman: Armando Martinez
Vice Chairwoman: Carol Alvarado
Elena Schneider contributed reporting.
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This article originally appeared in The Texas Tribune at http://www.texastribune.org/2013/01/31/straus-makes-house-committee-assignments/.
