Newly elected Representatives named Vice-Chairs of key education committees

Newly elected Republican Representatives William Slater and Kevin Raper don’t even have their pictures posted yet on the Tennessee General Assembly website, but both are now occupying leadership positions in key House Committees.Tennessee Speaker of the House Cameron Sexton appointed Slater as the Vice-Chair of the House Education Administration Committee Thursday and assigned Raper to be the House Education Instruction Committee Vice-Chair.Slater won the 35^th House seat in November to represent Trousdale County and part of Sumner County.  Raper won the 24^th House seat that encompasses part of Bradley County.Each education bill that’s filed will need to pass at least one of the two committees before going to the full House for approval."I am honored to be appointed by Speaker Sexton as the Vice Chair of the House Education Administration Committee. I look forward to serving with Chairman White and the rest of the committee to continually improve education for all Tennessee students," said Slater.The two House education committees will have 16 new members this session the three House education subcommittees will have 22 new members.Among the noticeable changes, Representative Scott Cepicky is no longer on the House Education Administration Committee or K-12 Subcommittee but he’s remaining the Chair of the Education Instruction Subcommittee and a member of the House Education Instruction Committee. The Republican from Culleoka was one of the few Republicans who opposed the historic Tennessee Investment in Student Achievement (TISA) Act last session.Additionally, Speaker Sexton appointed newly elected Brentwood Republican Representative Gino Bulso to the House Education Administration Committee and K-12 Subcommittee.Democratic Representative Harold Love is off the K-12 Subcommittee and now on the Higher Education Subcommittee and Democratic Representative Yusuf Hakeem has been moved off the Education Administration Committee and Higher Education Subcommittee and on to the House Education Instruction Committee and Subcommittee.Democratic Representative John Ray Clemmons is no longer on any education committee or subcommittee.

Senate Assignments

Lt. Governor Randy McNally also made committee appointments Thursday though the Senate Education Committee is not seeing the same level of turnover as the House committees.That committee only has two new members, Senator Mark Pody of Lebanon and Senator Todd Gardenhire of Chattanooga.Senator Jon Lundberg remains the Chair of the committee and Sen. Raumesh Akbari remains the 2^nd Vice-Chair.  Sen. Bill Powers is taking over as the new 1^st Vice-Chair.

Full Committee Assignments

(* indicates newly assigned)Senate Education CommitteeChair – Jon Lundberg1^st. Vice-Chair – Bill Powers2^nd Vice- Chair – Raumesh AkbariRusty CroweTodd Gardenhire *Ferrell HaileJoey HensleyMark Pody *Dawn White House Education Administration CommitteeChair – Mark WhiteVice-Chair – William Slater*Charlie BaumGino Bulso*Ed Butler*Monty Fritts*Ron Gant*John GillespieKirk HastonChris HurtJustin Jones *Justin LaffertyHarold LoveSam McKenzieAntonio ParkinsonJohn RaganK-12 SubcommitteeChair – Kirk HastonGino Bulso*Chris Hurt*Sam McKenzie*Bryan Richey*William Slater*Robert Stevens*Todd Warner*Mark WhiteBryan Richey*Robert Stevens*Todd Warner*Higher Education SubcommitteeChair – Justin LaffertyCharlie BaumEd Butler*Monty Fritts*John GillespieKirk Haston*Harold Love*Antonio ParkinsonMark WhiteHouse Education Instruction CommitteeChair – Debra MoodyVice-Chair – Kevin Raper*Scott CepickyJesse Chism*Mark Cochran*Tandy Darby*Vincent DixieRonnie Glynn*Yusuf Hakeem*Tim HicksGloria Johnson*Tom Leatherwood*Jake McCalmon*John RaganChris Todd*Todd WarnerMark WhiteEducation Instruction SubcommitteeChair – Scott CepickyJesse Chism*Ronnie Glynn*Yusuf Hakeem*Tim HicksGloria Johnson*Tom Leatherwood*Jake McCalmon*Debra MoodyJohn RaganKevin Raper*Todd WarnerMark White*