Kentucky Speaker of the House David Osborne addresses lawmakers before the State of the Commonwealth address in Frankfort, Ky., on Jan. 3, 2024. (Kentucky Lantern photo by Arden Barnes)
Ahead of the 2025 legislative session, Republicans in the Kentucky House of Representatives have split their Education Committee in two — one focused on public schools and one on colleges and universities.
Republican House Speaker David Osborne announced the new committees — House Committee on Postsecondary Education and the House Committee on Primary and Secondary Education — in a Tuesday evening press release.
“The creation of these two committees is further evidence of our commitment to ensuring every Kentucky student has an opportunity to reach their potential,” said Osborne, of Prospect. “These two areas of education have vastly different needs and challenges. By focusing our efforts on the unique needs of each level, we can strengthen our approach. We invest more on education than almost every other category of the budget put together.”
The former chair of the House Education Committee, Rep. James Tipton, R-Taylorsville, will lead the Postsecondary Education Committee. Rep. Shane Baker, R-Somerset, will be the committee vice chair. Baker was one of two vice chairs on the House Education Committee.
Rep. Scott Lewis, R-Hartford, will chair the Primary and Secondary Education Committee. Rep. Mike Clines, R-Alexandria, will be its vice chair.
According to the press release, the committees were formed to “better address the issues currently before the House Education Committee.” In recent legislative sessions, the House Education Committee has seen several high-profile bills, including the 2023 anti-transgender law Senate Bill 150 and overhauled the Senate version of a bill aimed at curbing diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives in higher education this year.
House and Senate committees meet while the legislature is in session to review legislation before it comes to the floor. The Kentucky General Assembly returns to Frankfort on Tuesday, Jan. 7.
The Senate announced its committee chairs earlier this month. As Republicans hold supermajorities in both the House and Senate, they have the coveted power to chair committees.
Here are the House’s committee chairs and vice chairs:
- Agriculture – Rep. Myron Dossett, chair, and Rep. Dan Fister, vice chair
- Appropriations and Revenue – Rep. Jason Petrie, chair, Rep. Adam Bowling, vice chair, and Rep. Josh Bray, vice chair
- Budget Review Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Protection, Tourism, and Energy – Rep. Chris Fugate, chair
- Budget Review Subcommittee on General Government – Rep. Chris Freeland, chair
- Budget Review Subcommittee on Health and Family Services – Rep. Ken Fleming, chair, and Rep.Wade Williams, vice chair
- Budget Review Subcommittee on Justice, Public Safety, and Judiciary – Rep. Stephanie Dietz, chair
- Budget Review Subcommittee on Personnel, Public Retirement, and Finance – Rep. Walker Thomas, chair
- Budget Review Subcommittee on Postsecondary Education – Rep. Steve Riley, chair
- Budget Review Subcommittee on Primary and Secondary Education and Workforce Development – Rep.Kim Banta, chair
- Budget Review Subcommittee on Transportation – Rep. Ken Upchurch, chair, and Rep. Randy Bridges, vice chair
- Banking and Insurance – Rep. Michael Meredith, chair, Rep. Matt Lockett, vice chair, and Rep. Sarge Pollock, vice chair
- Economic Development and Workforce Investment – Rep. Josh Branscum, chair, and Rep. Thomas Huff, vice chair
- Elections, Constitutional Amendments and Intergovernmental Affairs – Rep. DJ Johnson, chair, and Rep. John Hodgson, vice chair
- Enrollment – Rep. Thomas Huff, chair
- Family Services – Rep. Samara Heavrin, chair, and Rep. Nick Wilson, vice chair
- Health Services – Rep. Kim Moser, chair, and Rep. Robert Duvall, vice chair
- Judiciary – Rep. Daniel Elliott, chair, and Rep. Jennifer Decker, vice chair
- Licensing, Occupations, and Administrative Regulations – Rep. Matt Koch, chair, and Rep.Tom O’Dell Smith, vice chair
- Local Government – Rep. Patrick Flannery, chair, and Rep. Amy Neighbors, vice chair
- Natural Resources and Energy – Rep. Jim Gooch, chair, Rep. Richard White, vice chair, and Rep. Jared Bauman, vice chair
- Postsecondary Education – Rep. James Tipton, chair, and Rep. Shane Baker, vice chair
- Primary and Secondary Education – Rep. Scott Lewis, chair, and Rep. Mike Clines, vice chair
- Small Business and Information Technology – Rep. Deanna Frazier Gordon, chair, and Rep. William Lawrence, vice chair
- State Government – Rep. David Hale, chair, and Rep. Rebecca Raymer, vice chair
- Tourism and Outdoor Recreation – Rep. Kim King, chair, and Rep. Susan Witten, vice chair
- Transportation – Rep. John Blanton, chair, and Rep. Mary Beth Imes, vice chair
- Veterans, Military Affairs, and Public Protection – Rep. Bobby McCool, chair, and Rep. Bill Wesley, vice chair
House Republicans also announced chairs of statutory committees, which meet throughout the year and include Senate members. The House leaders are:
Administrative Regulation Review Subcommittee – Rep. Derek Lewis, chair
Capital Planning Advisory Board – Rep. Ryan Dotson, chair
Capital Projects and Bond Oversight – Rep. Shawn McPherson, chair
Commission on Race and Access to Opportunity – Rep. Kevin Jackson, chair
Education Assessment and Accountability Review Subcommittee – Rep. Timmy Truett
Government Contract Review – Rep. Mark Hart, chair
Investments in IT Improvement and Modernization Projects Oversight Board – Rep. Matt Lockett, chair
Juvenile Justice Oversight – Rep. Daniel Elliott, chair
Legislative Oversight and Investigations – Rep. Scott Sharp, chair
Public Pension Oversight Board – Rep. Walker Thomas, chair
Tobacco Settlement Agreement Fund Oversight Committee – Rep. Sarge Pollock, chair