Lt. Gov. Patrick announced the Senate’s committee assignments on Jan. 18, kicking off hearings on funding K-12 and higher education the following week.

Chairmanships will remain the same for both the Senate Education and Senate Finance committees. In one major change, the Education Committee no longer has a senator with HISD in his or her district.

Here is the full list of committee members on the Senate Education Committee:

• Sen. Larry Taylor (R-Friendswood), Chair
• Sen. Eddie Lucio, Jr. (D-Brownsville), Vice Chair
• Sen. Paul Bettencourt (R-Houston)
• Sen. Donna Campbell (R-New Braunfels)
• Sen. Don Huffines (R-Dallas)
• Sen. Bob Hall (R-Canton)
• Sen. Bryan Hughes (R-Tyler)
• Sen. Carlos Uresti (D-San Antonio)
• Sen. Kel Seliger (R-Amarillo)
• Sen. Van Taylor (R-Plano)
• Sen. Royce West (D-Dallas)

The Senate Finance Committee remains relatively the same as last session. Four senators from the greater Houston area will still serve on the committee: Whitmire, Huffman, L. Taylor and Bettencourt.

Here is the full list of committee members on the Senate Finance Committee. Senators who represent HISD are in bold.

• Sen. Jane Nelson (R-Flower Mound), Chair
• Sen. Juan “Chuy” Hinojosa (D-McAllen), Vice Chair
• Sen. Paul Bettencourt (R-Houston)
• Sen. Brian Birdwell (R-Granbury)
• Sen. Kelly Hancock (R-North Richland Hills)
• Sen. Joan Huffman (R-Houston)
• Sen. Lois Kolkhorst (R-Brenham)
• Sen. Robert Nichols (R-Jacksonville)
• Sen. Charles Schwertner (R-Georgetown)
• Sen. Kel Seliger (R-Amarillo)
• Sen. Larry Taylor (R-Friendswood)
• Sen. Carlos Uresti (D-San Antonio)
• Sen. Kirk Watson (D-Austin)
• Sen. Royce West (D-Dallas)
• Sen. John Whitmire (D-Houston)

The Senate Finance Committee on education funding began with testimony from the Texas Education Agency (TEA) and the Legislative Budget Board (LBB). Houston ISD’s recapture or “detachment” situation was discussed at great length.  State Sen. Paul Bettencourt urged the HISD school board to hold another election, asking voters to stop detachment by writing a $162 million check to the state.

During the third week of session, Senate Finance Chair Jane Nelson directed her colleagues to form a school finance workgroup, a surprise to many in the school community. The members of the school finance workgroup are Senators L. Taylor (Chair), Bettencourt, Birdwell, Hancock, Hinojosa, Seliger and West. The workgroup held their first hearing on Friday, Jan. 27 and heard school finance proposals from eight different groups. Chairman Taylor’s goal is to simplify the school finance system and build a framework for next session. HISD will remain involved in these conversations in Austin.

You can view the full list of Senate Committee assignments here.