New and returning House members have received their committee assignments, giving a glimpse into legislative priorities for the upcoming session.
The 150 members of the House have been assigned to the 15 standing committees that range from education and the environment to health care and human services, with some reshuffling that could be seen as a preparation to address education spending and property tax reform.
The committee assignments support House Speaker Shap Smith’s statements that an overhaul of education spending — including the way education is paid for — will be a top priority.
At the top of this reshuffling is the assignment of Rep. Dave Sharpe, D-Bristol, to lead the House Education Committee, replacing longtime Chairwoman Johannah Leddy Donovan, D-Burlington, who will be a ranking member of the House Ways and Means Committee.
Previously, Sharpe was the ranking member of Ways and Means, whose charge is to oversee taxes and state revenue. He will be joined on the Education Committee by Rep. Ann Manwaring, D-Wilmington, a former member of the House Appropriations Committee, whose job is to oversee state spending.
The blending of education and finance committee members is an indication of the intertwined issues of property taxes and education spending that will challenge lawmakers to address rising taxes and education spending, even as kindergarten through 12th grade enrollment continues to decline.
During the last legislative session, the House Education Committee proposed a school district consolidation plan that some lawmakers criticized for not addressing education costs or property taxes. That proposal died in the Senate after receiving approval in the House.
Other House committees will see new leadership, including the Health Care Committee, which will be led by Rep. William Lippert, D-Burlington, who has two decades of experience as a representative in the State House and most recently served on the Judiciary Committee.
Rep. Mitzi Johnson, D-South Hero, will lead the Appropriations Committee, taking over for Rep. Martha Heath, D-Westford, who did not seek re-election in November.
Senate committee assignments will be released Friday.
