In December, Senate President Peter Courtney and House Speaker Tina Kotek announced membership of legislative committees for the 2019 session. Committees are important because they are the core deliberative bodies on legislative concepts and make recommendations to the full House or Senate.

Some changes of note include the elimination of the House Higher Education and Workforce Development Committee, which has been in place since 2013. Now all education-related bills from K-12 to higher education in the House will go through one committee chaired by Rep. Margaret Doherty (D-Tigard). Sen. Rob Wagner (D-Lake Oswego) will chair the Senate Education Committee, and former ASUO president Rep. Jennifer Williamson (D-Portland) will chair the House Judiciary Committee.

Click here to get caught up on all the committee assignments.