Drew Wilson
House Speaker Jose Oliva has selected Republican state Reps. Cord Byrd, Byron Donalds and Ralph Massulo to chair the House education policy subcommittees, according to a list of assignments first obtained by Florida Politics.
Byrd, a second-term Republican representing Nassau and Duval counties, will chair the House Higher Education & Career Readiness Subcommittee.
Massulo, a second-term lawmaker representing Citrus and Hernando counties, will chair the PreK-12 Innovation Subcommittee.
Donalds, who represents Hendry and Collier counties, will chair the PreK-12 Quality Subcommittee.
Under former House Speaker Richard Corcoran, the antecessor to Byrd’s committee — the Post-Secondary Education Subcommittee — was chaired by former North Central Florida Rep. Elizabeth Porter.
The PreK-12 Quality Subcommittee was chaired by former Lithia Rep. Jake Raburn and the PreK-12 Innovation Subcommittee was chaired by Latvala.
Byrd previously served as the vice chair of the Justice Appropriations subcommittee. The 2019 Session will be his first on an education-related committee.
Pasco County Republican Rep. Amber Mariano, who is also starting her second term, is vice chair of Byrd’s committee.
Last year, Massulo held a seat on the subcommittee he now chairs. He also served as vice chair on the Natural Resources & Public Lands Subcommittee for the 2018 Legislative Session.
Winter Haven Republican Rep. Sam Killebrew has been named vice chair of the PreK-12 Innovation Subcommittee.
Donalds served as vice chair of the PreK-12 Appropriations Subcommittee during the 2018 Legislative Session and also held a seat on the PreK-12 Quality Subcommittee.
Clearwater Republican Rep. Chris Latvala will serve as vice chair under Donalds. Last night it was revealed that Latvala would head up the PreK-12 Appropriations Subcommittee, with Brevard County Rep. Randy Fine being tapped to chair the Higher Education Appropriations Subcommittee
Oliva previously selected Eustis Republican Rep. Jennifer Sullivan to take the reins of the Education Committee.
