Rep. Francis Selected Vice Chair of Transportation Committee

The Kansas House will have a new budget subcommittee on funding for public schools, and a western Kansas lawmaker will lead its Appropriations Committee.

House Speaker Ron Ryckman Jr. of Olathe announced Thursday that he’s splitting oversight over education spending between subcommittees on public schools and higher education.

The new K-12 panel’s chairman is Republican Rep. Larry Campbell of Olathe.

Transportation Committee Chair will be Rep. Rich Proehl of Parsons, with Rep. Shannon Francis of Liberal as Vice Chairman

He named Republican Rep. Troy Waymaster of Bunker Hill as the next Appropriations Committee chairman.

GOP moderates picked up some key committee posts after elections this year made the Legislature less conservative.

Rep. Steve Johnson of Assaria will be chairman of the Taxation Committee, and Rep. Blaine Finch of Ottawa will lead the Judiciary Committee.