ATLANTA — Cobb state senators were elevated to influential appointments on Monday with Lindsey Tippins (R-west Cobb) named chairman of the Senate Education and Youth Committee and Judson Hill (R-east Cobb) named chairman of the Senate Finance Committee.

Tippins has plenty of experience governing public education with his service on the Cobb Board of Education from 1997 to 2008.

Marietta City Schools Superintendent Dr. Emily Lembeck called the selection “a very wise appointment.”

“I think that Sen. Tippins has hands-on experience with the work that goes on in schools, and I think that he will serve as an asset to the Legislature in this position as well as to the general public,” Lembeck said.

This session the Legislature will eye ways schools are funded based on forthcoming recommendations from Gov. Deal’s education-finance commission.

“Those recommendations will be coming forward to the Legislature,” Lembeck said. “They’re going to be looking at flexibility in schools, and I’m sure they will deal with the usual charters and possibly other areas of accountability.”

Tippins said he was also named chairman of the education subcommittee in the “green door” Appropriations Committee, as well as a member of the Transportation and Judiciary committees.

Hill, meantime, will chair the Senate Finance Committee.

“It’s a committee that oversees matters related to taxation, revenue and our state fiscal policies,” Hill said.

Hill said he’s also been named chair of the subcommittee in Appropriations that oversees insurance, “which is all of our Medicaid and state health benefits programs, Peachcare and all the things related to the hospitals.”

In addition, Hill was named vice chair of the Appropriations subcommittee over Judiciary and a member of the Rules, Insurance and Regulated Industries committees.

As part of last year’s redistricting process, Sen. Barry Loudermilk (R–Cassville) was drawn into north Cobb. Loudermilk was named chairman of Science and Technology.

Members of the Georgia House are expected to learn of their committee assignments on Wednesday, state Rep. Sam Teasley (R-Marietta) said.