NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — New state House Speaker Beth Harwell is shaking up the chamber's committee system in an effort to streamline the legislative process.

The Nashville Republican announced Thursday that she is doing away with all but one subcommittee for each of the 13 standing committees in the lower chamber of the General Assembly. Another change will be that not every bill will have to be considered by a subcommittee before it can be heard by a full panel.

Harwell said the "new system will be efficient and effective."

Republicans in November gained 14 seats in the House to give them a 64-34 majority. Harwell named Republicans to head each committee, a break with the practice of her predecessor who also assigned chairmanships to Democrats.