In Texas, we keep “Getting on Down the Road”.
After the election and smooth swearing in, the Texas House Speaker Dade Phelan is ready to begin a second term!
Senate and House rules are set and the inauguration last week of Governor Abbott and Lt. Governor Patrick, our three Leadership offices, are now solidified. Not that there was any doubt.
The pomp and circumstance are over, and we are ready to move to business. Let’s get on down the road!
The Speaker – as is customary, will ask his members to fill out their cards for committee appointments that they prefer.
Today, Lt. Governor Patrick released his Senate Committee Chairs and members for this session.
As far as the Senate, the New Committee make-up and Chairs (see list below)
Senate Committee on Administration
Bob Hall, Chair
Drew Springer, Vice Chair
Carol Alvarado
Nathan Johnson
José Menéndez
Mayes Middleton
Tan Parker
Senate Committee on Border Security
Brian Birdwell, Chair
Peter Flores, Vice Chair
César Blanco
Juan “Chuy” Hinojosa
Phil King
Senate Committee on Business and Commerce
Charles Schwertner, Chair
Phil King, Vice Chair
Brian Birdwell
Donna Campbell
Brandon Creighton
Nathan Johnson
Lois Kolkhorst
José Menéndez
Mayes Middleton
Robert Nichols
Judith Zaffirini
Senate Committee on Criminal Justice
John Whitmire, Chair
Peter Flores, Vice Chair
Paul Bettencourt
Juan “Chuy” Hinojosa
Joan Huffman
Phil King
Borris Miles
Senate Committee on Education
Brandon Creighton, Chair
Donna Campbell, Vice Chair
Paul Bettencourt
Brian Birdwell
Peter Flores
Phil King
Morgan LaMantia
José Menéndez
Mayes Middleton
Tan Parker
Angela Paxton
Drew Springer
Royce West
Senate Committee on Education, Subcommittee on Higher Education
Brandon Creighton, Chair
Mayes Middleton, Vice Chair
Phil King
Drew Springer
Royce West
Senate Committee on Finance
Joan Huffman, Chair
Juan “Chuy” Hinojosa, Vice Chair
Paul Bettencourt
Donna Campbell
Brandon Creighton
Peter Flores
Bob Hall
Kelly Hancock
Bryan Hughes
Lois Kolkhorst
Robert Nichols
Angela Paxton
Charles Perry
Charles Schwertner
Royce West
John Whitmire
Judith Zaffirini
Senate Committee on Health and Human Services
Lois Kolkhorst, Chair
Charles Perry, Vice Chair
César Blanco
Bob Hall
Kelly Hancock
Bryan Hughes
Morgan LaMantia
Borris Miles
Kevin Sparks
Senate Committee on Jurisprudence
Bryan Hughes, Chair
Nathan Johnson, Vice Chair
Brandon Creighton
Juan “Chuy” Hinojosa
Mayes Middleton
Senate Committee on Local Government
Paul Bettencourt, Chair
Drew Springer, Vice Chair
Sarah Eckhardt
Roland Gutierrez
Bob Hall
Robert Nichols
Tan Parker
Angela Paxton
Royce West
Senate Committee on Natural Resources and Economic Development
Brian Birdwell, Chair
Judith Zaffirini, Vice Chair
Carol Alvarado
César Blanco
Kelly Hancock
Bryan Hughes
Lois Kolkhorst
Borris Miles
Kevin Sparks
Senate Committee on Nominations
Donna Campbell, Chair
Kevin Sparks, Vice Chair
Carol Alvarado
Sarah Eckhardt
Bryan Hughes
Morgan LaMantia
Borris Miles
Angela Paxton
Drew Springer
Senate Committee on State Affairs
Bryan Hughes, Chair
Angela Paxton, Vice Chair
Paul Bettencourt
Brian Birdwell
Morgan LaMantia
José Menéndez
Mayes Middleton
Tan Parker
Charles Perry
Charles Schwertner
Judith Zaffirini
Senate Committee on Transportation
Robert Nichols, Chair
Royce West, Vice Chair
Carol Alvarado
Sarah Eckhardt
Kelly Hancock
Phil King
Borris Miles
Tan Parker
Charles Perry
Senate Committee on Veteran Affairs
Kelly Hancock, Chair
Tan Parker, Vice Chair
César Blanco
Sarah Eckhardt
Roland Gutierrez
Bob Hall
Kevin Sparks
Senate Committee on Water, Agriculture, and Rural Affairs
Charles Perry, Chair
Kelly Hancock, Vice Chair
César Blanco
Pete Flores
Roland Gutierrez
Nathan Johnson
Lois Kolkhorst
Kevin Sparks
Drew Springer
Senate Special Committee on Redistricting
Joan Huffman, Chair
Juan “Chuy” Hinojosa, Vice Chair
Carol Alvarado
Brian Birdwell
Brandon Creighton
Kelly Hancock
Robert Nichols
Charles Perry
Drew Springer
Royce West
Judith Zaffirini
Observations:
- Senator John Whitmire is the only remaining Democratic Committee Chair.
- Charles Schwertner will head the Senate B&C Committee, one of a the most powerful Chairmanships in the Senate.
- Senator Lois Kolkhorst will maintain the Senate Health and Human Services Committee, where she has served well since coming over from the Texas House.
- Chairwoman Joan Huffman of Houston will still take the wand from Senator Jane Nelson to lead at the helm of the Senate Finance Committee. That committee has notably increased its membership to allow for more Senators to participate.
We expect the Governor’s Emergency Items to come out soon as well as House Committee Chairs. Things are getting exciting! We are all ready to look on down the road as we anticipate much more to come!
Best to all – L.L.K., LLC