Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick has announced Texas Senate committee appointments for the 89th Legislature, upholding his promise to not appoint Democrats to chair committees.

“No Democrat Chairs” is a legislative priority of the Texas GOP, which maintains that the majority party should control each chamber’s committees.

“I’m proud to serve as President of the Texas Senate and work with such talented and hard-working leaders, each in their own right,” stated Patrick. “Throughout the interim, your senators have worked tirelessly to study the issues and prepare for this legislative session. With these committee appointments, the Texas Senate is hitting the ground running, ready to do the work the voters sent us to do.”

  1. Bob Hall (R-Edgewood) chairs the Committee on Administration.
  2. Charles Schwertner (R-Georgetown) chairs the Committee on Business and Commerce.
  3. Pete Flores (R-Pleasanton) chairs the Committee on Criminal Justice.
  4. Phil King (R-Weatherford) chairs the Committee on Economic Development.
  5. Brandon Creighton (R-Conroe) chairs the Committee on Education K-16.
  6. Joan Huffman (R-Houston) chairs the Committee on Finance.
  7. Lois Kolkhorst (R-Brenham) chairs the Committee on Health and Human Services.
  8. Paul Bettencourt (R-Houston) chairs the Committee on Local Government.
  9. Donna Campbell (R-Bulverde) chairs the Committee on Nominations.
  10. Robert Nichols (R-Jacksonville) chairs the Committee on Transportation.
  11. Kelly Hancock (R-North Richland Hills) chairs the Committee on Veteran Affairs.
  12. Charles Perry (R-Lubbock) chairs the Committee on Water, Agriculture, and Rural Affairs.
  13. Bryan Hughes (R-Mineola) chairs the Committee on Jurisprudence and the Committee on State Affairs.
  14. Brian Birdwell (R-Granbury) chairs the Committee on Border Security and the Committee on Natural Resources.

Patrick’s announcement came two days after senators voted on the permanent rules for the 89th Legislature, which defined the structure of the standing committees for this session.

Notably, the previous Committee on Natural Resources and Economic Development was divided into two committees, with the newly separate Committee on Economic Development boasting five members.

The Senate also enveloped the Subcommittee on Higher Education into the existing Committee on Education, the name of which has been modified with the “K-16” moniker to clarify that it also covers college.

Meanwhile, the House has yet to vote on its rules, much less assign committees.

Luca Cacciatore

Luca H. Cacciatore is a journalist for Texas Scorecard. He is an American Moment inaugural fellow and former welder.

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