Texas Legislature Committee Assignments

Lt Gov Dewhurst makes committee assignments

The Texas Senate will operate with 15 committees during the 78th regular legislative session, two more than in the previous biennium, Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst announced today. Nine committees will be headed by Republicans, and six by Democrats.

The two new committees: Infrastructure Development and Security – Chair Steve Odgen and Vice Chair Gonzalo Barrientos; and Government Organization – Chair Rodney Ellis and Vice Chair Jeff Wentworth.

International Relations and Trade, formerly the Border Affairs Subcommittee under State Affairs, has been elevated to full committee status and will be headed by Chair Eddie Lucio and Vice Chair Eliot Shapleigh. The Redistricting Committee has been combined into Jurisprudence. There will be no General Investigations Committee this session.

Dewhurst said “We are facing a very difficult budget year, and we must address numerous issues of concern to every Texas family,” Dewhurst said. “We are extremely fortunate to have an ideal blend of veteran legislators and new talent as we confront the biennium’s legislative agenda.”

“Everyone is determined to address the serious issues we face in a spirit of bipartisanship, cooperation and mutual respect,” Dewhurst said. “As a body, the Texas Senate is well positioned to handle this year’s budget problems and to make Texas an even better place to live and work.”

Below is a listing of the Committee assignments:

COMMITTEES OF TEXAS SENATE, 78TH REGULAR SESSION

Administration Committee has jurisdiction over all operational and administrative matters of the Texas Senate and sets the Senate local and uncontested calendar.

Chair: Senator Chris Harris; Vice Chair: Senator Juan Hinojosa

Members: Senators Mike Jackson, Kyle Janek, Leticia Van De Putte, Jeff Wentworth, John Whitmire

Business and Commerce Committee oversees all matters relating to the general business climate of Texas, including economic development.

Chair: Senator Troy Fraser; Vice Chair: Senator Kip Averitt

Members: Senators Kenneth Armbrister, Kim Brimer, Craig Estes, Mike Jackson, Eddie Lucio, Leticia Van de Putte and Tommy Williams

Criminal Justice Committee controls all matters relating to the penal code and the Texas prison system.

Chair: Senator John Whitmire; Vice Chair: Senator Tommy Williams

Members: Senators John Carona, Rodney Ellis, Juan Hinojosa, Steve Ogden and Bill Ratliff

Education Committee oversees all matters concerning public education and institutions of higher education.

Chair: Senator Florence Shapiro; Vice Chair: Senator Royce West

Members: Senators Kip Averitt, Kyle Janek, Steve Ogden, Todd Staples, Leticia Van de Putte, Tommy Williams and Judith Zaffirini

Note: Education will have a Higher Education Subcommittee chaired by Senator West and including Senators Averitt, Janek, Staples and Van de Putte

Finance Committee will oversee all state budget and revenue matters.

Chair: Senator Teel Bivins; Vice Chair: Senator Judith Zaffirini

Members: Senators Kip Averitt, Gonzalo Barrientos, Kim Brimer, Robert Duncan, Kyle Janek, Jane Nelson, Steve Ogden, Florence Shapiro, Eliot Shapleigh, Todd Staples, Royce West, John Whitmire and Tommy Williams

Government Organization Committee will examine the organization of state government in an effort to improve efficiency.

Chair: Senator Rodney Ellis; Vice Chair: Senator Jeff Wentworth

Members: Senators Kenneth Armbrister, Teel Bivins, Kim Brimer, Bill Ratliff and John Whitmire

Health and Human Services Committee will provide oversight on all matters concerning public health and welfare.

Chair: Senator Jane Nelson; Vice Chair: Senator Kyle Janek

Members: Senators John Carona, Bob Deuell, Mario Gallagos, Jon Lindsay, Bill Ratliff, Royce West, and Judith

Infrastructure Development and Security Committee will oversee state transportation issues as well as homeland security.

Chair: Senator Steve Ogden; Vice Chair: Senator Gonzalo Barrientos

Members: Senators Bob Deuell, Rodney Ellis, Jon Lindsay; Frank Madla, Florence Shapiro, Eliot Shapleigh, and Jeff Wentworth

Intergovernmental Relations Committee will oversee all affairs between state and local governments.

Chair: Senator Frank Madla; Vice Chair: Senator Kim Brimer

Members: Senators Bob Deuell, Mario Gallegos and Jeff Wentworth

International Relations and Trade Committee will oversee all matters concerning trade relations with foreign countries.

Chair: Senator Eddie Lucio; Vice Chair: Senator Eliot Shapleigh

Members: Senators Teel Bivens, John Carona, Craig Estes, Jane Nelson and Judith Zaffirini

Jurisprudence Committee will oversee matters pertaining to the court system and all areas of law except penal law.

Chair: Senator Robert Duncan; Vice Chair: Senator Mario Gallegos

Members: Senators Bob Kip Averitt, Teel Bivens, Chris Harris, Eddie Lucio and Royce West

Natural Resources Committee has jurisdiction on all matters concerning the conversation of natural resources and the control of land and water development.

Chair: Senator Kenneth Armbrister; Vice Chair: Mike Jackson

Members: Senators Gonzalo Barrientos, Robert Duncan, Craig Estes, Troy Fraser, Juan Hinojosa, Eddie Lucio, Jon Lindsay, Florence Shapiro and Todd Staples

Note: Natural Resources will have an Agriculture Subcommittee chaired by Senator Duncan and including Senators Lucio and Estes

Nominations Committee considers all gubernatorial appointments to facilitate the constitutional duty of the Senate to advise and consent.

Chair: Senator Jon Lindsay; Vice Chair: Senator Bob Deuell

Members: Senators Gonzalo Barrientos, John Carona, Chris Harris, Juan Hinojosa and Mike Jackson

State Affairs Committee will oversee all matters concerning state policy and the general administration of state government.

Chair: Senator Bill Ratliff; Vice Chair: Senator Todd Staples

Members: Senators Kenneth Armbrister, Robert Duncan, Rodney Ellis, Troy Fraser, Chris Harris, Frank Madla and Jane Nelson

Veterans Affairs and Military Installations Committee will oversee issues facing veterans and matters concerning military base closures.

Chair: Senator Leticia Van de Putte; Vice Chair: Senator Craig Estes

Members: Senators Troy Fraser, Frank Madla and Eliot Shapleigh

Base Realignment and Closure Subcommittee will be chaired by Senator Shapleigh and include Senators Fraser and Madla