Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick makes changes to Texas Senate committee posts

Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick delivers his inaugural speech after taking the oath of office during a ceremony at the State Capitol, Tuesday, Jan. 15, 2019. Gov. Greg Abbott is on the right and took the oath minutes later. less Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick delivers his inaugural speech after taking the oath of office during a ceremony at the State Capitol, Tuesday, Jan. 15, 2019. Gov. Greg Abbott is on the right and took the oath ... more Photo: Jerry Lara / Staff Photographer Photo: Jerry Lara / Staff Photographer Image 1 of / 1 Caption Close Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick makes changes to Texas Senate committee posts 1 / 1 Back to Gallery

Preparing to get to work in the new Texas Legislative Session, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick shuffled the leadership of committee assignments in the Texas Senate. While most of the leaders of committees remain the same, there are some notable exceptions.

State Sen. Lois Kolkhorst, R-Brenham, was tapped to take over as chair of the Health and Human Services Committee, which had previously been led by Sen. Charles Schwertner, R-Georgetown, who asked not to be reappointed to the post after the conclusion of an investigation into a sexual harassment complaint.

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Patrick also changed out leaders of the Higher Education Committee, the Natural Resources and Economic Development Committee and the Senate Agriculture Committee, among others.

Committee leadership positions are a big deal in the Texas Legislature because chairs have big influence over key details of bills and what legislation even makes it to the floor for a vote. Committee chairs can also hamper bills they don’t support from gaining momentum.

The Texas House is not expected to make committee assignments until late January at the earliest.

Amarillo Republicans Kel Seliger, who had been chairman of Higher Education, will now lead the Agriculture Committee. Lubbock Republican Charles Perry had led the Agriculture, Water and Rural Affairs Committee, but that has now been split into two. While Seliger leads the Agriculture Committee, Perry will lead the Water and Rural Affairs Committee.

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More Information TEXAS SENATE COMMITTEE ASSIGNMENTS Senate Agriculture Committee Kel Seliger, Chair Jose Rodriguez, Vice Chair Bob Hall Juan "Chuy" Hinojosa Charles Schwertner Senate Administration Committee Bryan Hughes, Chair Pat Fallon, Vice Chair Joan Huffman Nathan Johnson Jose Menendez Robert Nichols Judith Zaffirini Senate Business & Commerce Committee Kelly Hancock, Chair Robert Nichols, Vice Chair Donna Campbell Brandon Creighton Jose Menendez Angela Paxton Charles Schwertner John Whitmire Judith Zaffirini Senate Criminal Justice Committee John Whitmire, Chair Joan Huffman, Vice Chair Dawn Buckingham Peter Flores Bryan Hughes Borris Miles Charles Perry Senate Education Committee Larry Taylor, Chair Eddie Lucio, Jr., Vice Chair Paul Bettencourt Donna Campbell Pat Fallon Bob Hall Bryan Hughes Angela Paxton Beverly Powell Kirk Watson Royce West Senate Finance Committee Jane Nelson, Chair Juan "Chuy" Hinojosa, Vice Chair Paul Bettencourt Brian Birdwell Donna Campbell Peter Flores Kelly Hancock Joan Huffman Lois Kolkhorst Robert Nichols Charles Perry Larry Taylor Kirk Watson Royce West John Whitmire Senate Health & Human Services Committee Lois Kolkhorst, Chair Charles Perry, Vice Chair Dawn Buckingham Donna Campbell Peter Flores Nathan Johnson Borris Miles Beverly Powell Kel Seliger Senate Higher Education Committee Brandon Creighton, Chair Royce West, Vice Chair Paul Bettencourt Dawn Buckingham Beverly Powell Larry Taylor Kirk Watson Senate Intergovernmental Relations Committee Eddie Lucio, Jr., Chair Charles Schwertner, Vice Chair Carol Alvarado Donna Campbell Pat Fallon Jose Menendez Robert Nichols Senate Natural Resources & Economic Development Committee Brian Birdwell, Chair Judith Zaffirini, Vice Chair Pat Fallon Peter Flores Kelly Hancock Juan "Chuy" Hinojosa Borris Miles Angela Paxton Jose Rodriguez Senate Nominations Committee Dawn Buckingham, Chair Kirk Watson, Vice Chair Carol Alvarado Bob Hall Lois Kolkhorst Borris Miles Kel Seliger Senate Property Tax Committee Paul Bettencourt, Chair Angela Paxton, Vice Chair Brandon Creighton Kelly Hancock Juan "Chuy" Hinojosa Senate State Affairs Committee Joan Huffman, Chair Bryan Hughes, Vice Chair Brian Birdwell Brandon Creighton Pat Fallon Bob Hall Eddie Lucio, Jr. Jane Nelson Judith Zaffirini Senate Transportation Committee Robert Nichols, Chair Kelly Hancock, Vice Chair Carol Alvarado Juan "Chuy" Hinojosa Lois Kolkhorst Charles Perry Jose Rodriguez Charles Schwertner Royce West Senate Veterans Affairs & Border Security Committee Donna Campbell, Chair Bob Hall, Vice Chair Nathan Johnson Eddie Lucio, Jr. Jose Menendez Charles Schwertner Kel Seliger Senate Water & Rural Affairs Committee Charles Perry, Chair Brandon Creighton, Vice Chair Carol Alvarado Nathan Johnson Lois Kolkhorst Jose Rodriguez Larry Taylor

Other major committees remain largely unchanged. Friendswood Republican Larry Taylor will remain chairman of the Education Committee. Flower Mound Republican Jane Nelson will continue as chair of the budget writing Senate Finance Committee, and Houston Republican Paul Bettencourt will again lead a committee on property tax reform.

“The appointments I am making today call on all senators, including freshmen in both political parties, to play a significant role in crafting the bold and visionary public policies that will help accomplish the goals I identified in my inaugural speech — and set the stage for an even greater Texas for future generations,” Patrick said in a statement released to the media announcing the appointments.

Two Democrats will lead committees again this year. Houston Sen. John Whitmire will chair the Senate Criminal Justice Committee while Brownsville Democrat Eddie Lucio Jr. will head up the Senate Intergovernmental Relations Committee.

With committee assignments now set, many of the committees will begin meeting next week. Nelson, for instance, has already announced she plans to hold her first meeting on Tuesday.

Patrick, who is elected statewide, oversees the Texas Senate. That role allows him to set committee assignments and determine which bills will be heard in which committees.