Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick recently announced new appointments to the Senate’s committees, and it’s clear that Republicans will have a strong influence, especially on education and voting.
The Education Committee will focus on matters like private school vouchers, while the State Affairs Committee will oversee various state issues, including voting administration. Both committees show a significant Republican presence, skewing more than the overall Senate.
Education Committee
Senators Brandon Creighton and Donna Campbell will lead the Education Committee again. Last session, there was a major push for public school vouchers, but opposition from some Republicans in rural areas and Democrats stalled the effort. Following recent elections, the landscape changed. Many moderate Republicans were replaced by more conservative candidates supportive of vouchers, leading Gov. Abbott to assert that the necessary votes to pass a voucher program are now in place.
This year, the Education Committee has been reduced from 13 to 11 members, removing two moderate Republicans. This move tightens Republican control and shifts the committee’s composition to about 82% Republican, while they only make up 64% of the Senate overall.
Current members include:
- Paul Bettencourt (R-Houston)
- Phil King (R-Weatherford)
- José Menéndez (D-San Antonio)
- Mayes Middleton (R-Galveston)
- Tan Parker (R-Flower Mound)
- Angela Paxton (R-McKinney)
- Royce West (D-Dallas)
State Affairs Committee
Sen. Bryan Hughes will chair the State Affairs Committee, with Sen. Angela Paxton as vice chair. This committee has broad responsibilities, including topics like election security and social media impacts. Here, Republicans hold an even stronger majority, with 91% representation.
Hughes replaced a Democrat from the previous session with a highly conservative Republican, further solidifying Republican influence.
Members returning from last session include:
- Paul Bettencourt (R-Houston)
- Brian Birdwell (R-Granbury)
- Mayes Middleton (R-Galveston)
- Tan Parker (R-Flower Mound)
- Charles Perry (R-Lubbock)
- Charles Schwertner (R-Georgetown)
Other Notable Trends
Lt. Gov. Patrick has strategically positioned some of the most conservative Republicans across various committees. For instance, Mayes Middleton will serve on six committees this session. Although some Democrats will serve as vice chairs, no Democrat will chair a committee.
This new committee structure reflects a clear shift toward a more conservative direction in the Texas Senate, emphasizing Republican priorities and strategies in upcoming legislative sessions.
Check out this related article: Unlocking Alabama’s Education Windfall: A Breakdown of the $6.5 Billion Supplemental Funding Split by Lawmakers
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