Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick Announces Key Senate Committee Appointments for 89th Legislature

AUSTIN, Texas — Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick announced committee appointments for the 89th Texas Legislature on Thursday, emphasizing the state’s global influence and the Senate’s pivotal role in shaping public policy. Patrick, who serves as president of the Texas Senate, highlighted the state’s economic and demographic significance, comparing it to a nation in its own right.

“Texas has the population and economic strength of a separate nation,” Patrick said in a statement. “With the 8th largest economy in the world, we would be the 39th largest nation in geographic size and the 50th largest in population if we were a country.” He added, “What the Texas Senate does matters. We impact public policy across the country and around the world.”

State Sen. Bryan Hughes (R-Mineola) was reappointed to chair two key committees: State Affairs and Jurisprudence. Hughes expressed gratitude for the opportunity, stating, “Thank you, Lt. Governor Dan Patrick, for entrusting me to continue serving as Chair of State Affairs and Chair of Jurisprudence. These committees tackle some of the biggest issues in the nation—including protecting Election Integrity, stopping Big Tech overreach, and defending Texans’ constitutional rights.”

Patrick also reappointed two East Texas senators to leadership roles. Sen. Bob Hall (R-Rockwall) will chair the Committee on Administration, while Sen. Robert Nichols (R-Jacksonville) will lead the Committee on Transportation. Committee chairs play a critical role in determining which legislation advances to the Senate floor, making their appointments pivotal to the legislative process.

In addition to their chairmanships, Hall and Nichols were named to several other committees. Hall will serve on Finance, Health and Human Services, State Affairs, and Veteran Affairs. Nichols was appointed to Business and Commerce, Finance, and Local Government. Hughes, meanwhile, will also serve on the Health and Human Services, Natural Resources, and Nominations committees.

Patrick praised the senators for their dedication, stating, “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.”

The 89th Legislature convenes amid a backdrop of significant policy challenges, including election integrity, technology regulation, and infrastructure development. The committee appointments signal the priorities of the Republican-led Senate as it prepares to address these issues in the coming months.