We all know life moves quickly, and so do announcements and events at the capital. As we approached our legislative update deadline last week, the Senate announced its committee assignments. We saw a couple of changes among chairs and members, including the Senate Committee on Higher Education. The new chair is Sen. Brandon Creighton. (See more gossip…we mean news…about committees in the “Download” section.)
The big question on Monday was about when the House would release committee assignments. Ask and it shall be given. Since “change” is in the air, the House announced committee assignments on Wednesday and, yes, there were changes. With a new House Speaker, it’s to be expected. Think of it this way: If the Cowboys changed coaches, more than likely the offensive coordinator, Scott Linehan, or another coach would no longer be in charge – oh, wait – sorry, Scott. You get the picture.
New committee chairs and members led to plenty of press releases announcing their excitement. An important note: the House also has a new chair, Rep. Chris Turner.
Here’s the list of members serving on the Senate Committee on Higher Education:
- Chair: Sen. Brandon Creighton
- Vice Chair: Sen. Royce West
- Members:
- Sen. Paul Bettencourt
- Sen. Dawn Buckingham
- Sen. Beverly Powell
- Sen. Larry Taylor
- Sen. Kirk Watson
House Committee on Higher Education members are:
- Chair: Rep. Chris Turner
- Vice Chair: Rep. Lynn Stucky
- Members:
- Rep. Angie Chen Button
- Rep. John Frullo
- Rep. Donna Howard
- Rep. Eric Johnson
- Rep. Leo Pacheco
- Rep. Matt Schaefer
- Rep. John T. Smithee
- Rep. Armando Walle
- Rep. Terry M. Wilson
We would like to congratulate all of the chairs and members, especially our Dallas delegation – Sen. West (Vice Chair), plus Reps. Angie Chen Button and Eric Johnson, who were named to their respective committees.
Were you thinking defense? It’s true…your capital legislative crew still can’t get over the fact that football season is almost over. Definitely over for “dem Boys.”
No, this section is about the Dallas Delegation. Which committees did they land on? Are any of them holding a post as a powerful chair? How will their assignments have an impact on Dallas County? Will Dallas ever have an H-E-B? Wait a minute…
Senate
Bob Hall, Senate District 2
Agriculture, Chair
Veteran Affairs & Border Security, Vice Chair
Education
Nominations
State Affairs
Kelly Hancock, Senate District 9
Business & Commerce, Chair
Transportation, Vice Chair
Finance
Natural Resources & Economic Development
Property Tax
Legislative Budget Board
Nathan Johnson, Senate District 16
Administration
Health & Human Services
Veteran Affairs & Border Security
Water & Rural Affairs
Angela Paxton, Senate District 8
Property Tax, Vice Chair
Business & Commerce
Education
Natural Resources & Economic Development
Royce West, Senate District 23
Higher Education, Vice Chair
Education
Finance
Transportation
House
Rafael Anchia, House District 103
International Relations and Economic Development, Chair
House Administration
Energy Resources
Rhetta Bowers, House District 113
Corrections
Juvenile Justice & Family Issues
Local & Consent Calendars
Angie Chen Button, House District 112
Urban Affairs, Chair
Higher Education
Yvonne Davis, House District 111
Judiciary & Civil Jurisprudence
Transportation
Jessica Gonzales, House District 104
Criminal Jurisprudence
Urban Affairs
Eric Johnson, House District 100
Higher Education
Urban Affairs
Julie Johnson, House District 115
Insurance
Judiciary and Civil Jurisprudence
Morgan Meyer, House District 108
General Investigating, Chair
Judiciary and Civil Jurisprudence
Public Education
Terry Meza, House District 105
Agricultural and Livestock
Human Services
Resolutions Calendars
Victoria Neave, House District 107
Corrections
Judiciary and Civil Jurisprudence
Ana-Maria Ramos, House District 102
Defense & Veterans Affairs
Natural Resources
Toni Rose, House District 110
Appropriations
Calendars
Human Services
Redistricting
Carl Sherman, House District 109
Appropriations
Corrections
House Administration
John Turner, House District 114
Appropriations
Environmental Regulation
Important Issues
When we visit with House and Senate members, Chancellor Joe May and DCCCD staffers have one primary goal: to advocate for our students and colleges on issues of importance. A few of those issues include:
Funding for community colleges
Funding for Small Business Development Centers
A student’s right to transfer
Workforce development
Local control
Throughout the session, we will track these issues and bills that affect DCCCD as they make their way through the legislative process. We also will share more details about the issues listed above. As always, please feel free to contact our office with any questions. You can now email us at
dcccdgovt@dcccd.edu.
#TXLege Download
What did we hear around the Capitol this week? What were some of the big (and small) stories of the week? Did someone really say, “Her lips to my backend?”
Sounds like it’s time for the #TXLege Download. I promise we aren’t making this stuff up. As you hop in the car and debate whether to head to the Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo or to catch one more episode of “Tidying Up” (remember to fold in half and then into one-third), take a second to pause and catch up on the stories under the dome. They are good. This stuff is legendary. (The usual disclaimer: some content maybe posted behind a pay wall.)
Committees
House Speaker shakes up committee assignments with new leaders, extends olive branch to Democrats
Texas House Speaker Dennis Bonnen names committee chairs
Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick makes changes to Texas Senate committee posts
Around the Capitol
Texas Senator Kel Seliger removed as Chair of Senate Ag Committee for 'lewd comments'
'Her lips and my back end' comment costs Texas state senator his committee chairmanship
Preservation board invites public comment on Confederate plaque’s fate
Joe Moody makes history as first Speaker Pro Tem in Texas House from El Paso
Raymund Paredes, Texas' higher education commissioner, will step down Aug. 31
Late-Breaking News from D.C.
Trump Announces Deal to Reopen Government, in Surprise Retreat From Wall
Trump agrees to end shutdown without getting wall funding
Trump announces deal to reopen government — without his wall
Senate approves bill to reopen the government, the first step to ending the nation’s longest shutdown
Finis ...
A quick shout out to folks who are following us on Twitter. ICYMI: We have a Twitter handle – @DCCCDGovt. Speaking of social media…next week is Community College Day at the Texas Capitol. DCCCD will participate, and we anticipate that more than 50 of our legislatively curious, advocacy-minded, looking-for-a-free-trip-to-Austin students will join the fun. We plan to take plenty of pics, post them on social media and, of course, share our stories. This event is a wonderful opportunity for our students to see how the legislative process in Texas works – or doesn’t. You decide!