Author: victoria

Real Estate Agent within Coastal Bend. Community activist. Island Democrats. Coastal Bend Tejano Democrats. Precinct 40. Voter Registration.

88th Legislative Session Texas Senate Committees

Bill Status Hotline
877-824-7038 (in Texas only, toll-free)
512-463-1252 (outside of Texas)
Hotline hours and availability
Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m., or until the Legislature adjourns for the day.

Senate Committee on Administration
Bob Hall, Chair
Drew Springer, Vice Chair
Carol Alvarado
Nathan Johnson
José Menéndez
Mayes Middleton
Tan Parker


Senate Committee on Border Security
Brian Birdwell, Chair
Peter Flores, Vice Chair
César Blanco
Juan “Chuy” Hinojosa
Phil King


Senate Committee on Business and Commerce
Charles Schwertner, Chair
Phil King, Vice Chair
Brian Birdwell
Donna Campbell
Brandon Creighton
Nathan Johnson
Lois Kolkhorst
José Menéndez
Mayes Middleton
Robert Nichols
Judith Zaffirini


Senate Committee on Criminal Justice
John Whitmire, Chair
Peter Flores, Vice Chair
Paul Bettencourt
Juan “Chuy” Hinojosa
Joan Huffman
Phil King
Borris Miles


Senate Committee on Education
Brandon Creighton, Chair
Donna Campbell, Vice Chair
Paul Bettencourt
Brian Birdwell
Peter Flores
Phil King
Morgan LaMantia
José Menéndez
Mayes Middleton
Tan Parker
Angela Paxton
Drew Springer
Royce West


Senate Committee on Education, Subcommittee on Higher Education
Brandon Creighton, Chair
Mayes Middleton, Vice Chair
Phil King
Drew Springer
Royce West


Senate Committee on Finance
Joan Huffman, Chair
Juan “Chuy” Hinojosa, Vice Chair
Paul Bettencourt
Donna Campbell
Brandon Creighton
Peter Flores
Bob Hall
Kelly Hancock
Bryan Hughes
Lois Kolkhorst
Robert Nichols
Angela Paxton
Charles Perry
Charles Schwertner
Royce West
John Whitmire
Judith Zaffirini


Senate Committee on Health and Human Services
Lois Kolkhorst, Chair
Charles Perry, Vice Chair
César Blanco
Bob Hall
Kelly Hancock
Bryan Hughes
Morgan LaMantia
Borris Miles
Kevin Sparks


Senate Committee on Jurisprudence
Bryan Hughes, Chair
Nathan Johnson, Vice Chair
Brandon Creighton
Juan “Chuy” Hinojosa
Mayes Middleton


Senate Committee on Local Government
Paul Bettencourt, Chair
Drew Springer, Vice Chair
Sarah Eckhardt
Roland Gutierrez
Bob Hall
Robert Nichols
Tan Parker
Angela Paxton
Royce West


Senate Committee on Natural Resources and Economic Development
Brian Birdwell, Chair
Judith Zaffirini, Vice Chair
Carol Alvarado
César Blanco
Kelly Hancock
Bryan Hughes
Lois Kolkhorst
Borris Miles
Kevin Sparks


Senate Committee on Nominations
Donna Campbell, Chair
Kevin Sparks, Vice Chair
Carol Alvarado
Sarah Eckhardt
Bryan Hughes
Morgan LaMantia
Borris Miles
Angela Paxton
Drew Springer


Senate Committee on State Affairs
Bryan Hughes, Chair
Angela Paxton, Vice Chair
Paul Bettencourt
Brian Birdwell
Morgan LaMantia
José Menéndez
Mayes Middleton
Tan Parker
Charles Perry
Charles Schwertner
Judith Zaffirini


Senate Committee on Transportation
Robert Nichols, Chair
Royce West, Vice Chair
Carol Alvarado
Sarah Eckhardt
Kelly Hancock
Phil King
Borris Miles
Tan Parker
Charles Perry


Senate Committee on Veteran Affairs
Kelly Hancock, Chair
Tan Parker, Vice Chair
César Blanco
Sarah Eckhardt
Roland Gutierrez
Bob Hall
Kevin Sparks


Senate Committee on Water, Agriculture, and Rural Affairs
Charles Perry, Chair
Kelly Hancock, Vice Chair
César Blanco
Pete Flores
Roland Gutierrez
Nathan Johnson
Lois Kolkhorst
Kevin Sparks
Drew Springer


Senate Special Committee on Redistricting
Joan Huffman, Chair
Juan “Chuy” Hinojosa, Vice Chair
Carol Alvarado
Brian Birdwell
Brandon Creighton
Kelly Hancock
Robert Nichols
Charles Perry
Drew Springer
Royce West
Judith Zaffirini

Texas Trivia

Texas’s state flower is the beautiful bluebonnet which can be found growing wild in the country sides of South Central Texas. Named for its color and resemblance of a woman’s sunbonnet, the flower blooms in early spring, making Texas hillsides appear as endless seas of blue.

The mockingbird is the state bird, known to have the “prettiest song of any bird in North America”. The song of the bird is a medley of the calls of many other birds, thus nicknamed the “mocker”. But don’t be fooled. A mockingbird is known to be a viciously fierce protector of its nest and environment, often seen swooping down on a dog, cat or predator that may be venturing too close to the bird’s protected territory.

Pecan trees are the official state trees of the state. Native pecan trees have shown to be an estimated 150 years old and can grow an average of 70-100 feet tall! The edible nuts the trees produce can be found in brownies, cookies and other foods. How about some pecan pie?

Texas blue topaz was chosen as the state gemstone. Its crystal-like appearance occurs in many natural colors including blue, orange, brown, green, pink, beige and red.

Texas’s state insect is the beautiful monarch butterfly. This type of butterfly is special because it is the only species of butterfly that does not hibernate, but migrates in changing seasons. Three to four generations of these gorgeous black and orange butterflies are produced each year.

A seashell called a lightning whelk is the state shell, named for its colored stripes. Only found along the Gulf Coast, it is unique because it is one of few shells that open on the left side.

Here are some other interesting state symbols you should know:

  • The state pepper is the jalapeño.
  • The state grass is the sideoats grama.
  • The state motto is “friendship”.
  • The state vegetable is the 1015 sweet onion and the state fruit is the Texas red grapefruit.
  • The official dish of Texas is chili.
  • Texas’s official dance is the square dance.
  • The Armor-plated armadillo is the offical state small mammal and the Guadalupe bass is the state fish.
  • Texas’s official flying mammal of the Mexican Free-tailed Bat.
  • The state large mammal is the Longhorn.
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