- Lt. Governor Dan Patrick announced new committee appointments in the Texas Senate, including the creation of a new Senate Select Committee on Religious Liberty
- The Religious Liberty Committee will be led by Senator Phil King, who has a long record of authoring legislation supporting Israel and opposing antisemitism
- Other notable appointments by Patrick include naming Senator Donna Campbell as the new Education Committee Chair and Senator Tan Parker as the Transportation Committee Chair
Lt. Governor Dan Patrick has announced a reshuffling of committees in the Texas Senate in advance of the 90thLegislative Session next year, including the creation of a new Senate Select Committee on Religious Liberty.
Religious Liberty has been a key issue for Patrick, who President Trump appointed as Chairman of his Religious Liberty Commission. As Chairman of President Trump’s Religious Liberty Commission, Patrick has been an outspoken critic of antisemitism.
“For the past year, I have had the honor of serving as Chairman of President Trump’s Religious Liberty Commission in Washington, D.C. Through the Commission’s important work, I have learned that many Americans, and Texans alike, do not fully understand their God-given religious liberty rights secured under the First Amendment. Today, I am appointing the Senate Select Committee on Religious Liberty to find ways to educate Texans on their religious liberty rights and to make sure Texans do not have those rights infringed upon,” said Patrick.
Patrick has appointed state Senator Phil King as Chairman of the new Senate Select Committee on Religious Liberty. Like Patrick, King has been a vocal supporter of Israel and a critic of antisemitism.
During the 89th Legislative Session last year, King was the author of SCR 24, which reaffirmed “the enduring bond between Texas and Israel” and expressed support for the creation of a Texas Trade and Investment Office in Jerusalem. A companion resolution, HCR 90, was passed by the legislature and signed by Governor Abbott.
In prior legislative sessions, King has authored a resolution supporting Israel after the Hamas attacks on October 7, 2023, as well as legislation creating the Texas Holocaust, Genocide, and Antisemitism Advisory Commission and the state law that prohibits the state from doing business with or investing in companies that boycott Israel.
The creation of the Senate Select Committee on Religious Liberty comes as Lt. Governor Patrick made changes to several State Senate committees, including appointing new chairmen to several key committees.
State Senator Donna Campbell will serve as Chair of the Senate Committee on Education, with Senator Paul Bettencourt serving as Chair of the Senate Committee on Higher Education. State Senator Brandon Creighton previously served as Chairman of the Education Committee, which also encompassed higher education last Session. Creighton resigned from the Texas Senate last year to become Chancellor of the Texas Tech University System.
Senator Angela Paxton will replace King as Chair of the Senate Economic Development Committee. In addition to serving as Chair of the Senate Select Committee on Religious Liberty, King will also Chair the Senate Select Committee on Homeland and Border Security. During the 89th Session, the Senate Border Security Committee was led by State Senator Brian Birdwell, who did not seek re-election.
Senator Kevin Sparks will replace Birdwell as Chairman of the Senate Committee on Natural Resources, while State Senator Tan Parker will replace retiring State Senator Robert Nichols as Chair of the Senate Committee on Transportation.
Patrick also appointed two Freshman Republicans to lead committees. Senator Adam Hinojosa was appointed to Chair the Senate Committee on Nominations, and Senator Brent Hagenbuch was tapped as Chair of the Senate Select Committee on Veteran Affairs. During the 89th Session, the Nominations Committee was chaired by Senator Donna Campbell, while the Veterans Affairs Committee was led by Kelly Hancock, who resigned from the Senate to serve as Acting Comptroller.
A full list of State Senate committee appointments can be viewed here
