Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick (R) announced Senate committee assignments Monday, Jan. 23, for the 2023 legislative session. 

Patrick announced during the interim that the Senate Education Committee, which handles PK-12 public education policy, would be combined with the Higher Education Committee. The 13 members of the combined committee are: 

• Brandon Creighton (R-Nacogdoches), Chair 
• Donna Campbell (R-New Braunfels), Vice Chair 
• Paul Bettencourt (R-Houston) 
• Brian Birdwell (R-Granbury) 
• Peter Flores (R-Pleasanton) 
• Phil King (R-Weatherford) 
• Morgan LaMantia (D-Brownsville) 
• José Menéndez (D-San Antonio) 
• Mayes Middleton (R-Wallisville) 
• Tan Parker (R-Flower Mound) 
• Angela Paxton (R-McKinney) 
• Drew Springer (R-Muenster) 
• Royce West (D-Dallas) 

The Subcommittee on Higher Education will hear higher education bills before deciding whether to recommend them to the full committee. Members of the Higher Education Subcommittee are: 

• Brandon Creighton, Chair 
• Mayes Middleton, Vice Chair 
• Phil King  
• Drew Springer 
• Royce West 

Other important committees include the State Affairs Committee, which oversees legislation that broadly impacts the entire state. In the past, bills related to educator associations and free speech issues have gone through State Affairs. Committee members this session are: 

• Bryan Hughes (R-Mineola), Chair 
• Angela Paxton, Vice Chair 
• Paul Bettencourt 
• Brian Birdwell 
• Morgan LaMantia 
• José Menéndez 
• Mayes Middleton 
• Tan Parker 
• Charles Perry (R-Lubbock) 
• Charles Schwertner (R-Georgetown) 
• Judith Zaffirini (D-Laredo) 

The Senate Finance Committee is a critical committee tasked with drafting the budget, including public education funding and issues dealing with educator pensions. The 17 Finance Committee members this session are: 

• Joan Huffman (R-Houston), Chair 
• Juan “Chuy” Hinojosa (D-McAllen), Vice Chair 
• Paul Bettencourt 
• Donna Campbell 
• Brandon Creighton 
• Peter Flores 
• Bob Hall (R-Edgewood) 
• Kelly Hancock (R-North Richland Hills) 
• Bryan Hughes 
• Lois Kolkhorst (R-Brenham) 
• Robert Nichols (R-Jacksonville) 
• Angela Paxton 
• Charles Perry 
• Charles Schwertner 
• Royce West 
• John Whitmire (D-Houston) 
• Judith Zaffirini 

Committees can meet to organize and listen to testimony, but both chambers are prohibited from passing bills until after the 60th day of session. The exception is bills concerning emergency items declared by the governor. You can find a complete list of Senate committee assignments here.