Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick released the Senate committee assignments for the 2023 legislative session. The composition of committees is one of the greatest factors in determining which bills will progress through the legislative process. Thankfully, the lieutenant governor selected strong Pro-Life leadership and membership for committees critical to life-saving legislation.
The two committees to which Pro-Life legislation are usually referred are the Senate Committee on State Affairs and the Senate Committee on Health and Human Services. The lieutenant governor once again assigned Pro-Life Champion Senators Bryan Hughes (R-Tyler) and Lois Kolkhorst (R-Brenham) to chair the State Affairs and Health and Human Services Committees, respectively. Each of these committees were also assigned a strong Pro-Life vice chair — Senators Angela Paxton (R-McKinney) and Charles Perry (R-Lubbock), respectively.
The membership of both the Senate State Affairs and the Health and Human Services Committees comprises several champions of Pro-Life policies, including some newly-elected Pro-Life senators. You can find the full list of committees and their membership here.
This legislative session, Texas Right to Life has a robust list of priorities as we enter the next chapter of the Pro-Life movement. This is the first Texas legislative session since the historic overturning of Roe v. Wade, and there is still much work to be done. While elective abortion is prohibited in Texas, we still have to work toward stopping illegal abortions, assisting pregnant mothers, and defending vulnerable patients. These pieces of legislation will be heard by other Senate committees that do not traditionally handle Pro-Life legislation. Thankfully, these other committees include strong Pro-Life voices as well.
Texas Right to Life applauds Lieutenant Governor Patrick on his assignment of strong Pro-Life leadership and membership to crucial committees, and we look forward to working with the Texas Senate to pass strong Pro-Life bills in the coming months.
For more legislative updates as the session progresses, text TXLEGE to 40237.