Lt. Governor David Dewhurst named the remainder of the Senate Committees on Friday. Some of the membership of the committees was reshuffled but the chairs remained the same. You can view the committee list for the 82nd Regular Session by following this link: http://www.senate.state.tx.us/assets/pdf/TXSenCmtes82R.pdf
The Senate Finance Committee has begun taking testimony on Senate Bill 1, the appropriations bill. Other committees are scheduling organizational meetings and Senate State Affairs will tackle one of Governor Perry’s emergency items when the committee considers Senate Bill 18 relating to eminent domain at a hearing this Thursday.
House members turned in their committee preference cards last week. Committee announcements are expected late this week or next week.
The House Democratic Caucus has elected its officers for the 82nd Legislature. Rep. Jessica Farrar (D-Houston will serve as House Democratic Leader. Other officers include Rep. Marc Veasey (D-Fort Worth) as caucus chair; Rep. Hubert Vo (D-Houston) as caucus chair pro tempore; and Rep. Joe Pickett (D-El Paso) as treasurer.
Governor Perry has made several key appointments in the last week. Alex Cranberg of Austin, Wallace Hall of Dallas, and Brenda Pejovich of Dallas were appointed to the University of Texas Board of Regents for terms to expire Feb. 1, 2017. Perry also made several reappointments. Gail Lowe was reappointed as chair of the State Board of Education for a term to expire Feb. 1, 2013. Robert Scott was reappointed as Texas Commissioner of Education for a term concurrent with the term of the governor. Thomas Suehs was reappointed as executive commissioner of the Health and Human Services Commission for a term to expire Feb. 1, 2013. All of these appointments are subject to confirmation by the Texas Senate.