Senator Kolkhorst reappointed Senate Health and Human Services Committee Chair
State Senator Lois Kolkhorst (District 18)
January 23, 2023 | Austin, TX
Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick announced committee assignments for the 88th Legislature and has again selected Senator Lois W. Kolkhorst (R-Brenham) with the Chair of the Senate Committee on Health and Human Services along with four other major committee assignments.
In naming Senate Committee appointments for the 88th Legislative Session, Lieutenant Governor Patrick also named Senator Kolkhorst as a member of the Senate Committees on Business & Commerce, Finance, Natural Resources & Economic Development and Water, Agriculture & Rural Affairs.
“I’m grateful to the Lieutenant Governor for his trust in giving me the opportunity to serve as Chair of Senate Health & Human Services Committee, continuing important work to improve the state's healthcare, mental health delivery system and child protective services,” Senator Kolkhorst stated. “We must also work together to strike a balance between our public health priorities, civil liberties, and economic freedoms.”
The Senate Committee on Health and Human Services manages nearly $85 billion of healthcare spending in the state budget. The committee is also responsible for setting public health policy for the state, regulating physicians and other healthcare professionals, providing legislative oversight to state agencies and boards including the Health & Human Services Commission, Department of Family & Protective Services and the Texas Medical Board, among many other health-related licensing agencies.
Senator Kolkhorst explained that her focus is on a fiscally conservative approach to budgeting, making certain the $32.7 billion surplus is used to lower taxes, pay down state debts, fully fund and improve the education of our children and make prudent investments which will save taxpayer money in the long term.
The Business & Commerce committee will face the work of strengthening the state's power grid. Kolkhorst plans to support legislation to increase thermal dispatchable generation to improve reliability.
Having served on Water, Agriculture and Rural Affairs for four previous sessions, Kolkhorst will continue her work on water policy for Senate District 18, ensuring access to water and protecting agriculture.
“I am extremely honored to work on these important committees that will impact everything from major healthcare policies to ensuring future thermal energy for a growing Texas as well as access to water along with overall tax policy,” said Senator Kolkhorst. “Serving on each of these committees has direct and significant impacts to the people of Senate District 18 and all Texans.”