South Texas Senate Committee Assignments Shift for 89th Legislative Session
Photos above: From left, Sen. Juan J. Hinojosa, Sen. Adam Hinojsa, and Sen. Judith Zaffirini saw some committee assignments change as the new legislature opened in January 2025.
By Arnoldo Mata
AUSTIN — Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, as head of the Texas Senate, announced committee assignments for the 89th Legislative Session in January, reflecting key changes in leadership and membership.
Among the notable shifts are adjustments in assignments for Sens. Juan “Chuy” Hinojosa and Judith Zaffirini, as well as the replacement of former Sen. Morgan LaMantia by newly elected Sen. Adam Hinojosa.
Sen. Juan Hinojosa (D-McAllen) remains vice chair of the powerful Senate Finance Committee, maintaining a key role in state budget deliberations. He continues to serve on the Border Security, Criminal Justice, Jurisprudence, and Transportation committees. Notably, he is no longer listed on a Redistricting Committee, which was present in previous sessions.
Sen. Judith Zaffirini (D-Laredo) retains her seat on the Senate Finance Committee and continues as vice chair of the Senate Natural Resources Committee. She also remains on the influential Senate Business and Commerce and State Affairs committees.
Newly elected Sen. Adam Hinojosa (R-Corpus Christi) replaces former Sen. Morgan LaMantia and has been appointed to the Border Security, Education K-16, Administration (as vice chair), and State Affairs committees. His assignments focus on key issues such as education, border security, and government operations.
By comparison, former Sen. Morgan LaMantia (D) previously served on the Senate Committees for Education, Health and Human Services, Nominations, and State Affairs. Unlike LaMantia, Adam Hinojosa was not assigned to Health and Human Services or Nominations, instead receiving a role on the Border Security and Administration committees. These changes reflect a shift in priorities and leadership following the 2024 election.
The committee assignments highlight a reshuffling of responsibilities in the Texas Senate as lawmakers prepare for the upcoming session’s legislative priorities. The changes impacted South Texas’ influence in the Texas legislature as the addition of a Republican representing South Texas changes the dynamics with respect to relationships with the Lt. Governor’s priorities.
Source: Texas Senate