Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick (R) announced Senate committee and leadership changes Monday following the departure of five senators, including four committee chairs. In a March 23 press release, the lieutenant governor outlined new chair appointments for both standing committees and newly created interim select committees, noting that those select committees are expected to become permanent standing committees when the 90th Texas Legislature convenes in January 2027. He also reassigned members to fill vacancies across several standing committees for the remainder of the 2026 interim. 

Of particular importance to ATPE members, the Senate Committee on Education will now be led by Sen. Donna Campbell (R–New Braunfels) as chair (Campbell was the former vice chair), with Sen. Paul Bettencourt (R–Houston) serving as vice chair. The committee membership includes senators Brent Hagenbuch (R–Denton), Phil King (R–Arlington), José Menéndez (D–San Antonio), Tan Parker (R–Flower Mound), Angela Paxton (R–McKinney), and Royce West (D–Dallas). This committee plays a central role in shaping any future laws related to school finance, accountability, and educator policy, especially as lawmakers continue to grapple with the long-term implications of recent legislation and ongoing funding pressures. 

Notably, according to Patrick, his practice is to not assign members filling unexpired interim terms to committees. This currently includes newly elected Senate District (SD) 9 Sen. Taylor Rehmet (D–Fort Worth) and the yet to be determined winner of the SD 4 special election in May. Rehmet won a special election to fill the remainder of the current term in SD 9. The seat was previously held by Republican Kelly Hancock, who served in the Texas Senate from 2013 until 2026 when he was appointed Acting Texas Comptroller. Committee assignments are a critical component of a legislator’s influence and ability to shape policy, making Patrick's practice of not assigning the winners of these special elections particularly significant as the Senate begins the interim work that often lays the groundwork for the next session’s legislation. 

As the Senate transitions into the interim, these appointments provide an early indication of leadership priorities and policy direction. For educators, the composition and leadership of the Senate Committee on Education will be especially important to watch as discussions around funding, accountability systems, and classroom conditions continue to evolve ahead of the next legislative session. It is important to note that none of the senators on the committee are new to the committee.  

The first round of Senate charges was released before the primary. The lieutenant governor is expected to soon release additional interim charges outlining issues for committees to study ahead of the 2027 legislative session. As soon as those are released, we will provide coverage and analysis here on Teach the Vote.