Texas State Senator Jane Nelson, R-Flower Mound, was named Chairman of the Senate Finance Committee on Thursday, becoming the first woman in Texas legislative history to chair a standing budget-writing committee.
“This is a tremendous honor and responsibility. I am absolutely up for the challenge and eager to get to work on a budget that will make Texas proud,” Senator Nelson. “I hope to develop a conservative, transparent budget that meets our growing needs and continues our successful economic formula. We will keep the Texas miracle moving full steam ahead.”
Senator Nelson is the Senate’s highest ranking Republican; served on the Senate Finance Committee during seven legislative sessions (1997, 2003-current); and twice served on the conference committee to resolve differences between the House and Senate budgets. She has extensive experience in education and health and human services, which together account for about 85 percent of general revenue appropriations. As the longest serving chair of the Senate Health and Human Services Committee, Senator Nelson plays a key role in the health and human services budget. A former teacher, she served two terms on the State Board of Education; three sessions on the Senate Education Committee; and on the 82nd Interim Joint Interim Committee to Study School Finance.
“Having balanced our household budget as well as owning a family business for over 40 years, I approach this role the same way any family or business would – scrutinizing every dollar to ensure we are spending wisely,” Senator Nelson said.
As chair of Finance, Senator Nelson will assume a seat on Legislative Budget Board, a body of five Senate and five House representatives that will set the constitutional spending limit and develop the draft appropriations bill. The budget process is already in progress as state agencies are preparing their Legislative Appropriations Requests, which will be released in the fall.
Senator Nelson was recently named a “Courageous Conservative” by the Texas Conservative Coalition and Research Institute, holds the #2 ranking on the Young Conservatives of Texas’ historic honor roll, and logged a perfect 100 percent pro-business voting record last session, according to Texas Association of Business. For her efforts last session, she received the Women’s Health Hero Award from the Texas Women’s Health Coalition; the Texas Champion for Children Award from Texas CASA; the Patient Protection Award from the Texas Medical Association; Senate Legislator of the Year Award from Texas Nurse Practitioners; and the Courageous Defender of Life Award from Texas Alliance for Life.
Under committee assignment changes announced today by the lieutenant governor, Senator Nelson remains chair of the Sunset Advisory Committee and the Senate Health and Human Services Committee. She also serves as a member of the Senate Nominations Committee; the Senate Open Government Committee; and the Joint Interim Committee to Study Human Trafficking.
Senator Nelson represents District 12, including portions of Denton and Tarrant counties.
