AUSTIN, January 28 - State Sen. Juan 'Chuy' Hinojosa is to remain vice chair of the Senate Finance Committee and there are also slots on the powerful panel for Sens. Eddie Lucio and Judith Zaffirini.

As expected, Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst has announced assignments for the 83rd Legislative Session late Friday afternoon. There were few surprises, with some Democrats continuing to chair some of the committees.

Dewhurst announced last year he was abolishing the International Relations and Trade Committee, which used to handle most legislation directly appertaining to the border region. Bills impacting the border region will now be scattered among other committees.

“Texas is the number one state in America to do business, with the fastest growing population, and thank goodness we have such talented state senators helping to maintain Texas’ prosperity,” Dewhurst said.

“During this session, we will be focused on balancing the budget without raising taxes, improving public education and increasing highway capacity and drinking water resources for our growing population. I know that our senators are up to the challenge to keep Texas number one for decades to come.”

Dewhurst said Sen. Glenn Hegar, R-Katy, will chair a subcommittee of the Senate Finance Committee to review state and local revenue matters.

Zaffirini, D-Laredo, keeps her position on the Finance and Higher Education committees. She is also named chair of the Government Organization Committee and stays on the Health and Human Services Committee.

In addition to continuing as vice chair of Finance, Hinojosa, D-McAllen, is named chair of the Intergovernmental Relations Committee. He also stays of the Legislative Budget Board.

“I am honored to serve as Chairman of the Intergovernmental Relations Committee and as Vice-Chair of Senate Finance and that Lt. Governor Dewhurst has entrusted me with these important responsibilities,” Hinojosa said. “Through these appointments I am able to put the Coastal Bend and South Texas at the forefront of the critical discussions that will be taking place during this legislative session. I look forward to working with the members of these committees.”

Hinojosa said there is “no question” this legislative session will be challenging.

“Our communities face challenging issues, our lawmakers face significant hurdles, and the solutions are not always transparent. Now more than ever we need to work together. We need to prevent cuts to education and essential healthcare services, invest in our youth and workforce through education and skills training, create more jobs, and invest in the infrastructure we need to pave the way for future success,” he said.
 
Hinojosa added that he will work to foster “bipartisan collaboration” to resolve difficult questions and bring forth viable solutions that will benefit Texas workers, families, and schools. “I am fully committed to fight for the best interests of our Texas families and to serve the constituents of Senate District 20 through my respective appointments this 83rd session,” he said.

Lucio, D-Brownsville, said he is "especially grateful" for his reappointment to the Finance Committee and his appointment as vice-chair of the Education Committee.

"This Session, our state faces a major challenge in ensuring our children's public schools are adequately funded. Through my service on these committees, it is my hope that we can work to restore the more than $5 billion in cuts made to public education last Session," Lucio said.

"I am encouraged to see that this year's Senate base budget already includes an additional $2.2 billion in funding to cover the estimated 85,000 more public school students enrolling over the next two years. I deeply respect our new Finance Chairman, Senator Tommy Williams, and I am confident that my colleagues and I will be able to produce a budget that puts Texas children first."

Lucio said that as a former educator, he cherishes his appointment as vice chair of Senate Education. "I look forward to working with our new Chairman, Sen. Dan Patrick, and fellow committee members on issues important to Texas teachers and schoolchildren. This session I expect this committee will hear bills intended to improve public education accountability, children's nutrition, teacher training, and protections for children with special needs. It is indeed an honor to protect the sacred trust of future generations of young Texans."

Lucio added that he is "very proud" to return to the Business and Commerce, and State Affairs committees. "The Business and Commerce Committee plays an important role in strengthening our state's economy. This Session, the State Affairs committee will hear legislation vital to protecting middle-class consumers and workers. I look forward to working with stakeholders from every corner of the state so that we might improve the quality of life for Texas families."

The Guardian will bring further reaction to the committee assignments as it comes in. Here is the full list of assignments:

FINANCE
Williams, Chair
Hinojosa, Vice-Chair
Deuell
Duncan
Eltife
Estes
Hegar, subcommittee chair on state and local revenue matters
Huffman
Lucio
Nelson
Patrick
Seliger
West
Whitmire
Zaffirini

STATE AFFAIRS
Duncan, Chair
Deuell, Vice-Chair
Ellis
Fraser
Huffman
Lucio
Nichols
Van de Putte
Williams

HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES
Nelson, Chair
Deuell, Vice-Chair
Huffman
Nichols
Schwertner
Taylor
Uresti
West
Zaffirini

EDUCATION
Patrick, Chair
Lucio, Vice-Chair
Campbell
Duncan
Paxton
Seliger
Taylor
Van de Putte
West

HIGHER EDUCATION
Seliger, Chair
Watson, Vice-Chair
Birdwell
Duncan
Patrick
West
Zaffirini

TRANSPORTATION
Nichols, Chair
Paxton, Vice-Chair
Campbell
Davis
Ellis
Hancock
Patrick
Uresti
Watson

BUSINESS & COMMERCE
Carona, Chair
Taylor, Vice-Chair
Eltife
Estes
Hancock
Lucio
Van de Putte
Watson
Whitmire

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
Deuell, Chair
Hancock, Vice-Chair
Birdwell
Davis
Eltife
Fraser
Watson

NATURAL RESOURCES
Fraser, Chair
Estes, Vice-Chair
Deuell
Duncan
Ellis
Eltife
Hegar
Hinojosa
Nichols
Seliger
Uresti

CRIMINAL JUSTICE
Whitmire, Chair
Huffman, Vice-Chair
Carona
Hinojosa
Patrick
Rodriguez
Schwertner

JURISPRUDENCE
West, Chair
Rodriguez, Vice-Chair
Campbell
Carona
Hancock
Paxton

INTERGOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS
Hinojosa, Chair
Nichols, Vice-Chair
Paxton
Taylor

ADMINISTRATION
Eltife, Chair
Uresti, Vice-Chair
Carona
Hancock
Whitmire
Williams
Zaffirini

AGRICULTURE, RURAL AFFAIRS & HOMELAND SECURITY
Estes, Chair
Uresti, Vice-Chair
Hegar
Hinojosa
Schwertner

GOVERNMENT ORGANIZATION
Zaffirini, Chair
Schwertner, Vice-Chair
Birdwell
Paxton
Rodriguez
Taylor

NOMINATIONS
Hegar, Chair
Campbell, Vice-Chair
Carona
Fraser
Nelson
Watson

OPEN GOVERNMENT
Ellis, Chair
Davis, Vice-Chair
Nelson
Seliger
Williams

VETERANS AFFAIRS & MILITARY INSTALLATIONS
Van de Putte, Chair
Birdwell, Vice-Chair
Campbell
Davis
Rodriguez