Senate Committee on State Affairs

Committee Leadership

Chair

Bryan Hughes (R)

Senate District 1

Mineola

Vice Chair

Angela Paxton (R)

Senate District 8

McKinney

Committee Composition

Committee Membership

Hughes, Bryan (R) Senate District 1 Mineola Paxton, Angela (R) Senate District 8 McKinney Bettencourt, Paul (R) Senate District 7 Houston Hall, Bob (R) Senate District 2 Edgewood Hinojosa, Adam (R) Senate District 27 Corpus Christi Parker, Tan (R) Senate District 12 Flower Mound Perry, Charles (R) Senate District 28 Lubbock Schwertner, Charles (R) Senate District 5 Georgetown Zaffirini, Judith (D) Senate District 21 Laredo

Most Recent Session Activity

Metrics reflect activity during the most recent legislative session.

Interim Charges

• Preventing Sharia Law in Texas: Only state and federal laws apply in Texas and “Sharia law” or other secondary judicial systems have no place in Texas. Make recommendations to ensure all Texans benefit from our laws and the protections of our state and federal constitutions. Examine entities such as the proposed East Plano Islamic Center (“EPIC City”) development in Hunt and Collin counties. Determine whether EPIC City, its directors, or any associated entities are violating state or federal law. Evaluate large real estate acquisitions by entities such as “Community Capital Partners.” Make legislative recommendations to protect Texans from housing discrimination and unscrupulous developers.
• Maintaining Election Security: Study ways to enhance election security and guarantee poll watcher access. Further evaluate county election administration and local election officials and any recent attempts to circumvent state law. Make recommendations to ensure the security and integrity of Texas elections.
• Ensuring Efficiency in Texas Elections: Study different methods counties employ regarding the marking and counting of ballots. Review the designation of polling locations for a specific political party during primary elections. Make recommendations to ensure elections are conducted efficiently and securely.
• Protecting the Unborn: Study the continued threat posed by abortion pills unlawfully shipped to Texas. Monitor implementation of House Bill 7, 89th Legislature, Second Called Session, and make recommendations to further protect women and children in Texas.
• Closing Gambling Loopholes: Study the sudden inundation of prediction market gambling and the exploitation of federal law to circumvent Texas gambling prohibitions by allowing users to place bets on the outcome of elections and other events. Examine the relationship between federally regulated derivative markets and state-prohibited gambling. Make recommendations to ensure the integrity of Texas elections and Texas sports.
• Guaranteeing Fair Banking for All Texans: Study the practice of banks and insurance companies closing, restricting, or denying services to people, lawful businesses, and entire industries based on political, religious, and other non-financial factors. Make recommendations to ensure all Texans have access to fair banking.
• Protecting the Integrity of the Judiciary: Study attempts by public advocacy groups to improperly influence the judiciary with biased informational seminars. Identify entities attempting to influence judges with training based on skewed information. Make recommendations to ensure Texas judges remain fair and impartial and are not influenced or trained by nefarious individuals attempting to improperly impact the outcome of cases.
• Ensuring Consumer Protection in Alcohol Sales: Study the intentional violation of Texas alcohol laws by retailers who sell alcohol distilled under their own private labels. Make recommendations to ensure Texas alcohol laws continue to protect Texas consumers under the three tier system.
• Monitoring: Monitor the implementation of legislation addressed by the Senate Committee on State Affairs passed by the 89th Legislature, as well as relevant agencies and programs under the committee’s jurisdiction. Specifically, make recommendations for any legislation needed to improve, enhance, or complete implementation of the following:
  • Senate Bill 2337 (89th Legislature), relating to the regulation of the provision of proxy advisory services; and
  • Senate Bill 3070 (89th Legislature), relating to the abolishment of the Texas Lottery Commission and the transfer of the administration of the state lottery and the licensing and regulation of charitable bingo to the Texas Commission of Licensing and Regulation; creating criminal offenses.