TMA EVPGram

The Texas House of Representatives is in full swing now that Speaker Joe Straus has announced committee assignments (PDF). The representative assigned to chair each committee greatly affects whether a bills lives or dies. Chair assignments of particular interest to medicine include Appropriations: Rep. Jim Pitts (R-Waxahachie), Human Services: Rep. Patrick Rose (D-Dripping Springs), Insurance: Rep. John Smithee (R-Amarillo), Judiciary and Civil Jurisprudence: Rep. Todd Hunter (R-Corpus Christi), Public Health: Rep. Lois Kolkhorst (R-Brenham), State Affairs: Rep. Burt Solomons (R-Carrollton), and Ways and Means: Rep. Rene Oliveira (D-Brownsville).