March 24, 2026 - TRA Austin -

Texas Lt. Governor Dan Patrick completed some shuffling of seats on Senate Committees this week and has named four members to fill positions going into the 2027 legislative session.

The chairs of standing and new interim selection committees include Flower Mound Senator Tan Parker, named chairman of Senate Transportation. He assumes the position immediately.

Parker replaces Robert Nichols, a long-standing chair of Senate Transportation. Nichols announced he would not seek re-election in 2026 last year after serving 20 years in the state legislature. 

In a Facebook Post, the senator said "Honored to be appointed Chair of the Senate Committee on Transportation. At its core, transportation is about families—getting our kids to school safely and giving Texans more time at home, not in traffic. Looking forward to getting to work."

His district (SD 12) includes parts of Tarrant and Denton counties, areas where the Heartland Flyer and potential rail expansions are central to long-term mobility and economic growth.  Parker has been involved in efforts to secure funding and expansion for the Flyer, a critical 206-mile Amtrak passenger rail route between Fort Worth and Oklahoma City.

Senator Parker's website shows that he is a businessman, who grew up in North Texas working in his family’s restaurants while volunteering in his community. He married his college sweetheart, Beth, and they moved to Flower Mound, raising their daughters, Lauren and Ashley. While family comes first, Tan considers working for the betterment of Texas the highest honor of his professional life.

His website indicated he previously served in the Texas House and held leading committee roles on policy matters vital to Texas. His colleagues elected him chair of the House Republican Caucus during the 84th and 85th legislative sessions. Parker graduated from the University of Dallas and earned a Master’s degree from the London School of Economics before building a private sector career in technology and private equity. He also created the book, Making Government Work.

• Safety & Infrastructure: Prioritizing highway development, freight and logistics corridors, and traffic safety initiatives.
• Mobility: Addressing Texas’ rapid population growth by improving mobility and reducing the time Texans spend in traffic.
• Agency Coordination: Working closely with regional transportation entities and the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT).

His Facebook post has been met with positive feedback, with constituents specifically highlighting the need to address ongoing projects like I-35.

With the exit of five members of the Senate, including four chairs, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick's picks on the interim select committees will remain in their positions through the 90th Legislative Session, as the select committees will be made permanent standing committees when the 90th Legislature commences in January 2027.

In addition, Lt. Gov. Patrick has assigned senators to fill vacancies on several standing committees. These committee assignments are for the remainder of the 2026 interim.

Standing Committee Chairs:
Sen. Bob Hall, R-Edgewood, Senate Committee on Administration Chair
Sen. Charles Schwertner, R-Georgetown, Senate Committee on Business and Commerce Chair
Sen. Pete Flores, R-Pleasanton, Senate Committee on Criminal Justice Chair
Sen. Angela Paxton, R-McKinney, Senate Committee on Economic Development Chair
Sen. Donna Campbell, R-New Braunfels, Senate Committee on Education Chair
Sen. Joan Huffman, R-Houston, Senate Committee on Finance Chair
Sen. Lois Kolkhorst, R-Brenham, Senate Committee on Health and Human Services Chair
Sen. Paul Bettencourt, R-Houston, Senate Committee on Higher Education Chair
Sen. Paul Bettencourt, R-Houston, Senate Committee on Local Government Chair
Sen. Kevin Sparks, R-Midland, Senate Committee on Natural Resources Chair
Sen. Adam Hinojosa, R-Corpus Christi, Senate Committee on Nominations Chair
Sen. Bryan Hughes, R-Tyler, Senate Committee on State Affairs Chair
Sen. Tan Parker, R-Flower Mound, Senate Committee on Transportation Chair
Sen. Charles Perry, R-Lubbock, Senate Committee on Water, Agriculture, and Rural Affairs Chair

Select Committee Chairs:
Sen. Phil King, R-Weatherford, Senate Select Committee on Homeland and Border Security Chair
Sen. Phil King, R-Weatherford, Senate Select Committee on Religious Liberty Chair
Sen. Brent Hagenbuch, R-Denton, Senate Select Committee on Veteran Affairs Chair

Sunset Advisory Commission Chair:
Sen. Lois Kolkhorst, R-Brenham, Sunset Advisory Commission Chair

Photo credit: Texas Tribune