The Texas Retired Teachers Association (TRTA) is busy addressing our major legislative initiatives during the 84th Texas Legislature. These initiatives include addressing the nearly $750 million shortfall facing the TRS-Care health insurance program. TRTA is also focused on protecting the Teacher Retirement System of Texas (TRS) defined benefit pension plan, which was made actuarially sound through legislation passed in 2013 (Senate Bill 1458). This session, TRTA will work with legislators to find ways to improve benefits for all TRS retirees.
Members of the Texas Senate were named to committees late last week. TRTA members should pay especially close attention to the Senate Finance and Senate State Affairs committees, as those committees will be responsible for determining any changes made to the pension fund or TRS-Care.
As of today, the Texas House committee members have not yet been named. We expect to hear more about House committee appointments soon.
TRTA is working closely with several legislators to propose legislation that would provide a great benefit to TRS retirees. We will keep you posted on these efforts as they develop.
For a complete list of all Texas Senate committees and their members, please read below:
Committee on Administration
Hancock, Kelly | Chair
Uresti, Carlos | Vice Chair
Campbell, Donna
Eltife, Kevin
Huffines, Don
Schwertner, Charles
West, Royce
Committee on Agriculture, Water and Rural Affairs
Perry, Charles | Chair
Zaffirini, Judith | Vice Chair
Creighton, Brandon
Hall, Bob
Hinojosa, Juan “Chuy”
Kolkhorst, Lois
Rodriguez, José
Committee on Business and Commerce
Eltife, Kevin | Chair
Creighton, Brandon | Vice Chair
Ellis, Rodney
Huffines, Don
Schwertner, Charles
Seliger, Kel
Taylor, Larry
Watson, Kirk
Whitmire, John
Committee on Criminal Justice
Whitmire, John | Chair
Huffman, Joan | Vice Chair
Burton, Konni
Creighton, Brandon
Hinojosa, Juan “Chuy”
Perry, Charles
Van de Putte, Leticia
Committee on Education
Taylor, Larry | Chair
Lucio Eddie, Jr. | Vice Chair
Bettencourt, Paul
Campbell, Donna
Garcia, Sylvia
Huffines, Don
Kolkhorst, Lois
Rodriguez, José
Seliger, Kel
Taylor, Van
West, Royce
Committee on Finance
Nelson, Jane | Chair
Hinojosa, Juan “Chuy” | Vice Chair
Bettencourt, Paul
Eltife, Kevin
Hancock, Kelly
Huffman, Joan
Kolkhorst, Lois
Nichols, Robert
Schwertner, Charles
Seliger, Kel
Taylor, Larry
Uresti, Carlos
Watson, Kirk
West, Royce
Whitmire, John
Committee on Health and Human Services
Schwertner, Charles | Chair
Kolkhorst, Lois | Vice Chair
Campbell, Donna
Estes, Craig
Perry, Charles
Rodriguez, José
Taylor, Van
Uresti, Carlos
Zaffirini, Judith
Committee on Higher Education
Seliger, Kel | Chair
West, Royce | Vice Chair
Bettencourt, Paul
Burton, Konni
Perry, Charles
Van de Putte, Leticia
Watson, Kirk
Committee on Intergovernmental Relations
Lucio, Eddie Jr. | Chair
Bettencourt, Paul | Vice Chair
Campbell, Donna
Garcia, Sylvia
Nichols, Robert
Taylor, Larry
Van de Putte, Leticia
Committee on Natural Resources and Economic Development
Fraser, Troy | Chair
Estes, Craig | Vice Chair
Birdwell, Brian
Hall, Bob
Hancock, Kelly
Hinojosa, Juan “Chuy”
Lucio, Eddie Jr.
Nichols, Robert
Uresti, Carlos
Seliger, Kel
Zaffirini, Judith
Committee on Nominations
Birdwell, Brian | Chair
Taylor, Van | Vice Chair
Burton, Konni
Fraser, Troy
Estes, Craig
Rodriguez, José
Watson, Kirk
Committee on State Affairs
Huffman, Joan | Chair
Ellis, Rodney | Vice Chair
Birdwell, Brian
Creighton, Brandon
Estes, Craig
Fraser, Troy
Nelson, Jane
Schwertner, Charles
Zaffirini, Judith
Committee on Transportation
Nichols, Robert | Chair
Huffines, Don | Vice Chair
Ellis, Rodney
Fraser, Troy
Garcia, Sylvia
Hall, Bob
Hancock, Kelly
Kolkhorst, Lois
Taylor, Van
Committee on Veteran Affairs and Military Installations
Campbell, Donna | Chair
Burton, Konni | Vice Chair
Birdwell, Brian
Garcia, Sylvia
Hall, Robert
Lucio, Eddie Jr.
Rodriguez, José
Border Security Subcommittee
Birdwell, Brian | Chair
Hall, Bob | Vice Chair
Lucio, Eddie Jr.
Thank You!
Please be sure to stay tuned into the Inside Line throughout the 84th Legislative Session, as we will be bringing you all the latest updates on bills concerning TRS-Care and the continued funding of the TRS pension trust fund.
Thank you for your membership in the Texas Retired Teachers Association (TRTA). If you are not a member of TRTA and want more information about joining, please contact us at 1.800.880.1650. Follow us on Facebook! Visit our YouTube channel for regular video updates.
