This Fort Worth Republican lawmaker will be the Texas House’s second in command
A Fort Worth lawmaker will serve as Speaker Dade Phelan’s No. 2 in the House.
Rep. Charlie Geren, a Republican who represents House District 99, has been appointed as speaker pro tempore of the Texas House of Representatives, Phelan, a Beaumont Republican, announced Wednesday.
Geren said he’s honored to be in the leadership role and work with the speaker in the House, where priorities include border security, public education and property tax relief.
“Somebody’s got to do the job, and I’m glad that the speaker has the confidence in me to let me do it,” Geren said.
As speaker pro tempore, Geren fills in when Phelan is unable to preside over the House. Geren was elected to the House in November 2000 and serves as Railhead Smokehouse president and LGS Godley Ranch president.
The House has been without a speaker pro tempore since July 2021 when Rep. Joe Moody, an El Paso Democrat, was removed from the post after breaking quorum with other Democratic lawmakers in an effort to block an election bill.
Phelan on Wednesday also announced who will chair House committees, appointing 28 Republicans as committee chairs and nine Democrats.. Some Republican members of the House have pushed back against allowing Democratic chairs.
Tarrant County lawmakers with leadership roles in the House include:
- Rep. Stephanie Klick, a Fort Worth Republican who will serve as chair of the Public Health committee.
- Rep. Cook, David, a Mansfield Republican who will serve as vice chair of the Criminal Jurisprudence committee.
Rep. Craig Goldman, a Fort a Fort Worth Republican who will serve as chair of the Energy Resources committee.
Rep. Giovanni Capriglione, a Southlake Republican who will serve as chair of the Pensions, Investments & Financial Services committee.
Rep. Chris Turner, a Grand Prairie Democrat who will serve as vice chair of the Turner Redistricting committee.
Geren will serve on the calendars, general investigating and state affairs committees
In the Senate, Sen. Kelly Hancock, a North Richland Hills Republican, serves as president pro tempore.
