Senator Jane Nelson is a businesswoman and former teacher who served two terms on the State Board of Education.

The first woman in Texas legislative history to chair a standing budget-writing committee, she is serving her 4th session as Chairman of the Senate Finance Committee. She also serves as Co-Chair of the Texas Privacy Protection Advisory Council and is a member of the State Affairs Committee as well as the Legislative Budget Board.

Senator Nelson championed over $8 billion in tax relief; passed more than 30 pieces of legislation combatting sexual assault and domestic violence; and established a peer-to-peer mental health intervention program for veterans. She also created the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas, which has funded more than 5 million cancer prevention services.

Before becoming the Senate's chief budget writer, she was the longest-serving chair of the Health and Human Services Committee. In that capacity, she led efforts to expand women's health; protect endangered children; and improve care for seniors and Texans with disabilities.

Senator Nelson is the highest ranking Republican in the Senate.