AUSTIN – In keeping with a longstanding Texas tradition, State Senator Kelly Hancock (R-Fort Worth), served as Governor of Texas for a day on Saturday, April 29th.

Hancock is President Pro Tempore of the Texas Senate for the 88th Legislative Session, a position which places him third in line to serve as acting Governor, including for one pre-selected date on which the “Governor for a Day” celebration is traditionally held.

“I love the state of Texas, its history, and most of all its people,” said Hancock. “Taking this oath is a tremendous privilege for our family, and we’re especially grateful for the opportunity to make today about raising awareness and support for something that truly matters.”

In his first official act as Governor, Hancock designated April 29th as Donate Life Day in Texas during an oath of office ceremony. Mayor Mattie Parker of Fort Worth served as Master of Ceremonies and the event committee chair, with Tarrant County District Attorney Phil Sorrells administering the Oath of Office.

A benefit concert headlined by Granger Smith later that evening raised $275,000 for Donate Life Texas’ living donor education efforts. The events took place on the closing weekend of National Donate Life Month.

An astounding 85 percent of the need for lifesaving organ donation is attributed to kidneys and could be met by living donors willing to donate one healthy kidney. Another 11 percent of the 100,000 Americans and 10,000 Texans on the waitlist need a partial liver transplant, which can also be provided by living donors.

Hancock quietly battled a rare kidney disease for more than 30 years before receiving a transplant himself from a living donor, his son-in-law, last summer, and is carrying legislation this session to establish a Living Donor Registry Education Program in Texas.

The proposed Department of State Health Services (DSHS) program would educate Texans about the option of registering as a living organ donor through the National Donate Life Living Donor Registry, which completed its pilot phase in 2021 in Texas and is under development for nationwide expansion.

Having passed the full Texas Senate and the Texas House Public Health Committee unanimously, SB 1249 is now eligible for final passage on House Local & Consent.

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