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Jane Nelson
115th Secretary of State of Texas
Incumbent
Assumed office January 5, 2023
Governor	Greg Abbott
Preceded by	John Scott
President pro tempore of the Texas Senate
In office June 2, 2003 – April 20, 2004
Preceded by	Eddie Lucio Jr.
Succeeded by	Jeff Wentworth
Member of the Texas Senate
In office January 1, 1993 – January 3, 2023
Preceded by	Bob Glasgow
Succeeded by	Tan Parker
Constituency	22nd district (1993–1995) 9th district (1995–2003) 12th district (2003–2023)
Personal details
Born	(1951-10-05) October 5, 1951 (age 73) Hamilton, Ohio, U.S.
Political party	Republican
Spouse	Michael Nelson
Children	5
Education	University of North Texas (BS)
Website	Official website

Jane Gray Nelson (born October 5, 1951) is an American businesswoman and former educator who serves as the Secretary of State of Texas since 2023. She was a Texas state senator who represented Texas Senate District 12. She was elected to the Senate in 1992 after serving two two-year terms (1988–1992) on the Texas State Board of Education. In 2023, Governor Greg Abbott appointed Nelson to succeed John B. Scott as Secretary of State. She was sworn in to that office on Saturday, January 7.

Texas Senate

Nelson was the highest-ranking Republican woman in the Texas Senate. The tenth woman ever elected to the Texas Senate, she was the first Republican woman ever appointed chair of a standing committee and held the distinction of being longest-serving chair of the Senate Health and Human Services Committee in Texas history. In 2015, she was appointed chair of the Senate Finance Committee, being the first woman to hold the position in the history of the Texas Senate. She also served as chair of the Sunset Advisory Commission.

During the 2013 legislative session, Nelson authored 40 bills that were passed into law by the Legislature, and she served as the Senate sponsor on 30 successful bills authored by House members. She served on 19 conference committees, including for SB 1, the appropriations bill. Nelson chaired the Article II workgroup, which increased the women's health budget by $100 million and made significant new investments in mental health and Child Protective Services.

In October 2019, the Texas Parent Teacher Association named Nelson a Texas PTA Champion for Children for her leadership during the 86th Legislative Session.

In July 2021, Nelson announced she would not seek an 11th term to the Texas Senate.

Senate Health and Human Services Committee

In July 2013, Nelson presided over a 16-hour hearing on an abortion bill that drew testimony from over 3,800 people, including 357 who provided oral testimony. The bill, HB 3, sought to ban abortions after 20 weeks of pregnancy. The bill also required abortion facilities to upgrade to ambulatory surgical standards.

Senate Finance Committee

In 2014 Senator Nelson was appointed chair of the Senate Finance Committee, the first woman of either party to hold that position. In that capacity she authored four state budgets. Her chairmanship ended in January 2022. In June 2022, the Senate Finance committee dedicated its conference room to Senator Nelson in her honor.

References

1. "Capitol Connection: Jane Nelson". UTA Magazine. XXIII (2). Winter 2001. Archived from the original on September 8, 2006. Retrieved January 3, 2007.
2. Office of the Secretary of State (Texas) (September 13, 2002). "State Senate Candidates for 2002 General Election". Archived from the original on February 13, 2008. Retrieved December 26, 2006.
3. "Jane Gray Nelson's Biography".
4. Fine, Julie (December 6, 2022). "Gov. Abbott to Appoint Longtime North Texas State Senator to Secretary of State". NBCDFW. Retrieved December 6, 2022.
5. Nelson Named Texas Pta Champion For Children - Cross Timbers Gazette: Southern Denton County: Flower Mound: News Mark Smith - https://www.crosstimbersgazette.com/2019/10/17/nelson-named-texas-pta-champion-for-children/
6. "Veteran Denton County GOP lawmaker Jane Nelson will not seek 11th term in Texas Senate". July 5, 2021.
7. Staff report. "Nelson appointed chairwoman of finance committee". Star Local. Retrieved October 19, 2022.
8. "The Texas State Senate – Press Items: Senator Jane Nelson". senate.texas.gov. Retrieved October 19, 2022.

External links

• Campaign website
• State legislative page
• Project Vote Smart - Senator Jane Gray Nelson (TX) profile
• Politifact Check Senator Jane Gray Nelson (TX)
• Follow the Money - Jane Nelson
  • 2006 2004 2002 2000 campaign contributions
• Appearances on C-SPAN

v t e Statewide political officials of Texas
U.S. senators	John Cornyn Ted Cruz
State government	Greg Abbott, Governor Dan Patrick, Lieutenant Governor Jane Nelson, Secretary of State (appointed) Ken Paxton, Attorney General Glenn Hegar, Comptroller Dawn Buckingham, Land Commissioner Sid Miller, Agriculture Commissioner Wayne Christian, Christi Craddick, Jim Wright, Railroad Commissioners
Senate	Dan Patrick, President Charles Schwertner, President pro tempore Angela Paxton, Majority Leader Carol Alvarado, Minority Leader
House	Dade Phelan, Speaker Charlie Geren, Speaker pro tempore Tom Oliverson, Majority Leader Trey Martinez Fischer, Minority Leader
Supreme Court	Nathan Hecht, Chief Justice Jimmy Blacklock Debra Lehrmann John P. Devine Rebeca Huddle Jane Bland Jeffrey S. Boyd J. Brett Busby Evan Young
Court of Criminal Appeals	Sharon Keller, Presiding Judge Mary Lou Keel Bert Richardson Kevin Yeary Scott Walker Jesse McClure Barbara Hervey Michelle Slaughter David Newell

• 1951 births
• 21st-century American women politicians
• 20th-century American businesspeople
• Living people
• People from Flower Mound, Texas
• Presidents pro tempore of the Texas Senate
• Republican Party Texas state senators
• Secretaries of state of Texas
• Women state legislators in Texas
• 20th-century American women politicians
• 20th-century American businesswomen
• 21st-century members of the Texas Legislature
• 20th-century members of the Texas Legislature