Occupation: Attorney
Education: BS Pan American University, JD Georgetown University
Legislative Experience: House Member, 1981-1991/1997-2002; Senate Member (2002)
Hometown: McAllen
Party: Democrat

State Senator Juan "Chuy" Hinojosa proudly represents the people of District 20. Born in McAllen, Texas, in Hidalgo County, Hinojosa is the eldest of eight children. He attended Mission ISD schools as a child and worked as a farm worker during his teen years. He led the Mission Eagles football team as their quarterback, and after graduating, Hinojosa volunteered to serve in the U.S. Marine Corps.

In Vietnam, Hinojosa served his country with distinction from 1966 to 1968 before returning home to continue his education. Hinojosa graduated with honors from the University of Texas-Pan American with a bachelor's degree in political science. He completed his legal studies at Georgetown University in Washington, D.C.

After returning to South Texas, Hinojosa served as staff attorney for the Legal Aid Society of Nueces County and later as an Assistant Attorney General for the Texas Attorney General. In 1980, Hinojosa began his own private practice in McAllen, where he continues to represent clients in both civil and criminal matters.

Hinojosa was first elected into office in 1981, serving in the Texas House until 1990 and again from 1997 to 2002. During his tenure in the Texas House, Hinojosa passed landmark legislation, such as the establishment of the Regional Academic Health Center (RAHC) which promotes physician training on the Texas/Mexico Border. As the Chairman of Criminal Jurisprudence, Senator Hinojosa sponsored the Texas Fair Defense Act, reforming procedures for providing court-appointed defense counsel to indigent defendants, and carried DNA legislation that has resulted in freeing many wrongly convicted citizens.

Since his election to the Texas Senate in 2002, Hinojosa has secured more than $100 million for new construction at Texas A&M-Corpus Christi and at the University of Texas-Pan American. Senator Hinojosa's efforts have brought millions in funding to support the economic growth of Senate District 20, composed of Brooks, Hidalgo, Jim Wells, and Nueces Counties.

During the 2011 Legislative Session, Hinojosa authored SB 975, the Statewide Dropout Recovery Bill, offering a better future to our younger generations in Texas. He has been a leader in making state government more efficient by serving as the only South Texas member of the Sunset Advisory Commission from 2008-2011. He carried sunset legislation for high profile agencies such as TxDOT, DPS, and the Texas Water Development Board. Hinojosa has championed legislation to rein in rising university tuition costs, has worked with a bipartisan group of legislators to allocate more than $120 million for border security, and to honor our Veterans, he passed legislation to create a monument to Vietnam Veterans on the State Capitol grounds.

During the 2013 Legislative Session, Hinojosa authored SB 24, historic legislation that will merge UT-Pan American and UT-Brownsville and create a free standing medical school in South Texas. The expansion of educational opportunities will create greater access to healthcare and will be a great boost to the South Texas economy. The educational and healthcare opportunities are endless and will serve the unique and critical needs of South Texas as well as for all Texans for decades to come. Senator Hinojosa also secured critical funding for the Corpus Christi Bay Harbor Bridge Replacement project and passed legislation to allow South Texas communities and hospitals to draw down millions of federal matching funds to expand and invest in their healthcare infrastructure and to reimburse hospitals for indigent care through a federal 1115 Healthcare Transformation Waiver.

Senator Hinojosa was named "Top Ten Best Legislators" for 2013 by Texas Monthly magazine, making it his third time to receive the prestigious honor. He was named "Top Ten Legislator for 2013" by Capitol Inside for the third time as well.

Hinojosa has received a number of awards for his public service during his more than 20 years as an elected representative of South Texas. In 2012 Senator Hinojosa was honored to receive the CHRISTUS Health Eagle Award for his outstanding legislative leadership and strong commitment to healthcare issues and the 2012 "Border Texan of the Year" for his great contributions to the lives and well-being of residents along the border and his tireless dedication to bringing economic and educational benefits to the Coastal Bend area and South Texas. In 2011 he received the "Big Voices for Little Texans Award" from CASA, was recognized with the National Award/State Alliance Champion Award by the Boys & Girls Club, and the National Organization of Women has named him their "Legislator of the Year." In 2005, he received the John Henry Faulk Award from the American Civil Liberties Union, and has also been a co-recipient of the James Madison Award given by the Freedom of Information Foundation.

Photos

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Newsletter

Capitol Update, 2013 (PDF)

Capitol Update, 2012 (PDF)

Capitol Update, Fall 2011 (PDF)

Capitol Update, Winter 2009 (PDF)

Press Room
[Press archives: 2014 | 2013 | 2012 | 2011 | 2010 | 2009 | 2008 | 2007 | 2006 | 2005 | 2004 - 2003]

October 10, 2014
Senator Hinojosa's Statement on Voter ID Law

August 28, 2014
Senator Hinojosa's Statement on School Finance Ruling

August 14, 2014
Op-Ed: Energy Renaissance Coming to South Texas

August 7, 2014
Senator Hinojosa Named Chairman of Subcommittee Studying Impact of Mexico's Energy Reforms on Texas
            (Attachment: Senator Fraser's Letter to the Senate Natural Resources Committee, PDF format)

July 29, 2014
UT Chancellor Announced Today by UT Board Of Regents

[ MORE ... ]

Office Information

E-mail Form

Thank you for taking the time to write. Your thoughts and views are very important to me. I make every attempt to respond to the high volume of e-mail I receive, but I do place priority on those constituents in my district -- Senate District 20. all responses are returned through U.S. mail as soon as possible. please make sure you write your postal address and phone number on each feedback form you send.

State Senator Juan "Chuy" Hinojosa

83rd Session Committee Membership

• Intergovernmental Relations — Chair
• Finance — Vice-Chair
• Legislative Budget Board
• Agriculture, Rural Affairs & Homeland Security
• Criminal Justice
• Natural Resources
• Redistricting, Select
• Transportation Funding, Select
• Joint Interim Committee to Study a Coastal Barrier System
• Joint Interim Committee to Study Firearms & Ammunition Manufacturers Recruitment
• Joint Interim Committee to Study Water Desalination

District analysis: District 20

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District Profile: Population, Households, Education, Employment, Income and Analysis Population analysis Precinct and Districts Cities and Census Designated places School Districts General Election analysis