Meet Lois

Rep. Lois W. Kolkhorst is a member of the Texas House of Representatives, serving House District 13, which includes Austin, Grimes, Walker, and Washington Counties. She is responsible for a district spanning over 3,000 square miles, stretching over central Texas, from the pine forests of East Texas to the Coastal Gulf Plains.

As the Chair of the House Committee on Public Health, she helps manage the state’s $52 billion health care system and works to set priorities for the Health and Human Services Commission, which oversees nearly 9,000 state employees at five state agencies.
As a member of the House Committee on Corrections, she oversees criminal justice issues including the Texas Department of Criminal Justice, which is headquartered within her district. She also holds a seat on the Calendars Committee, which determines if and when House and Senate bills are considered on the House floor for passage.

Kolkhorst also currently serves as Chair of the Texas Tourism Caucus, which boasts a membership of 100 State Senators and Representatives and helps to ensure that Texas retains its position as the second most-popular tourist destination in America.
She serves as a member of the Sunset Advisory Commission, making recommendations and carrying legislation that determines the future existence of certain state agencies.

During her career as a lawmaker, she has fostered positive changes in the state's public schools, colleges and universities. As a long time education advocate, she was honored by the Texas Retired Teacher Association as well as the College of Education at Sam Houston State University. Previously, she spent six years on the House Appropriations Committee, where she chaired the education subcommittee, overseeing funds for the public schools, community colleges, universities, and health-related institutions. She also served as the Chair of Budget and Oversight for the House Committee on Economic Development.

Texas Monthly Magazine named Kolkhorst to their list of the 2007 Top Ten Best Legislators. For her work to preserve a strong economy, she's received the Fighter for Free Enterprise award from the Texas Association of Business. As a champion for family issues, she's received the Freedom & Family Award from Texas Eagle Forum. For her support in the criminal justice system, she has been presented with the AFSCME Legislative Service Award to recognize her work on behalf of correctional officers within the nine prison units in her district. For efforts to control state spending and reduce tax burdens, she received the Defender of the American Dream award from Americans for Prosperity.

She has gained accolades for a broad legislative agenda that has had significant statewide impact. Kolkhorst has authored and sponsored a long list of bills, tackling issues as varied as criminal justice and prison reforms, education funding, agriculture policies, consumer rights issues, economic development, community housing issues, and domestic violence legislation. As a staunch supporter of private property rights, Kolkhorst has gained national media attention for questioning the proposed Trans-Texas Corridor system of privatized super-highways. She has also passed legislation to address the costs incurred by illegal immigration.

She played a role in revising the state's worker's compensation system, and has helped shape environmental policies as a past member of the Governor's Clean Coal Technology Council. In 2008, she chaired the Energy and Environment Policy Task Force for the Texas Conservative Coalition.

Over the years, Kolkhorst has been recognized by a variety of statewide organizations. She received the Friend of Children Award from The United Way of Texas for her work with early childhood development. The Texas Farm Bureau has recognized her for her support of statewide agriculture issues. She was honored as Rural Legislator of the Year by the Association of Rural Communities in Texas. Additionally, Kolkhorst received the Texas Hospital Advocacy Tribute Award from the Texas Hospital Association.

Prior to her election in November 2000, she served as CEO for the Washington County Chamber and the Economic Development Foundation of Brenham and she has been a longtime advocate for rural economic development issues. She served terms on the Texas Economic Development Council and the Brazos Valley Workforce Commission. She was also appointed by then-Governor George W. Bush to the One-Call Board of Texas.

A native of Brenham and Washington County, she is a 1988 graduate of Texas Christian University, where she received a BS in Advertising and Public Relations. Upon graduation, she spent eight years with TCU in athletic administration. An accomplished golfer, Kolkhorst served as a four-year letter winner for the TCU Lady Frogs Golf Team and was also named to the Academic All-Southwest Conference Team. Besides the occasional golf game, she enjoys hunting and fishing with her husband, Jim Kolkhorst. They have two children, Lois Kate and Jake. The family lives in Brenham, while they own and operate Kolkhorst Petroleum based in the nearby city of Navasota.