The Texas Women’s Health Caucus is an official caucus of the Texas House of Representatives that works to promote women’s health care in the Texas Legislature.
Your voice in the Texas House.
Caucus Leadership
Chairwoman Donna Howard
Representative Donna Howard has served in the Texas House of Representatives since 2006. She serves as the Vice Chairwoman of the Select Committee on Healthcare Reform. In addition, she serves on the House Appropriations Committee and Higher Education Committee. She is the Chairwoman of the Texas Women’s Health Caucus which is the largest caucus in the country solely focused on advancing women’s health policy. During her time in the Legislature, Chair Howard has advocated to increase funding and access to women’s health services and has fought against anti-abortion misinformation. In 2023, she passed the Tax F.R.E.E Act which eliminates the sales tax on everyday essentials such as menstrual products, diapers, and wipes.
Vice Chairwoman Julie Johnson
Representative Julie Johnson has been a member of the Texas House of Representatives since 2019. She is a the Vice Chairwoman of the House Committee on the Judiciary and Civil Jurisprudence and serves on the House Committee on Insurance. During her time in the Texas House, she has focused on legislation that advocates for consumer protection and increased healthcare access. She led a bipartisanship effort in the House to reduce the rate of uninsured Texans and provide relief for uncompensated care through the Live Well Texas Program along with State Senator Nathan Johnson. She has always supported policies that make sure every woman in Texas can have a healthy life and plan for healthy families. This past session she championed efforts to improve access to important lifesaving medications and passed a bill that will increase penalties for those found guilty of indecent assault.
Treasurer Rhetta Bowers
Representative Rhetta Bowers has been a member of the Texas House of Representatives since 2018. She made history as the first Black woman elected to represent the district and was the first Afro-Latina elected to the Texas House. She serves as the Vice Chair of the Local and Consent Calendars Committee and is on the House Committees on Criminal Jurisprudence, Homeland Security and Public Safety, and the Select Committee on Community Safety. During her time in the Texas House, she has been a reproductive justice warrior and has filed legislation to protect our right to access quality, affordable healthcare services. In 2023, she passed the CROWN Act which bans hairstyle discrimination in Texas.
Secretary Lina Ortega
Representative Lina Ortega has been a member of the Texas House of Representatives since 2016. She is a member of the House Committee on Higher Education and the Transportation Committee. During her time in the Legislature, she has worked to expand Medicaid coverage for all eligible families, promoted equitable access to women's health care and family planning services, protected funding for essential programs and services for our most vulnerable populations, and has worked to address the shortage of health care providers by funding crucial post-secondary programs. In 2023, Rep. Ortega passed House Bill 113 which will allow healthcare providers to receive funding for services rendered by community health workers.
Caucus Whip Jessica González
Representative Jessica Gonzalez has served in the Texas House since 2019. She is a founding member of the Texas House LGBTQ Caucus and currently serves as its Vice Chairwoman. She serves on the House Committee on Business and Industry and the House Committee on Urban Affairs. During her tenure in the Legislature she has focused on expanding voting rights, protecting the civil right of LGBTQ+ Texans, reforming our criminal justice system, and fighting for reproductive justice.
Representative Ann Johnson has served in the Texas House since 2021. She serves as the Vice Chair of the General Investigating Committee and as the Vice Chair of the Committee on Insurance. In addition, Rep. Johnson serves on the Calendars, Public Health, and Youth, Health and Safety committees. During her tenure in the Legislature she has focused on legislation that improves access to healthcare services, has passed legislation to support survivors of sexual assault and human trafficking, and is a champion for LGBTQ Texans. In 2023, she passed House Bill 3058 which provides physicians, in limited circumstances, with an affirmative defense if they provide abortion care to Texans.
