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  • ABOUT
    • STRATEGIC PLAN
    • LEADERSHIP TEMPLE
    • BOARD OF DIRECTORS >
      • Board Meetings
    • STAFF
    • CHAMBER AMBASSADORS
    • BLOG
    • CHAMBER NEWSLETTERS & PUBLICATIONS
    • CHAMBER MEMBER NEWS
    • CONTACT
  • Small Business Connect
    • SizeUp Temple
  • EVENTS
    • 2025 Salute to Business
    • 2025 Summer Seltzer
    • 2025 Golf Classic
    • 2025 Military & First Responders Salute
    • Partnership Events >
      • 2025 State of the City
      • Community Partner Social With AUSA
    • Community Calendar
    • Submit An Event
  • COMMUNITY
    • GOVERNMENT >
      • FEDERAL
      • STATE
      • LOCAL
  • BUSINESS DIRECTORY
  • MEMBERSHIP
    • Member Login
    • New Members
    • Renewing Members

State government

Texas state government is divided into executive, legislative, and judicial branches under the Texas Constitution adopted in 1876.

​The governor of Texas is the chief executive of the state and is elected by the citizens every four years. Other elected state officials with executive responsibilities include the lieutenant governor, attorney general, comptroller of public accounts, commissioner of the General Land Office and commissioner of agriculture. The terms of those officials are also four years.
The secretary of state and the commissioner of education are appointed by the governor.

The Texas Legislature has 181 members: 31 in the Senate, who are elected to four-year overlapping terms, and 150 in the House of Representatives, who are elected to two-year terms. Regular sessions convene on the second Tuesday of January in odd-numbered years, but the governor may call special sessions.
 
The judiciary of the state consists of nine members of the State Supreme Court; nine members of the Court of Criminal Appeals; 80 of the courts of appeals; 443 of the state district courts, including 13 criminal district courts; 494 county court judges; 821 justices of the peace; and 1,412 municipal courts judges.

Visit texas.gov for more information.

Texas Governor
The governor of Texas is the chief executive of the state and is elected by the citizens every four years. The governor must be at least 30 years old and a resident of Texas for the five years immediately before the election.

The governor makes policy recommendations that lawmakers in both the state House and Senate chambers may sponsor and introduce as bills. The governor also appoints the Secretary of State, as well as members of boards and commissions who oversee the heads of state agencies and departments.
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Governor Greg Abbott
Office of the Governor
State Capital Bldg.
1100 Congress, Room 2S.1
Austin, TX 78701
512-463-2000
800-843-5789

​
gov.texas.gov
​Mailing Address
P.O. Box 12428
​Capitol Station
Austin, TX 78711

Texas State Senate
The Texas State Senate is the upper chamber of the Texas State Legislature. Alongside the Texas House of Representatives, it forms the legislative branch of the Texas state government and works alongside the governor to create laws and establish a state budget.

Bell County and Temple are located in Texas State Senate District 24 and are represented by Senator Pete Flores. 
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Senator Pete Flores
Capitol Office
State Capital Bldg.
100 Congress, Room GE.5
Austin, TX 78701
512-463-0124


Sen. Pete Flores District 24
​Mailing Address
P.O. Box 12068
Capitol Station
Austin, TX 78711
​District Address
410 N. Main
Belton, TX 76513
254-939-3854

Texas House of Representatives
The Texas House of Representatives is the lower chamber of the Texas State Legislature. Alongside the Texas State Senate, it forms the legislative branch of the Texas state government and works alongside the governor of Texas to create laws and establish a state budget. Legislative authority and responsibilities of the Texas House of Representatives include passing bills on public policy matters, setting levels for state spending, raising and lowering taxes, and voting to uphold or override gubernatorial vetoes.

Temple has representative in two House Districts.

Texas State House District 55 - Representative Hillary Hickland
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Representative Hillary Hickland
Capitol Office
State Capital Bldg.
100 Congress,
Room E1.218
Austin, TX 78701
512-463-0630
​Mailing Address
P.O. Box 2910
​Capitol Station
Austin, TX 78768
District Address
2180 North Main Street, Office H7
Belton, Texas 76513
254-870-6940

Texas State House District 54 - Representative Brad Buckley, DVM
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Representative Brad Buckley
Capitol Office
State Capital Bldg.
100 Congress,
Room E1.324
Austin, TX 78701
512-
463-0684
​Mailing Address
P.O. Box 2910
​Capitol Station
Austin, TX 78768
District Address
1301 North Stagecoach Road
Salado, Texas 76571
254-947-5026

Texas State Board of Education
The State Board of Education (SBOE) sets policies and standards for Texas public schools. The primary responsibilities of the SBOE include setting curriculum standards, reviewing and adopting instructional materials, establishing graduation requirements, overseeing the Texas Permanent School Fund, appointing board members to military reservation and special school districts, providing final review of rules proposed by the State Board for Educator Certification, and reviewing the commissioner's proposed award of new charter schools, with authority to veto a recommended applicant.

There are 15 state Board of Education members who are elected by Texans to four year terms of office. Each member represents about 1.8 million Texans.

Bell County and Temple are located in SBOE District 10 and are represented by Tom Maynard.
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Tom Maynard
Mailing Address
P.O. Box 625
Florence, TX 76527
​
512-763-2801
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201 Santa Fe Way, Suite 105  |  Temple, TX 76501
Phone: 254-773-2105 | sitemap
Hours of Operation:  M-F, 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
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Chamber Policy:  Distribution of material supporting a political candidate(s) for public office is not allowed at any meeting or event hosted or sponsored by the Temple Chamber of Commerce, unless otherwise noted.