Senator Rodney Ellis

Rodney Ellis was elected to the Texas Senate in 1990. During his tenure, Senator Ellis has earned praise as a legislative leader on economic development, education, civil rights, tax cuts for the middle class, criminal justice, and workforce development issues.

Senator Ellis has passed over 400 pieces of legislation. One of his most notable accomplishments includes passage of the TEXAS Grant program, which has disbursed almost $1.5 billion in tuition and fees to over 161,000 students. The program continues to educate students for the improvement of the Texas workforce.

Senator Ellis passed a middle class tax relief bill that created a 3-day sales tax holiday and provided businesses franchise tax relief for job creation, capital investment, and research and development.  The bill has saved taxpayers over $3.2 billion--$2.4 billion in sales tax savings on several items, including energy efficient appliances; school clothing, shoes, and backpacks; nonprescription medicines; and over $800 million in franchise tax savings for job credits, research and development credits, and small business credits.

Senator Ellis also created the Texas Legislative Internship Program (TLIP).  Since TLIP's inception, it has become one of the largest legislative internship programs in the state, giving over 300 young people the opportunity to make a difference in Texas politics and public policy.

Senator Rodney Ellis currently chairs the Senate Committee on Government Organization. This Committee looks at measures to improve the efficiency of state government. He also sits on the Senate State Affairs, Criminal Justice, and Transportation and Homeland Security Committees.  Senator Ellis has also chaired the Senate Finance, Jurisprudence, and Intergovernmental Relations Committees in previous sessions.

Senator Ellis is a partner of Rice Financial Products Company, a financial services firm; of counsel to Reaud, Morgan, & Quinn; and shareholder in The Tagos Group, a business consulting firm. Senator Ellis has a diverse background in international finance. He played an important role as an advisor to the Mexican government in the ratification of the NAFTA Treaty. He also successfully brought a strategic partner to Telkom South Africa and has helped equity partners in telecommunications projects throughout Africa. 

Senator Ellis currently serves on the National Commission on Energy Policy, the University of Texas School of Law Foundation Board, the Council on Foreign Relations, the Alliance for Digital Equality Board of Advisors, chairs the Board of Directors for the Innocence Project, Inc. of New York, and co-chairs the Commission to Engage African Americans on Climate Change.

Before his election to the Texas Senate, Senator Ellis served three terms as a member of the Houston City Council and as chief of staff to the late U.S. Congressman Mickey Leland. He holds a bachelor's degree from Texas Southern University, a master's degree from the Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs, and a law degree from the University of Texas School of Law. Ellis also studied at Xavier University of New Orleans and the London School of Economics.

Rodney Ellis is married to Licia Green-Ellis and has four children.