Chairman Dade Phelan was born and raised in Southeast Texas. His fourth generation commercial real estate development firm owns and manages retail, industrial and office property in Texas and Arkansas. He received his bachelor’s degree in Government and Business from The University of Texas at Austin.
Phelan currently serves as Chair of the House Committee on State Affairs. He has previously served on the Natural Resources Committee as Vice-Chair, Calendars Committee, Appropriations Committee, Elections Committee and on the Select Committee on Ports, Innovation and Infrastructure.
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Representative Phelan Co-Chairs the State Water Infrastructure Fund for Texas Advisory Committee. The panel oversees the operation, function and structure of the state water fund and assists the Texas Water Development Board in achieving its goal of providing $27 billion in state water plan projects over the next 50 years.

In 2015 Capitol Inside Magazine named him one of the most outstanding freshmen and in 2017 honored him again as the Most Valuable Sophomore member of the Legislature. Texas Monthly recently recognized Phelan as one of the Best Legislators of 2019. Phelan has been named Legislative Champion by the Boys and Girls Club of Texas, Legislator of the Year by the Texas Apartment Association, Guardian of Small Business by the National Federation of Independent Business, Most Valuable Legislator by the Texas Association of Community Schools, a Fighter for Free Enterprise by the Texas Association of Business and the 2019 Mental Health Champion by Mental Health America.

The American Council of Young Political Leaders selected Representative Phelan as one of seven United States foreign delegates to China and Taiwan. He traveled to Asia for diplomatic exchanges with China and Taiwan’s next generation of political leaders.

Mr. Phelan is two time Governor appointee to and former president of the Lower Neches Valley Authority. His board service includes the Texas Lyceum, Southeast Texas CASA, Golden Triangle Coastal Conservation Association, The Jefferson Theater, St. Anne Catholic Church and Catholic Charities of Southeast Texas.

His wife, Kim, is a solo practitioner attorney and together they have four sons: Ford, Mack, Hank and Luke.