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Senator Juan "Chuy" Hinojosa: District 20
Occupation: Attorney
Education: BS Pan American University, JD Georgetown University
Legislative Experience: House Member, 1981-1991/1997-2002; Senate Member (2002)
Hometown: McAllen
Party: Democrat
Born in Mcallen, Texas, in Hidalgo County, Juan "Chuy" Hinojosa is the eldest of eight children born to
Juan de Dios and Esperanza Hinojosa. He attended Mission ISD schools as a child and worked as a farm
worker during his teen years. He led the Mission Eagles football team as their quarterback, and after
graduating, Hinojosa volunteered to serve in the U.S. Marine Corps.
In Vietnam, Hinojosa served as a squad leader from 1966 to 1968 before returning home to continue his education.
Hinojosa graduated with honors from the University of Texas-pan american with a bachelor's degree in political
science. He completed his legal studies at Georgetown University in Washington, D.C.
After returning to South Texas, Hinojosa served as staff attorney for the Legal aid Society of Nueces
County and later as an assistant attorney General for the Texas attorney General. In 1980, Hinojosa
began his own private practice in Mcallen, where he continues to represent clients in both civil and
criminal matters.
Hinojosa was first elected into office in 1981, serving in the Texas House until 1990 and again from 1997 to 2002.
During his tenure in the Texas House, Hinojosa passed landmark legislation, such as the establishment of the
Regional academic Health Center (RAHC) which promotes physician training on the Texas/Mexico Border. As the
Chairman of Criminal Jurisprudence, Senator Hinojosa sponsored the Texas Fair Defense act, reforming procedures
for providing court-appointed defense counsel to indigent defendants, and carried DNA legislation that has
resulted in freeing many wrongly convicted citizens.
Since his election to the Texas Senate in 2002, Hinojosa has secured more than $84.7 million for new
construction at Texas A&M-Corpus Christi and at the University of Texas-pan american.
Senator Hinojosa's efforts have brought millions in funding to support the growth of Senate District 20,
composed of Brooks, Hidalgo, Jim Wells, and Nueces Counties.
Senator Hinojosa is currently the vice-chairman of the Senate Finance Committee,
and he also holds seats on the Senate's agriculture and Rural affairs, Criminal Justice, Jurisprudence
and Natural Resource Committees. Hinojosa is in his second term on the Sunset advisory Commission,
a bipartisan panel that reviews the effectiveness of state agencies. The panel decides to continue agencies
or abolish unnecessary and duplicative state entities.
During the 2007 legislative session, Hinojosa authored S.B. 103, reshaping the state's troubled Texas
Youth Commission after investigations by the Texas Rangers found instances of sexual and physical abuse
of youth in state facilities. S.B. 103 made a number of fundamental changes, including ending the practice
of housing children with adults and creating a parent's Bill of Rights, guaranteeing swift and accurate access
to information about caseworkers' duties and the agency's grievance policies. Hinojosa championed legislation
to rein in rising university tuition costs and he has worked with a bipartisan group of legislators to allocate
more than $120 million on training and technology for border security.
Senator Hinojosa has received a number of awards for his public service during his more than
20 years as an elected representative of South Texas. Twice he has been named one of Texas' "Top 10 Legislators"
by Texas Monthly magazine, and the National Organization of Women named him their "Legislator of the Year."
In 2005, he was recognized as a Legislator of the Year by the Justices of the peace and Constables association of
Texas and also received the John Henry Faulk award from the american Civil Liberties Union. In 2006, Hinojosa was
presented with the public Servant of the Year award by the Texas Coalition of Texans with Disabilities, and Capitol
Inside has twice named Senator Hinojosa to their Top Ten Legislator list. He has also been a co-recipient of the
James Madison award given by the Freedom of Information Foundation.

Photos
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 Noticias KNVO (Univision Channel 48 - McAllen) speaks with Senator Juan "Chuy" Hinojosa at the Lone Star National Bank in McAllen on Monday, February 1, about his appointment to the Legislative Budget Board. Lieutenant Governor David Dewhurst made the announcement in McAllen prior to a luncheon with local business leaders to discuss regional economic development issues and job creation opportunities. |
 Senator Juan "Chuy" Hinojosa and Lt. Governor David Dewhurst meeting the City of Mission Delegation at the Capitol. |
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(click each photo to enlarge) |

Newsletter
Capitol Update, Fall 2011 (PDF)
Capitol Update, Winter 2009 (PDF)
May 4, 2012 Senator Hinojosa Receives Award From Boys & Girls Club of America
March 6, 2012 Media Advisory: Senator Hinojosa to Hold Press Conference Announcing the Devastating Impact of Medicaid Cuts to Valley Area Pharmacies
January 23, 2012 Media Advisory: The Texas Tribune hosts The Hot Seat—A Conversation with Senator Juan "Chuy" Hinojosa and State Representatives Veronica Gonzales and Aaron Peña
December 1, 2011 Hinojosa Receives Key Appointment to Committee on Human Trafficking
November 29, 2011 Hinojosa Appointed Co-Chair of Cruise Industry Committee
[ MORE ... ]

Office Information
| Capitol address |
District address |
The Honorable Juan "Chuy" Hinojosa
P.O. Box 12068
Capitol Station
Austin, Texas 78711
(512) 463-0120
(512) 463-0229 Fax
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612 Nolana Suite 410B
Mcallen, Texas 78504
(956) 972-1841
(956) 664-0602 Fax
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| District address |
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2820 S.P.I.D., Suite 291
Corpus Christi, TX 78415
(361) 225-1200
(361) 225-3576
(361) 225-0119 Fax
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E-mail Form
Thank you for taking the time to write. Your thoughts and views are very important to me. I make every attempt to respond to the high volume of e-mail I receive, but I do place priority on those constituents in my district -- Senate District 20. all responses are returned through U.S. mail as soon as possible. please make sure you write your postal address and phone number on each feedback form you send.
State Senator Juan "Chuy" Hinojosa
82nd Session Committee Membership
District analysis: District 20
 Click the map to view a detailed district map in pDF
format
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