State Rep. Katrina Pierson now has formal legislative authority to advance her women's health agenda after House Speaker Dustin Burrows appointed the Rockwall County lawmaker to chair a newly created subcommittee focused on maternal health, menopause and access to evidence-based medicine.

House Committee on Public Health Chairman Gary VanDeaver formally established the Subcommittee on Maternal Health, Menopause and Access to Evidence-Based Medicine on Thursday, Aug. 20, according to Blue Ribbon News. Burrows had announced Pierson's appointment around Aug. 13 as part of a second batch of interim charges ahead of the 90th Texas Legislature, which convenes in January 2027.

Pierson said she was grateful to Burrows and VanDeaver for the chance to address women's health issues she believes have been overlooked, adding that the subcommittee will hear from patients, physicians and experts to turn findings into action.

The subcommittee's charges include examining hormone health and menopause care, maternal nutrition, newborn coverage and other barriers affecting women's health care. The panel will also review opportunities for early detection of hormonal imbalances, including baseline reproductive hormone testing, The Texan reported.

Pierson told The Texan on Aug. 13 that the effort would deliberately sidestep politically charged topics: "We are setting aside the discussions on abortion, birth control, and IVF to focus on health issues that impact all women across Texas."

Representatives Elizabeth "Liz" Campos, a San Antonio Democrat, and Joanne Shofner, a Nacogdoches Republican, will serve alongside Pierson on the three-member panel.

The appointment builds on Pierson's Texas Women's Health Initiative, which she announced the week of Aug. 14. Pierson represents House District 33, which covers Rockwall County and portions of southern Collin County. Her district office is at 101 E. Rusk St., Suite 201, in Rockwall.

The Texas Nurse Practitioners posted on X that its president, Tracy Hicks, and advocate Shelagh Larson met with Pierson on Aug. 20 to discuss the interim charges and expressed support for expanding access to women's health care.

No hearing dates have been set.

The panel's findings will feed into legislation when the 90th Legislature opens in January 2027.