Rodney Ellis

Ellis, from the Sunnyside neighborhood in Houston,{{cite web|author=Isensee, Laura|url=http://www.houstonpublicmedia.org/articles/news/2016/08/22/164850/new-school-year-brings-long-delayed-construction-at-worthing-high-school/|title=New School Year Brings Long-Delayed Construction At Worthing High School|publisher=Houston Public Media|date=2016-08-22|quote=It depicts her mentors, state Rep. Alma Allen and Sen. Rodney Ellis, both from Sunnyside.}} is one of three children of Elijha and Oliver Teresa Ellis. His father worked as a yard man and his mother a maid. Both parents worked as health care assistants. In the summers, Ellis served as his father's assistant.{{Cite web|url=http://www.utexas.edu/lbj/archive/community2001/ellis.html|title=The LBJ School Community|date=March 4, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304194628/http://www.utexas.edu/lbj/archive/community2001/ellis.html|archive-date=2016-03-04}}

Ellis attended B.H. Grimes Elementary and Carter G. Woodson Middle School before graduating from Evan E. Worthing High School, where he was president of the student council. He enrolled at Xavier University in Louisiana but returned to Texas to attend Texas Southern University, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science. Ellis earned his Masters in Public Affairs from the University of Texas Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs and then a J.D. degree from the University of Texas School of Law.

While in Austin, Ellis got experience in Texas government, working as an aide to Lieutenant Governor Bill Hobby and as Law Clerk to Chief Justice John C. Phillips on the Third Court of Appeals. Ellis also served as legal counsel to Texas Railroad Commissioner Buddy Temple before moving to Washington, DC to become chief of staff for U.S. Representative Mickey Leland.{{Cite web|url=http://www.senate.state.tx.us/75r/senate/members/dist13/pdf/0400gday.pdf|title=Texas Senate website}}

It was through Congressman Leland that Ellis first met his future wife Licia. They were married in 1997. Their family includes four children: Nicole, Maria, Leland, and Alena.

Image:Rodney Ellis and Mickey Leland.jpg, for whom Ellis served as chief of staff]]

In 1983, at age 29, Ellis was elected to the Houston City Council, where he served three terms representing District D.[http://www.senate.state.tx.us/75r/senate/members/dist13/pdf/0400gday.pdf Texas Senate website], [http://www.houstontx.gov/citysec/elections/110883.pdf City of Houston website] While on Council, Ellis worked on efforts to tear down abandoned buildings that had attracted criminals and the drug trade.{{Cite web|url=https://www.chron.com/CDA/archives/archive.mpl?id=1987_464625|title=Houston Chronicle}} He worked to secure more funds to raze these dangerous buildings, and drove a front-loader to help clean up drug-ridden Houston neighborhoods.{{Cite web|url=https://www.chron.com/CDA/archives/archive.mpl?id=1989_660323|title=Houston Chronicle}} To combat rising drug crime, Ellis pushed to increase funding for anti-drug efforts in the city,{{Cite web|url=https://www.chron.com/CDA/archives/archive.mpl?id=1989_641329|title=Houston Chronicle}} but also called for greater community oversight of the Houston Police Department through a citizen's review board.{{Cite web|url=https://www.chron.com/CDA/archives/archive.mpl?id=1989_664781|title=Houston Chronicle}}

Ellis worked to increase funding to expand low-income housing projects across Houston,{{Cite web|url=https://www.chron.com/CDA/archives/archive.mpl?id=1986_249012|title=Houston Chronicle}} preserve Allen Parkway Village,{{Cite web|url=https://www.chron.com/CDA/archives/archive.mpl?id=1989_604823|title=Houston Chronicle}} and strengthen policies for the city's use of federal funds from the Department of Housing and Urban Development to ensure a greater percentage is devoted to low and moderate-income Texans.{{Cite web|url=https://www.chron.com/CDA/archives/archive.mpl?id=1988_535133|title=Houston Chronicle}} Ellis also worked to seize abandoned properties and sell on the market to raise funds for housing and other vital needs.{{Cite web|url=https://www.chron.com/CDA/archives/archive.mpl?id=1987_492811|title=Houston Chronicle}}

Ellis served as chair of the Economic Redevelopment Committee, where he advocated policies to spur economic development in Houston. He called for the creation of a new think tank and the city Department of Commerce{{Cite web|url=https://www.chron.com/CDA/archives/archive.mpl?id=1987_478640|title=Houston Chronicle}} to coordinate and streamline city economic development policies, worked to save city and taxpayer investments in projects such as the Palm Center and Mercado del Sol shopping center, and pushed to expand low-interest loans to small businesses.{{Cite web|url=https://www.chron.com/CDA/archives/archive.mpl?id=1987_466035|title=Houston Chronicle}}

Ellis pushed to rename Houston Intercontinental Airport after Mickey Leland, following his death on an anti-hunger mission to Ethiopia. Controversy ensued after comments were made about the effort by a fellow council member.{{Cite web|url=https://www.chron.com/CDA/archives/archive.mpl?id=1989_661296|title=Houston Chronicle}} In the end, the newest terminal at the airport was named in honor of Leland.{{Cite web|url=https://www.chron.com/CDA/archives/archive.mpl?id=1989_659390|title=Houston Chronicle}}

In the battle against apartheid in South Africa, Ellis helped convince the University of Houston to become the first university in the south to divest from companies doing business in South Africa.{{Cite web|url=https://www.chron.com/CDA/archives/archive.mpl?id=1987_471386|title=Houston Chronicle}} He also helped defeat efforts to merge the University of Houston–Downtown with Texas Southern University, protecting the historically black college's history and mission as a stand-alone institution.{{Cite web|url=https://www.chron.com/CDA/archives/archive.mpl?id=1986_422110|title=Houston Chronicle}}

In 1997, Ellis authored legislation to create the Texas Capital Access Fund that provided up to $140 million in private lending to small businesses and nonprofit organizations.{{Cite web|url=https://capitol.texas.gov/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=75R&Bill=SB266|title=Texas Legislature Online - 75(R) History for SB 266|website=capitol.texas.gov}} The program was designed to help small businesses that do not qualify for conventional financing to access the capital they need through a public-private partnership.

In 1999, Ellis introduced and passed a $506 million tax relief package that created a three-day sales tax holiday, eliminated the sales tax on over-the-counter medicines, and cut business taxes.{{Cite web|url=https://capitol.texas.gov/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=76R&Bill=SB441|title=Texas Legislature Online - 76(R) History for SB 441|website=capitol.texas.gov}} The tax holiday was designed to give Texans a tax break on items such as back-to-school clothing and supplies. In 2021, the Texas Comptroller’s Office estimated shoppers would save an estimated $107.3 million in state and local sales tax during the sales tax holiday.{{Cite web|url=https://www.houstonchronicle.com/neighborhood/sugarland/article/Tax-free-weekend-starts-this-Friday-16352792.php|title=Tax-free weekend starts this Friday. Here's what to know.|date=3 August 2021 }}

As the chair of the Senate Committee on Finance in 2001, Ellis authored the $113.8 billion budget bill.{{Cite web|url=https://capitol.texas.gov/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=77R&Bill=SB1|title=Texas Legislature Online - 77(R) History for SB 1|website=capitol.texas.gov}} The population of Texas had grown 25 percent in the prior 10 years and the pressure of that continued growth was reflected in a budget that raised funding $11.8 billion, or 11.6 percent over the previous biennium.{{Cite web|url=http://www.senate.state.tx.us/75r/Senate/Members/Dist13/pr01/p052401a.htm|title=Texas Senate website}} As chair of the Finance Committee, Ellis managed, in spite of the tight budget, to fund four priority items: a major Medicaid expansion, state employee pay raises, teacher health insurance, and financial aid for college students."{{Cite web|url=https://www.texasobserver.org/87-all-rodney-all-the-time-senate-finance-chairman-rodney-ellis-had-an-outstanding-legislative-session-but-dont-quote-him-on-that/|title=All Rodney, All the Time|date=June 8, 2001|website=The Texas Observer}}

The Texas Green Jobs Act of 2009, authored by Ellis, was amended onto House Bill 1935, establishing the first statewide green jobs program in Texas.{{Cite web|url=https://capitol.texas.gov/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=81R&Bill=HB1935|title=Texas Legislature Online - 81(R) History for HB 1935|website=capitol.texas.gov}} The program set up a framework for training workers for skills in the clean energy economy.

In 1993, Ellis introduced the Motor Voter program to allow citizens to register to vote when they renew their driver's licenses.{{Cite web|url=http://www.lrl.state.tx.us/LASDOCS/72R/SB551/SB551_72R.pdf|title=S.B. 551, 72nd Regular Legislature, Texas Legislative Reference Library}} To further increase participation in the democratic process, Ellis introduced legislation to implement the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 in Texas in 1995 in order to bring Texas up to federal standards by requiring government agencies to afford citizens a chance to register to vote each time they seek state services through government agencies.{{Cite web|url=https://capitol.texas.gov/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=74R&Bill=SB53|title=Texas Legislature Online - 74(R) History for SB 53|website=capitol.texas.gov}}

In 2001, Ellis authored and passed the James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Act, legislation to clarify and strengthen the state's hate crimes statute by defining a hate crime as one that has been proven in court to have been motivated by "the race, religion, color, disability, sexual orientation, national origin or ancestry" of the victim.{{Cite web|url=http://www.senate.state.tx.us/75r/Senate/Members/Dist13/pr01/p051101a.htm|title=Texas Senate website}} The Act bears the name of James Byrd, Jr., an African American who was targeted and murdered in one of the most brutal hate crimes of the post-Civil Rights Era. In 2009, President Barack Obama signed into law a federal hate crimes bill also bearing Byrd's name.{{Cite web|url=https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/blog/2009/10/28/about-whether-we-value-one-another|title="This Is About Whether We Value One Another"|date=October 28, 2009|website=whitehouse.gov}}

In 2007, Ellis introduced and passed the Stop the Genocide Act, requiring state pension funds to divest from companies doing business in Sudan.{{Cite web|url=https://capitol.texas.gov/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=80R&Bill=SB247|title=Texas Legislature Online - 80(R) History for SB 247|website=capitol.texas.gov}} Over the four years prior to the bill's introduction, the Sudanese government and its allied organizations had killed more than 400,000 people and displaced more than 2.5 million in Sudan's Darfur region.{{Cite web|url=http://www.senate.state.tx.us/75r/Senate/Members/Dist13/pr07/p012407a.htm|title=Texas Senate website}}

Ellis helped pass the Free Flow of Information Act in 2009 to protect journalists from being forced to testify or disclose confidential sources.{{Cite web|url=http://www.senate.state.tx.us/75r/senate/members/dist13/pr09/p051309a.htm|title=Texas Senate website}} The law aimed to balance the public's right to know the truth from an independent press and the state's ability to uphold justice.

In 2009, Ellis introduced and passed legislation creating the Holocaust and Genocide Commission, a volunteer commission that serves as a conduit of information to public schools, private schools, and organizations regarding the Holocaust and acts of genocide.{{Cite web|url=https://capitol.texas.gov/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=81R&Bill=SB482|title=Texas Legislature Online - 81(R) History for SB 482|website=capitol.texas.gov}}

In 1993, Ellis authored and passed legislation requiring private nonprofit hospitals to provide a certain amount of charity care to uninsured patients.{{Cite web|url=https://capitol.texas.gov/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=73R&Bill=SB427|title=Texas Legislature Online - 73(R) History for SB 427|website=capitol.texas.gov}}

In 2001, under Ellis' leadership as Chairman of the Texas Senate Committee on Finance, the legislature increased funding for health and human services by $5.1 billion. The budget simplified Medicaid eligibility by eliminating face-to-face interviews and allowed families to apply through the mail or over the telephone. The budget also allocated $197 million to increase reimbursement rates for doctors, dentists, and hospitals; provided $63 million to maintain current services at Mental Health & Mental Retardation state schools, hospitals, and community centers; provided $1.025 billion for the Children's Health Insurance Program; and allocated $104 million to improve care in state schools and nursing homes.{{Cite web|url=https://www.lbb.state.tx.us/|title=Legislative Budget Board|website=www.lbb.state.tx.us}}

In 2011, Ellis amended the Texas Department of Insurance sunset legislation to include a provision that will increase access to individual health insurance plans in order to expand the availability of coverage to children under 19.{{Cite web|url=http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=82R&Bill=HB1951|title=Texas Legislature Online - 82(R) History for HB 1951|website=www.capitol.state.tx.us}}

In 2011, Ellis sponsored legislation that ensures a voice for advocates and individuals infected with HIV in the state's HIV Medication Advisory Committee.{{Cite web|url=https://capitol.texas.gov/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=82R&Bill=HB2229|title=Texas Legislature Online - 82(R) History for HB 2229|website=capitol.texas.gov}}

Since his tenure in the Texas Senate, Ellis has been one of the nation’s leaders in criminal justice reform, including an overhaul of the state's indigent defense system, identifying and studying the factors that contribute to wrongful convictions, and increasing compensation for the wrongfully imprisoned.{{Cite news |last=Silver |first=Johnathan |date=January 8, 2017 |title=Rodney Ellis leaves Texas Senate with criminal justice legacy |url=https://www.texastribune.org/2017/01/08/rodney-ellis-leaves-texas-senate-criminal-justice-/ |archive-url=https://www.texastribune.org/2017/01/08/rodney-ellis-leaves-texas-senate-criminal-justice-/ |archive-date=January 8, 2017 |work=The Texas Tribune}}

On a national level, Ellis was chairman of the Innocence Project in New York for 14 years. The nonprofit organization works to free the innocent, prevent wrongful convictions, and create fair, compassionate, and equitable systems of justice for everyone. In 2016, the Innocence Project honored Ellis and others for their contributions to the organization.{{Cite news |last=Innocence Project |date=October 1, 2014 |title=Senator Rodney Ellis, Exoneree Michael Morton, Innocence Project and Other Lawyers Urge Legislature to Fix Texas’ DNA Testing Law |url=https://innocenceproject.org/senator-rodney-ellis-exoneree-michael-morton-innocence-project-and-other-lawyers-urge-legislature-to-fix-texas-dna-testing-law/ |archive-url=https://innocenceproject.org/senator-rodney-ellis-exoneree-michael-morton-innocence-project-and-other-lawyers-urge-legislature-to-fix-texas-dna-testing-law/ |archive-date=October 10, 2014 |work=innocenceproject.org/}}

As a county commissioner, he continued to carry the torch for indigent defendants by increasing Harris County Public Defenders Office’s budget and leading Commissioners Court to approving misdemeanor bail reform (more details below under Harris County Commissioners Court)..

For his work on criminal justice reforms, Ellis was named "Texan of the Year" by the Dallas Morning News on December 26, 2015, along with Senator John Whitmire and Representative Ruth McClendon.{{Cite web |date=December 26, 2015 |title=Texan of the Year: The Texas Justice League |url=http://interactives.dallasnews.com/2015/texan-of-the-year |website=interactives.dallasnews.com}} The Dallas Morning News wrote that "the measures [Ellis] championed this year — and in previous legislative sessions — have targeted every major facet of flawed criminal justice, from prosecutors' reliance on junk science (such as bite-mark evidence) and flawed eyewitness testimony, to holding overzealous prosecutors accountable and improving public-defender funding so indigents can't be railroaded into prison."

In 2001, Ellis authored and passed the Texas Fair Defense Act to overhaul the state's indigent defense system by focusing on four critical issues: timely appointment of counsel, method of counsel appointment by the courts, reporting of information about indigent representation services, and minimum standards for counsel. The legislation required all criminal courts in Texas to adopt formal procedures for providing appointed lawyers to indigent defendants.{{Cite web|url=https://capitol.texas.gov/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=77R&Bill=SB7|title=Texas Legislature Online - 77(R) History for SB 7|website=capitol.texas.gov}}

The Texas Fair Defense Act also created a new state indigent defense commission, the Task Force on Indigent Defense (now called the Texas Indigent Defense Commission), to oversee the implementation of the Texas Fair Defense Act and administer a new state program for awarding indigent defense grants to counties.{{Cite web|url=http://www.txcourts.gov/tidc/|title=Texas Indigent Defense Commission website}}

In 2009, Ellis sponsored and passed legislation to establish the Tim Cole Advisory Panel to identify and study the factors that contribute to wrongful convictions.{{Cite web|url=https://capitol.texas.gov/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=81R&Bill=HB498|title=Texas Legislature Online - 81(R) History for HB 498|website=capitol.texas.gov}} The panel was named in honor of Tim Cole, a young man who died in prison after being wrongfully convicted of rape.

The Tim Cole Advisory Panel's work led Ellis in 2011 to author a package of legislation to reform and improve the reliability of the Texas criminal justice system. Those improvements included eyewitness identification reforms to address the leading cause of proven wrongful convictions, and legislation to ensure that DNA evidence can and will be tested—if available—to prove someone's innocence.{{Cite web|url=https://www.chron.com/news/houston-texas/article/Houston-senator-s-bills-aim-to-stop-wrongful-1684022.php|title=Houston senator's bills aim to stop wrongful convictions|first=BOBBY|last=CERVANTES
|date=February 4, 2011|website=Chron}}

In 2009, Ellis authored and passed legislation to create the Office of Capital Writs, the state's first statewide public defender office, to manage death penalty appeals.[http://www.ocw.texas.gov/ Texas Office of Capital Writs website] Texas has the highest number of executions since 1979 - over four times the next state with the second highest number. Texas also has a high number of wrongful convictions relative to other states.{{Cite web|url=http://www.law.umich.edu/special/exoneration/Documents/exonerations_us_1989_2012_by_county.pdf|title=National Registry of Exonerations report}} The Office of Capital Writs is "entrusted with advocating on behalf of indigent individuals sentenced to death in Texas. The office works within the judicial system to safeguard the Constitutional rights of the individual through high quality legal representation."

Ellis has "led legislative efforts to increase compensation for the wrongfully imprisoned."{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2011/09/23/us/exonerated-of-crimes-but-compensated-differently.html|title=Exonerated of Crimes, but Compensated Differently (Published 2011)|first=Brandi|last=Grissom|newspaper=The New York Times|date=September 23, 2011}} In 2001, Ellis authored and passed legislation that increased the amount of compensation, increased the statute of limitations for claiming compensation, and allowed convicted persons found to be innocent to seek relief and compensation from the courts, rather than by pardon.{{Cite web|url=https://capitol.texas.gov/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=77R&Bill=SB536|title=Texas Legislature Online - 77(R) History for SB 536|website=capitol.texas.gov}} In 2011, Ellis sponsored and passed comprehensive exoneree compensation reform legislation, which provided health care to the wrongfully convicted, established standards for attorney's fees in compensation claims, and helped exonerees to receive compensation.{{Cite web|url=https://capitol.texas.gov/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=82R&Bill=HB417|title=Texas Legislature Online - 82(R) History for HB 417|website=capitol.texas.gov}}

In 2013, Ellis authored and passed the "Michael Morton Act," legislation creating a uniform, statutory open file criminal discovery policy in Texas.{{Cite web|url=https://blog.chron.com/texaspolitics/2013/05/michael-morton-act-signed-into-law/|title=UPDATE: 'Michael Morton Act' signed into law|first1=Eva Ruth Moravec on|last1=May 16|first2=2013 at 3:17|last2=PM|date=May 16, 2013|website=Texas Politics}} With the bill's passage, Texas law now explicitly states that every prosecutor has a duty to disclose documents or information that could raise questions about a defendant's guilt or lead to a lighter sentence if there is a conviction.{{Cite web|url=http://www.statesman.com/news/news/michael-morton-act-sent-to-governor/nXq9Z/|title=Austin American-Statesman, "Michael Morton Act sent to governor"}} Prior to the bill's passage, Texas' criminal discovery laws had not changed since they were initially adopted in 1965. The bill was named after Michael Morton, who was wrongfully convicted of murdering his wife and subsequently spent almost 25 years in prison before being exonerated by DNA evidence.

In 2015, Ellis sponsored and passed legislation creating the Tim Cole Exoneration Review Commission.{{Cite web|url=https://capitol.texas.gov/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=84R&Bill=HB48|title=Texas Legislature Online - 84(R) History for HB 48|website=capitol.texas.gov}} The Commission brings together criminal justice experts to review proven wrongful convictions, identify the main causes of those convictions, and recommend more reliable practices to improve public safety and prevent such tragedies from reoccurring in the future.{{Cite web|url=http://www.senate.state.tx.us/75r/senate/members/dist13/pr15/p052615a.htm|title=Texas Senate website}} The Commission is named after Tim Cole, a Texas Tech University student who was wrongfully convicted of a crime he did not commit. Cole died in prison in 1999 after 25 years behind bars. He became the state's first and only posthumous exoneration in 2009, and Governor Rick Perry later pardoned Cole in 2010.{{Cite web|url=https://innocenceproject.org/cases/timothy-cole/|title=Timothy Cole|website=Innocence Project}}

In 1999, Ellis sponsored legislation that created the TEXAS Grant Program.{{Cite web|url=https://capitol.texas.gov/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=76R&Bill=HB713|title=Texas Legislature Online - 76(R) History for HB 713|website=capitol.texas.gov}} The program provides tuition and fees to qualified students to make sure that well-prepared high school graduates with financial need could go to college.{{Cite web|url=http://www.collegeforalltexans.com/index.cfm?objectid=32BEF626-C39A-6FF9-08A3BACB4AC04ECF|title=College For All Texans: Home|website=www.collegeforalltexans.com}} Since 1999, when the 76th Texas Legislature authorized the Towards EXcellence, Access, and Success (TEXAS) Grant Program, the state of Texas has invested over $4 billion in appropriations for the program through 2017 (see Table 10). The program has played a vital role in providing access to a higher education for approximately 490,000 students through the 2015-16 academic year.{{Cite web|url=https://reportcenter.highered.texas.gov/reports/data/texas-grant-program-report-for-fy-2014-2016/|title=TEXAS Grant Program – Report to the Texas Legislature Fiscal Years 2014-2016}} Today, the state spends $866.4 million for TEXAS Grants over two years to support 82,697 students.{{Cite web|url=https://reportcenter.highered.texas.gov/reports/legislative/texas-grant-fy-2021-program-report/|title=TEXAS Grant Program – Report to the Texas Legislature Fiscal Years 2018-2020}}

In 2011, Ellis cosponsored legislation to help the University of Houston and other Texas universities become Tier One institutions of higher education.{{Cite web|url=https://capitol.texas.gov/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=82R&Bill=HB1000|title=Texas Legislature Online - 82(R) History for HB 1000|website=capitol.texas.gov}}

In 1995, Ellis introduced a constitutional amendment to abolish the office of state treasurer. Texas voters endorsed the measure, and the treasurer's office closed its doors on September 1, 1996, transferring its duties to other state agencies.[http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=74R&Bill=SJR1 S.J.R. 1, 74th Regular Session, Texas Legislature Online]; [http://elections.sos.state.tx.us/elchist.exe Texas Secretary of State Election History] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140109062336/http://elections.sos.state.tx.us/elchist.exe |date=2014-01-09 }}

In 2003, Ellis sponsored comprehensive ethics reform for state and local elected officials. The legislation required any contribution greater than $500 be reported to the Ethics Commission. It also prohibited legislators from representing people for compensation before state agencies; required a legislator to file notice with his or her legislative body before introducing, sponsoring, or voting on a measure for which a close relative is lobbying; required disclosure of all referral fees for legal services; requires disclosure of legislative continuances; and required office holders to show campaign fund balances. The bill also required annual filing of personal financial disclosure statements by municipal candidates and officeholders in cities greater than 100,000 and all members of sports and port and authority boards.{{Cite web|url=https://capitol.texas.gov/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=78R&Bill=HB1606|title=Texas Legislature Online - 78(R) History for HB 1606|website=capitol.texas.gov}}

In 1999, Ellis was named President Pro Tempore of the Texas Senate.{{Cite web|url=https://lrl.texas.gov/legeLeaders/members/presprotem.cfm|title=Legislative Reference Library | Legislators and Leaders | Senate Presidents Pro Tempore|website=lrl.texas.gov}} Normally only a ceremonial position, Ellis served while Governor George W. Bush was running for President of the United States. When Bush traveled out of Texas, Lieutenant Governor Rick Perry was elevated to governor, and Ellis acted as Lieutenant Governor of Texas. If the governor and lieutenant governor are both out of the state, the president pro tempore is acting governor in their absence.[http://www.statutes.legis.state.tx.us/Docs/CN/htm/CN.3.htm#3.9 Texas Constitution]

In 1999 and 2000, Ellis served as Acting Governor of Texas for 45 days and was the Lieutenant Governor of Texas for 7 days, 7 hours and 31 minutes.{{Cite web|url=http://www.lrl.state.tx.us/legeLeaders/ltgovernors/ltgovbrowse.cfm#1|title=Texas Legislative Reference Library|access-date=2012-12-21|archive-date=2013-06-01|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130601223957/http://www.lrl.state.tx.us/legeLeaders/ltgovernors/ltgovbrowse.cfm#1|url-status=dead}} Upon Bush's election as president, Ellis presided over the Texas Senate as it chose Bill Ratliff to serve as its presiding officer.[http://madmax.lmtonline.com/textarchives/122100/s3.htm Associated Press, "Secret ballot will pick Perry replacement"]

In 1990, Ellis founded the Texas Legislative Internship Program (TLIP).{{Cite web|url=https://rodneyellis.com/about-commissioner-rodney-ellis/|title=About Commissioner Rodney Ellis – Commissioner Rodney Ellis}}

File:TLIP_class_of_2025.jpg

Administered by the Mickey Leland Center on World Hunger and Peace at Texas Southern University, TLIP provides opportunities for undergraduate and graduate students to serve as interns in the Texas Legislature, various state agencies, and local government.{{Cite web|url=http://www.uh.edu/hcpp/tlip.htm|title=University of Houston Hobby Center for Public Policy}} Students receive a minimum of six and a maximum of fifteen academic credit hours for participating in the program, which combines academic study and research with supervised practical training. A TLIP internship lasts for one academic semester and affords students an opportunity to experience public service firsthand.{{Cite web|url=http://www.senate.state.tx.us/75r/Senate/Members/Dist13/tlip/about.htm|title=Texas Senate website}} In 2011, three members of the Texas House of Representatives were TLIP graduates.{{Cite web|url=http://www.senate.state.tx.us/75r/senate/members/dist13/tlip/81TLIPbooklet.pdf|title=Texas Senate website}}

After the death of Harris County Commissioner El Franco Lee in January 2016, Ellis announced that he would be seeking the Precinct 1 seat on Harris County Commissioners Court.{{Cite web|url=https://www.chron.com/politics/article/Ellis-plans-to-run-for-Harris-County-Commissioner-6776016.php|title=Sen. Ellis wants to fill Lee's commissioner seat|first=Gabrielle|last=Banks|date=January 22, 2016|website=Chron}} On June 25, 2016, Ellis secured the Democratic nomination for the seat and was unopposed on the ballot in November. He won the Democratic nomination a second time in March 2020 with 67% of the votes.{{Cite web|url=https://www.houstonpublicmedia.org/articles/news/2020/03/04/361656/primary-voters-select-x-x-and-x-for-harris-county-commissioners-races/|title=Incumbent Commissioner Rodney Ellis Wins Precinct 1 Primary, While Precinct 3 Heads To A Runoff|first=Jen|last=Rice|date=March 4, 2020|website=Houston Public Media}}

As Commissioner, Ellis has played a critical role on the Court, securing major reforms to the misdemeanor bail system,{{Cite web|url=https://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston-texas/houston/article/Harris-County-approves-historic-bail-deal-ends-14253660.php|title=Harris County approves historic bail deal, ends 'irreparable harm'|date=July 30, 2019|website=HoustonChronicle.com}} equity guidelines for flood control projects,{{Cite web|url=https://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston-texas/houston/article/Harris-County-approves-worst-first-priority-14383015.php|title=Harris County approves 'worst-first' priority model for flood bond projects|first=Zach|last=Despart|date=August 27, 2019|website=HoustonChronicle.com}} higher wages and stronger protections for workers contracting with the county,{{Cite web|url=https://www.hcp1.net/News/ellis-leaders-announce-opportunity-builds-harris-county|title=Harris County Precinct One Commissioner Rodney Ellis > Precinct News|website=www.hcp1.net}} funding for indigent defense{{Cite web|url=https://www.houstonpublicmedia.org/articles/news/2019/07/15/339606/harris-county-hires-more-lawyers-for-public-defenders-office/|title=Harris County Hires More Lawyers For Public Defender's Office|first=Alvaro 'Al'|last=Ortiz|date=July 15, 2019|website=Houston Public Media}} and various forms of direct relief for residents in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.{{Cite web|url=https://www.houstonchronicle.com/politics/houston/article/Harris-County-doubles-COVID-relief-fund-to-30-15281010.php|title=Harris County doubles COVID-19 relief fund to $30 million|first=Zach|last=Despart|date=May 19, 2020|website=HoustonChronicle.com}}

COVID-19 Response

File:Ellis loads food from the Houston Food Bank during a giveaway for people suffering during the COVID 19 pandemic.jpg

File:Ellis helps pass out face masks to protect people fromo COVID 19.jpg

As Harris County dealt with COVID-19 and the economic fallout, Ellis led the charge to provide direct assistance to residents, starting with a $30 million COVID-19 Relief Fund in May 2020. The Fund targeted the most vulnerable in the county, providing up to $1,500 in assistance regardless of immigration status, dependent status or unemployment status.{{Cite web|url=https://www.houstonpublicmedia.org/articles/news/health-science/coronavirus/2020/06/22/376538/harris-county-covid-19-relief-fund-opens-for-applications-tomorrow/|title=Harris County COVID-19 Relief Fund Opens For Applications Tuesday|first=Andrew|last=Schneider|date=June 22, 2020|website=Houston Public Media}}{{Cite web|url=https://communityimpact.com/houston/spring-klein/coronavirus/2020/06/15/updated-heres-how-to-apply-for-assistance-through-the-harris-county-covid-19-relief-fund/|title=Updated: Here's how to apply for assistance through the Harris County COVID-19 Relief Fund|first=Hannah|last=Zedaker|date=June 15, 2020|website=impact}} In July, Commissioners Court approved an additional $40 million for direct assistance to low-income residents.{{Cite web|url=https://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston-texas/houston/article/Harris-County-adds-30-million-to-COVID-19-15516169.php|title=Harris County adds $30 million to COVID assistance funds for renters, individuals|first=Zach|last=Despart|date=August 26, 2020|website=HoustonChronicle.com}}

In April 2020, Ellis and Harris County approved the $10 million Harris County COVID-19 Forgivable Loan Program that offered loans of up to $25,000 with zero percent interest for a five-year term. The loans were aimed at helping small businesses in Harris County stay open and maintain operating expenses. After five years, the loan may be forgiven.{{Cite web|url=https://www.chron.com/houston/article/Applications-open-for-Harris-County-s-30M-grant-15407525.php|title=Applications open for Harris County's $30M grant program for small businesses impacted by COVID-19|first=Rebecca|last=Hennes|date=July 14, 2020|website=Chron}} The fund provides grants of up to $25,000 to continue to help cover necessary expenses such as rent or mortgage payments, payroll costs, and other operating expenses.{{Cite web|url=https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/smallbusiness/applications-open-soon-for-harris-countys-dollar30-million-small-business-assistance-program/ar-BB16vldA|title=Applications open today for Harris County's $30 million small business assistance program|website=www.msn.com}}

Ellis also voted for a total of $40 million in funding for emergency rental assistance payments for low-income residents to help prevent an eviction crisis in the county.{{Cite web|url=https://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston-texas/houston/article/Harris-County-adds-10M-to-rental-assistance-15443332.php|title=Harris County adds $10M to rental assistance fund, boosts maximum checks to $1,200|first=Zach|last=Despart|date=July 29, 2020|website=HoustonChronicle.com}} An additional $750,000 in federal money was approved at Ellis’ request to provide legal assistance for renters facing eviction.

Criminal Justice

In February 2019, Commissioner Ellis voted in favor of a budget increase to the Harris County Public Defender’s Office to $9 million, in order to hire 61 new employees, the majority of them lawyers to represent people charged with misdemeanor, felony, and juvenile courts who cannot afford legal representation.

In July 2019, Commissioner Ellis led Commissioner’s Court in approving a historic settlement agreement to change the local misdemeanor bail system found unconstitutional by a local judge for keeping poor people who could not afford bail incarcerated prior to having their case heard.{{Cite web|url=https://www.texasmonthly.com/politics/how-houston-leading-way-keeping-poor-defendants-out-jail/|title=How Houston Is Leading the Way on Keeping Poor Defendants Out of Jail|date=December 5, 2019|website=Texas Monthly}} Under the agreement, about 85% of people arrested on misdemeanors will qualify for automatic, no-cash pretrial release.{{Cite web|url=https://www.texastribune.org/2019/07/31/harris-county-bail-settlement-dallas-texas/|title=Harris County agreed to reform bail practices that keep poor people in jail. Will it influence other Texas counties?|first=Jolie|last=McCullough|date=July 31, 2019|website=The Texas Tribune}} The agreement also included public defense services and safeguards to help ensure defendants show up for court. In September 2020, the first six-month report of the independent monitor in the case found that the reforms did not increase the risk of reoffending.{{Cite web|url=https://www.texastribune.org/2020/09/03/harris-county-bail-reform/|title=Report: Harris County's bail reforms let more people out of jail before trial without raising risk of reoffending|first=Jolie|last=McCullough|date=September 3, 2020|website=The Texas Tribune}}

File:Commissioner Ellis, center, marches during a protest of native Houston George Flood's murder by Minnesota police.jpg

In June 2020, in response to the death of native Houstonian George Floyd and subsequent nationwide protests against police brutality against Black Americans, Commissioner Ellis led the effort to pass a package of 11 criminal justice reform measures.{{Cite web|url=https://www.houstonpublicmedia.org/articles/news/criminal-justice/2020/06/10/375606/harris-county-passes-package-of-11-criminal-justice-reforms/|title=Harris County Passes Package Of 11 Criminal Justice Reform Proposals|first=Andrew|last=Schneider|date=June 10, 2020|website=Houston Public Media}} The measures aimed to provide civilian oversight of police, including an order proposed by Commissioner Ellis for the Justice Administration department to study creating a civilian oversight board to review allegations of the use of force by police as well as $25 million to study alternatives to incarceration.{{Cite web|url=https://communityimpact.com/houston/spring-klein/public-safety/2020/06/08/criminal-justice-reform-to-take-center-stage-at-harris-countys-june-9-commissioners-court-meeting/|title=Criminal justice reform to take center stage at Harris County's June 9 Commissioners Court meeting|first=Hannah|last=Zedaker|date=June 8, 2020|website=impact}}

Voting Rights

In August 2019, Ellis voted to pass a measure to restore voting rights for jail inmates, including setting up a polling location at the Harris County jail for eligible inmates to vote.{{Cite web|url=https://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston-texas/houston/article/Obstacles-hinder-effort-to-allow-inmates-to-cast-14853548.php|title=Obstacles hinder effort to allow inmates to cast ballots at the Harris County Jail|first=Samantha|last=Ketterer|date=November 22, 2019|website=HoustonChronicle.com}}

In July 2020, Ellis motioned to create an independent election administrator’s office, moving away from splitting election duties between two county departments, the County Clerk and County Tax Assessor-Collector.{{Cite web|url=https://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston-texas/houston/article/Harris-County-creates-independent-elections-15411410.php|title=Harris County creates independent elections office despite bipartisan opposition|first=Zach|last=Despart|date=July 15, 2020|website=HoustonChronicle.com}} Ellis claimed that the old system was a relic of Jim Crow and was as much of an insult to voters as having to walk into a polling center named after Robert E. Lee. The move faced opposition, but researchers and voting rights advocates agreed the move will improve voter participation in Harris County.{{Cite web|url=https://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/columnists/grieder/article/Greider-Overhaul-of-Harris-County-elections-15441070.php|title=Overhaul of Harris County elections administration expected to improve participation|date=July 29, 2020|website=HoustonChronicle.com}}

Economic Justice

File:Ellis stands with worker-rights advocates while announcing Opportunity Builds Harris County, which placed stronger worker protection and economic opportunity in Harris County's construction contracting practices.jpg

In July 2018, Ellis led the effort in securing a $600,000 investment, using

File:Living_Wage_news_conference.jpg

money from his Precinct, to fund a county-wide disparity study on the county’s use of minority- and women-owned business enterprises (MWBE) for contracting purposes.{{Cite web|url=https://defendernetwork.com/news/local-state/rodney-ellis-secures-harris-county-disparity-study/|title=Rodney Ellis secures Harris County disparity study|first=Defender News|last=Service|date=August 1, 2018}} The disparity study results, published in 2020, showed that minority- and women-owned businesses receive only 9% of Harris County’s contract dollars, despite representing 28% of the available market.{{Cite web |url=https://www.hcp1.net/Portals/37/DisparityStudy2020.pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=2020-09-10 |archive-date=2020-10-03 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201003172943/https://www.hcp1.net/Portals/37/DisparityStudy2020.pdf |url-status=dead }}{{Cite web|url=https://www.houstonchronicle.com/business/article/Minority-businesses-shortchanged-by-Harris-County-15392463.php|title=Harris County contracting practices shortchange minority businesses|first=R. A.|last=Schuetz|date=July 7, 2020|website=HoustonChronicle.com}} In response to the report, the Houston Chronicle Editorial Board published an op-ed titled Disparity for minority businesses in Harris County contracts must end.{{Cite web|url=https://www.houstonchronicle.com/opinion/editorials/article/Editorial-Disparity-for-minority-businesses-in-15417988.php|title=Editorial: Harris County contracts are a white man's game|author=The Editorial Board|date=July 19, 2020|website=HoustonChronicle.com}}

In January 2019, Ellis proposed the creation of the Department of Economic Opportunity and Equity, which would address income inequality and other economic disparities in Harris County. Economic policies and initiatives would be focused on fair and equitable county contracting, workforce development, community business programs, community-based economic tax incentives, and workers’ rights.{{Cite web|url=https://www.chron.com/neighborhood/bellaire/news/article/Harris-County-building-Department-of-Economic-14665117.php|title=Harris County building Department of Economic Opportunity and Equity|first=Tracy|last=Maness|date=October 31, 2019|website=Chron}}

In August 2019, in response to the economic devastation and inequality exacerbated by Hurricane Harvey in 2017, Ellis worked with representatives from Harris County Community Services Department to help develop Opportunity Builds Harris County, a policy with transformational rules that embed stronger worker protection and economic opportunity provisions into Harris County’s construction contracting practices. The policy requires county contractors to pay workers no less than $15/hour on county building projects, addressing Houston’s growing labor shortage for skilled construction workers and ensuring fair and safe practices and sustainable wages.{{Cite web|url=https://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston-texas/houston/article/Harris-County-sets-15-minimum-wage-for-14395839.php|title=Harris County sets $15 minimum wage for construction contractors|first=Zach|last=Despart|date=August 28, 2019|website=HoustonChronicle.com}}

In early 2025, Commissioners Court approved the Climate Justice Plan – led by Ellis – that creates a comprehensive strategy to tackle climate change while ensuring that all residents benefit from a sustainable future. The plan, with key input from community leaders, sets goals across five key areas – ecology, infrastructure, economy, community and culture – to ensure a thriving, sustainable future for all Harris County residents. Central to the plan’s approach is climate justice, which seeks to address the disproportionate impacts of climate change on vulnerable communities by building creative solutions with residents and community organizations.[https://www.houstonpublicmedia.org/articles/news/harris-county/2025/03/27/517068/harris-county-commissioners-approve-wage-increase-for-county-employees-contractors/]

Environmental Justice

In 2018, Ellis secured a unanimous decision by Commissioner’s Court to approve an election for a $2.5 billion flood bond program that would prioritize socially vulnerable communities for flood control projects.{{Cite web|url=https://www.houstonpublicmedia.org/articles/news/harris-county/2019/08/28/344245/harris-thrives-resolution-passes-commissioners-court-3-to-2/|title='Worst First': Harris County Votes To Change How Flood Projects Get Prioritized|first=Andrew|last=Schneider|date=August 28, 2019|website=Houston Public Media}} On August 26, 2018, county voters overwhelmingly approved the program with more than 85 percent support.{{Cite web|url=https://www.chron.com/news/houston-texas/houston/article/Harris-County-voters-pass-2-5-billion-flood-bond-13182853.php|title=Harris County voters pass $2.5 billion flood bond|first=Zach|last=Despart|date=August 25, 2018|website=Chron}} The equity guidelines for the over 500 flood control projects have been nationally recognized for tackling racial inequity and climate change.{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/07/24/climate/houston-flooding-race.html|title=A Climate Plan in Texas Focuses on Minorities. Not Everyone Likes It.|first=Christopher|last=Flavelle|newspaper=The New York Times|date=July 24, 2020}}

After the Exxon and ITC fires in March 2019, and the KMCO fire in April, Ellis and Commissioners Court approved an $11.6 million investment toward purchasing new equipment and hiring 61 employees for the fire marshal’s office, pollution control, and public health departments to significantly boost Harris County’s ability to respond to environmental emergencies.{{Cite web|url=https://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston-texas/houston/article/Harris-County-to-boost-pollution-efforts-staff-14428247.php|title=Harris County boosts pollution efforts, staff in response to spring chemical fires|first=Zach|last=Despart|date=September 10, 2019|website=HoustonChronicle.com}}

In December 2019, Ellis voted to approve County Attorney Vince Ryan’s request to consider legal action against Union Pacific, a multi-billion-dollar transportation company for mismanagement of contamination from a rail yard in northeast Houston that has in recent years moved beneath an estimated 110 properties in the Kashmere Gardens and Fifth Ward, both historically Black neighborhoods.{{Cite web|url=https://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston-texas/houston/article/County-to-investigate-Union-Pacific-site-in-14914068.php|title=County to investigate Union Pacific site in northeast Houston after cancer cluster discovered|first1=Zach|last1=Despart|first2=Erin|last2=Douglas|date=December 17, 2019|website=HoustonChronicle.com}}

On December 18, 2019, in response to pressure, chemical firms offered a $1 million grant that was approved to come to Harris County for air quality monitors and training, growing the emergency response infrastructure in the heart of the nation’s petrochemical industry.{{Cite web|url=https://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston-texas/houston/article/Chemical-firms-noting-string-of-2019-incidents-14909924.php|title=Chemical firms, noting string of 2019 incidents, offer $1M to Harris County for air monitors|first=Zach|last=Despart|date=December 16, 2019|website=HoustonChronicle.com}}

Ellis is a senior advisor in the Public Policy and Regulation practice group for Dentons, the world's largest law firm.{{Cite web|url=https://www.dentons.com/en/rodney-ellis|title=Rodney Ellis|website=www.dentons.com}} Ellis previously served as an advisor to the Mexican government during the ratification of the NAFTA Treaty.{{Cite web|url=http://www.ricefinancialproducts.com/about/r-ellis.shtml|title=Rice Financial website}} He also advised the buy side on the $1.3 billion privatization of Telkom South Africa, at the time the largest privatization in Africa.

File:Street_Art_for_Mankind_Mural_Unveiling.jpg

Ellis serves on the LBJ Foundation board of trustees, the University of Texas School of Law Foundation board of trustees, and the Council on Foreign Relations. Ellis is the former chair of the Innocence Project board of directors. He also formerly served as co-chair of the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) Task Force on International Relations and on NCSL's Executive Committee. In addition, he previously served on the board of the National Commission on Energy Policy, the U.S. Secretary of Energy Advisory Board, the Center for Policy Alternatives, and the Commission to Engage African Americans on Energy, Climate Change, and the Environment.

File:Street_Art_for_Mankind_Mural_Unveiling_59.jpg

Ellis helped to negotiate bringing Lucy (Australopithecus), a natural history exhibit, to Houston. Ellis led a delegation to the National Museum in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, to bring Lucy's bones to the United States and the Houston Museum of Natural Science.{{Cite news|url=https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=13864812|title=World's Oldest Hominid Now World's Oldest Tourist|website=NPR.org}} Lucy, who lived 3.2 million years ago and is perhaps man's earliest known ancestor, was discovered in 1974.

Ellis is an avid cyclist who has authored "Complete Streets" legislation{{Cite web|url=https://capitol.texas.gov/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=82R&Bill=SB513|title=Texas Legislature Online - 82(R) History for SB 513|website=capitol.texas.gov}} to improve safety for motorists and cyclists, and has sponsored or taken part in numerous cycling events, like the MS 150, in Texas and across the country.{{Cite web|url=http://www.statesman.com/news/news/opinion/ellis-pedals-toward-fitness-diversity/nRj83/|title=Austin American-Statesman, "Ellis pedals toward fitness diversity"}} Ellis has sponsored the annual National Conference of State Legislatures Bipartisan Bike Ride each year since 2005.{{Cite web|url=https://www.biketexas.org/advocacy/ncsl-bike-rides/|title=National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) Bipartisan Bike Rides|date=13 June 2008 }}

Ellis is an art collector and has a collection of African art.{{YouTube|tjtLGo4qAfU|Channel 11 KHOU segment on Ellis and art}}

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Since becoming a Commissioner, Ellis has arranged to have murals painted on public spaces, including one in April 2022 to honor Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson, the first African American woman appointed to the nation’s highest court.{{Cite web|url=https://www.houstonchronicle.com/lifestyle/article/Fifth-Ward-mural-honors-Ketanji-Brown-Jackson-17109273.php|title=Fifth Ward mural honors Supreme Court's Ketanji Brown Jackson and other justices|date=21 April 2022 }} In 2018, artists painted the “Sacred Struggles/Vibrant Justice Mural” that pays tribute to eight African-American civil rights leaders in Houston.{{Cite web|url=https://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston-texas/houston/article/New-mural-represents-pioneering-African-American-13365361.php|title=New mural represents pioneering African American activists|date=5 November 2018 }}

Ellis also has led efforts to install statues in two public parks. In 2022, he helped place a George Floyd statue – donated to the county by Dannette K. Davis and her Kay Davis in the Community Foundation – in Tom Bass Park in Houston.{{Cite web|url=https://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston-texas/houston/article/George-Floyd-statue-to-be-unveiled-at-Harris-17193485.php|title=George Floyd statue to be unveiled at Harris County park on the anniversary of his death|date=23 May 2022 }} The artwork, called a “Conversation with George,” was unveiled on the second anniversary of the murder of Houston native Floyd, who was killed by a Minneapolis police officer. In partnership with the City of Houston, its Parks and Recreation Department and Houston First, Ellis in April 2020 led the installation of a statue of the late Congressman Mickey Leland in Houston’s Hermann Park.{{Cite web|url=https://defendernetwork.com/news/statue-of-late-u-s-congressman-mickey-leland-unveiled-in-hermann-park/|title=Statue of late U.S. Congressman Mickey Leland unveiled in Hermann Park|date=27 April 2020 }}

Precinct One also is designing the Harris County Remembrance Project Park, which will be on a city block in downtown Houston.{{Cite web|url=https://www.houstonchronicle.com/opinion/editorials/article/Editorial-Lynchings-happened-here-Now-a-Houston-17247352.php|title=Editorial: Lynchings happened here. Now a Houston memorial will tell the victims' stories|date=17 June 2022 }} The park is envisioned as a public destination for community reflection, education, organizing and activism around issues of social, criminal, economic and racial justice. In addition, the park will have four historical markers – donated to Harris County by the Equal Justice Initiative – documenting lynching victims in the County between 1877 and 1950.

Ellis was listed as a bundler for President Barack Obama's re-election campaign in 2012.{{Cite web|url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/obama-black-bundlers-2012_n_1859292|title=10 Stars That Have Supported Obama Financially|date=September 6, 2012|website=HuffPost}}

In 1995, Ellis was featured in the PBS documentary "Vote for Me."[http://www.cnam.com/voteforme/home.htm Center for New American Media, Vote for Me] He was filmed on the floor of the Senate during the 74th Legislative Session in 1995 with a live microphone, unknown to his fellow Senators.{{YouTube|TUpXNRpX8KM|Clip of Sen. Ellis' segment in "Vote for Me"}} Ellis apologized to his colleagues for the breach of protocol.

In 2001, following George W. Bush's election to the presidency and Lieutenant Governor Rick Perry's promotion to governor, Ellis – by virtue of serving as President Pro Tempore – became the official presiding officer of the Texas Senate. He drew fire from Texas media for ensuring the Senate vote to replace Perry was done with a secret ballot and without a record vote.[http://amarillo.com/stories/2000/12/21/tex_secret.shtml Associated Press, "Secret ballot to be used for Perry's successor"]

In 2013, Ellis assisted Senator Wendy Davis with a back brace during Davis' 11-hour filibuster of Senate Bill 5, a bill to add and update abortion regulations in Texas.{{Cite web|url=http://www.statesman.com/news/news/davis-starts-filibuster-to-stop-abortion-bill/nYTqs/|title=Austin American-Statesman, "Dewhurst declares abortion bill dead, blames 'unruly mob'"}}{{YouTube|DqS2lrvtNAo|"Video of Sen. Wendy Davis Attempting to put on Back-Brace During Filibuster"}} Ellis' assistance resulted in a point of order being called against Davis, effectively the second warning that her filibuster could be forced to end. Even though Davis' filibuster was eventually cut off, Senate Bill 5 failed to pass later that night, as parliamentary inquiries from senators and cheering from the Senate gallery caused the session to run past the midnight deadline.{{Cite web|url=http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/jun/26/texas-abortion-vote-defeated-deadline-wendy-davis|title=Texas abortion bill defeated by Wendy Davis filbuster and public protest|date=June 26, 2013|website=the Guardian}} Later, in remarks to the National Press Club, Davis said that "Texas women know that Senator Ellis has our back."{{Cite web|url=https://www.c-span.org/video/?314387-1/tx-state-sen-davis-d-talks-abortion-fight|title=Texas State Senator Wendy Davis Remarks | C-SPAN.org|website=www.c-span.org}}

In 2013, Ellis wrote to Houston Independent School District Superintendent Terry Grier and requested the district begin the process of changing the Lamar High School mascot, which at the time was the Redskins.{{Cite web|url=https://blog.chron.com/sportsupdate/2013/12/state-senator-tweets-letter-asking-hisd-to-end-use-of-redskins-by-lamar/|title=State senator tweets letter asking HISD to end use of Redskins by Lamar|first1=Angel Verdejo on|last1=December 3|first2=2013 at 4:58|last2=PM|date=December 3, 2013|website=Sports Update}} Despite some opposition, the HISD Board of Trustees later voted unanimously to adopt a new district policy that banned the use of offensive mascot names.{{Cite web|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-2013-12-12-sns-rt-us-usa-texas-redskins-20131212-story.html|title=Houston school board votes to stop using Native American mascot names|first=Andrea|last=Lorenz|website=chicagotribune.com}}

Ellis sought and was given permission by the Harris County Commissioner's Court to display fourteen pieces of African art beginning in 2018.{{Cite web|last=Despart|first=Zach|date=2021-02-15|title=Why is Harris County storing a private art collection in a warehouse|url=https://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston-texas/houston/article/An-African-art-collector-plans-to-create-a-15947782.php|access-date=2021-08-17|website=Houston Chronicle|language=en-US}}  His precinct later accepted more than 1,400 pieces of art, few of which have ever been shown publicly.  The Houston Chronicle reported, "Ellis long has had an interest in celebrating African-American history and culture. He was instrumental in creating a memorial in downtown Houston for four lynching victims and supported the creation of a board to advise the county on how to preserve black heritage. He also has tapped his campaign account to purchase African art to display, an unusual though permissible use of political donations under Texas law."{{Cite web|last=Despart|first=Zach|date=2020-02-25|title=Why 1,200 pieces of African art are sitting in a Harris County warehouse|url=https://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston-texas/houston/article/Ellis-storing-African-artworks-in-Precinct-1-15081255.php|access-date=2021-10-19|website=Houston Chronicle|language=en-US}} Ellis' spokesperson said “The art is part of a broader public art program that has already brought art into Precinct 1 communities.” The art has been stored free of charge at a county facility.  The agreement to store the art was between Harris County and African Art Global, a business where Ellis's sister serves as a board member.{{Cite web|last=Despart|first=Zach|date=2020-02-25|title=Why 1,200 pieces of African art are sitting in a Harris County warehouse|url=https://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston-texas/houston/article/Ellis-storing-African-artworks-in-Precinct-1-15081255.php|access-date=2021-08-17|website=Houston Chronicle|language=en-US}} The federal government and the Harris County District Attorney's Office have investigated the storage of this art. Ellis has control over the budget of the Harris County District Attorney's Office, one of the agencies investigating him.{{Cite web|last=Diaz|first=Mario|date=2021-03-30|title=Email shows Ellis concerned over African art's ownership months before KPRC 2 Investigates report|url=https://www.click2houston.com/news/local/2021/03/30/email-shows-county-commissioner-rodney-ellis-concerned-over-african-arts-ownership-months-before-kprc-2-investigates-report/|access-date=2021-08-17|website=KPRC|language=en}} The ownership of the art is unclear, although the agreement regarding the storage of the art is an issue which "keeps [him] up at night" according to an e-mail Ellis sent to his staff. Ellis has paid $213,000 of his campaign funds for legal services to provide advice regarding this issue, including to notable criminal defense lawyer Rusty Hardin. On February 28, 2020, a local news station published surveillance video it had obtained from the storage facility depicting Ellis providing a tour of the African art to parties unknown.{{Citation|title=Surveillance footage shows Harris County Commissioner giving private tour of African art collection|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZsPwp-mt5tA |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/ZsPwp-mt5tA |archive-date=2021-12-21 |url-status=live|language=en|access-date=2021-08-17}}{{cbignore}}

A Harris County grand jury cleared Ellis in the District Attorney's investigation.{{Cite web|url=https://www.houstonchronicle.com/politics/houston/article/Grand-jury-clears-Rodney-Ellis-in-mysterious-16572810.php|title=Grand jury clears Rodney Ellis in unusual African art case|date=28 October 2021 }}

Election history of Ellis from 1992.Uncontested primary elections are not shown.

{{Election box begin

| title=Texas general election, 2012: Senate District 13{{cite web | url = http://elections.sos.state.tx.us/elchist.exe | title = 2012 General Election | accessdate = 2012-12-18 | publisher = Office of the Secretary of State (Texas) | url-status = dead | archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20140109062336/http://elections.sos.state.tx.us/elchist.exe | archivedate = 2014-01-09 }}

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

| party= Democratic Party (US)

| candidate = Rodney Ellis (Incumbent)

| votes = 181,866

| percentage = 100.00

| change =

}}

{{Election box majority

| votes = 181,866

| percentage = 100.00

| change =

}}

{{Election box turnout

| votes = 181,866

| percentage =

| change =

}}

{{Election box hold with party link no swing

| winner = Democratic Party (US)

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin

| title=Texas general election, 2010: Senate District 13{{cite web | url = http://elections.sos.state.tx.us/elchist.exe | title = 2010 General Election | accessdate = 2012-12-18 | publisher = Office of the Secretary of State (Texas) | url-status = dead | archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20140109062336/http://elections.sos.state.tx.us/elchist.exe | archivedate = 2014-01-09 }}

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

| party= Democratic Party (US)

| candidate = Rodney Ellis (Incumbent)

| votes = 113,155

| percentage = 78.17

| change =

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

| party= Republican Party (US)

| candidate = Michael Mauldin

| votes = 31,596

| percentage = 21.82

| change =

}}

{{Election box majority

| votes = 81,559

| percentage = 56.35

| change =

}}

{{Election box turnout

| votes = 144,751

| percentage =

| change =

}}

{{Election box hold with party link no swing

| winner = Democratic Party (US)

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin

| title=Texas general election, 2006: Senate District 13{{cite web | url = http://elections.sos.state.tx.us/elchist.exe | title = 2006 General Election | accessdate = 2007-01-03 | publisher = Office of the Secretary of State (Texas) | url-status = dead | archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20140109062336/http://elections.sos.state.tx.us/elchist.exe | archivedate = 2014-01-09 }}

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

| party= Democratic Party (US)

| candidate = Rodney Ellis (Incumbent)

| votes = 90,148

| percentage = 100.00

| change =

}}

{{Election box majority

| votes = 90,148

| percentage = 100.00

| change =

}}

{{Election box turnout

| votes = 90,148

| percentage =

| change =

}}

{{Election box hold with party link no swing

| winner = Democratic Party (US)

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin

| title=Texas general election, 2002: Senate District 13{{cite web | url = http://elections.sos.state.tx.us/elchist.exe | title = 2002 General Election | accessdate = 2007-01-03 | publisher = Office of the Secretary of State (Texas) | url-status = dead | archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20140109062336/http://elections.sos.state.tx.us/elchist.exe | archivedate = 2014-01-09 }}

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

| party= Democratic Party (US)

| candidate = Rodney Ellis (Incumbent)

| votes = 107,897

| percentage = 100.00

| change =

}}

{{Election box majority

| votes = 107,897

| percentage = 100.00

| change =

}}

{{Election box turnout

| votes = 107,897

| percentage =

| change =

}}

{{Election box hold with party link no swing

| winner = Democratic Party (US)

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin

| title=Texas general election, 1998: Senate District 13{{cite web | url = http://elections.sos.state.tx.us/elchist.exe | title = 1998 General Election | accessdate = 2007-01-03 | publisher = Office of the Secretary of State (Texas) | url-status = dead | archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20140109062336/http://elections.sos.state.tx.us/elchist.exe | archivedate = 2014-01-09 }}

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

| party= Democratic Party (US)

| candidate = Rodney Ellis (Incumbent)

| votes = 86,631

| percentage = 100.00

| change =

}}

{{Election box majority

| votes = 86,631

| percentage = 100.00

| change =

}}

{{Election box turnout

| votes = 86,631

| percentage =

| change =

}}

{{Election box hold with party link no swing

| winner = Democratic Party (US)

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin

| title=Texas general election, 1994: Senate District 13{{cite web | url = http://elections.sos.state.tx.us/elchist.exe | title = 1994 General Election | accessdate = 2007-01-03 | publisher = Office of the Secretary of State (Texas) | url-status = dead | archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20140109062336/http://elections.sos.state.tx.us/elchist.exe | archivedate = 2014-01-09 }}

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

| party= Democratic Party (US)

| candidate = Rodney Ellis (Incumbent)

| votes = 89,832

| percentage = 100.00

| change =

}}

{{Election box majority

| votes = 89,832

| percentage = 100.00

| change =

}}

{{Election box turnout

| votes = 89,832

| percentage =

| change =

}}

{{Election box hold with party link no swing

| winner = Democratic Party (US)

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin

| title=Texas general election, 1992: Senate District 13{{cite web | url = http://elections.sos.state.tx.us/elchist.exe | title = 1992 General Election | accessdate = 2007-01-03 | publisher = Office of the Secretary of State (Texas) | url-status = dead | archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20140109062336/http://elections.sos.state.tx.us/elchist.exe | archivedate = 2014-01-09 }}

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

| party= Democratic Party (US)

| candidate = Rodney Ellis (Incumbent)

| votes = 135,262

| percentage = 91.41

| change =

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

| party= Libertarian Party (US)

| candidate = John Persakis

| votes = 12,713

| percentage = 8.59

| change =

}}

{{Election box majority

| votes = 122,549

| percentage = 82.82

| change =

}}

{{Election box turnout

| votes = 147,975

| percentage =

| change =

}}

{{Election box hold with party link no swing

| winner = Democratic Party (US)

}}

{{Election box end}}

• History of the African-Americans in Houston

{{Reflist|3}}

• [https://web.archive.org/web/20110803103356/http://www.senate.state.tx.us/75r/Senate/members/dist13/dist13.htm Senate of Texas - Senator Rodney Ellis] official TX Senate website
• [http://www.rodneyellis.com Rodney Ellis] official campaign website
• [http://www.votesmart.org/bio.php?can_id=5438 Project Vote Smart - Senator Rodney Ellis (TX)] profile
• Follow the Money - Rodney Ellis
• [http://www.followthemoney.org/database/StateGlance/candidate.phtml?c=80886 2006] [http://www.followthemoney.org/database/StateGlance/candidate.phtml?c=71823 2004] [http://www.followthemoney.org/database/StateGlance/candidate.phtml?c=6292 2002] [http://www.followthemoney.org/database/StateGlance/candidate.phtml?c=52136 1998] campaign contributions
• {{C-SPAN|20028}}

{{s-start}}

{{s-par|us-tx-sen}}

{{s-bef | before= Craig A. Washington}}

{{s-ttl

| title= Texas State Senator
from District 13 (Houston)

| years= 1989-2017}}

{{s-end}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Ellis, Rodney}}

Category:Democratic Party Texas state senators

Category:1954 births

Category:Living people

Category:African-American state legislators in Texas

Category:Texas Southern University alumni

Category:Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs alumni

Category:Houston City Council members

Category:21st-century African-American politicians

Category:20th-century African-American politicians

Category:21st-century members of the Texas Legislature