09/24/2026
Sending our condolences and prayers to the Coleman family.
Statement on the Passing of Former Texas State Representative Garnet F. Coleman
It is with deep sympathy and profound sadness that I share in mourning the passing of former Texas State Representative Garnet F. Coleman.
Garnet was a friend, a dedicated public servant and a warrior for human rights, equality and opportunity for all Texans. Throughout his more than three decades of service in the Texas House of Representatives, he demonstrated the courage to stand up for his convictions, his community and those whose voices too often went unheard.
In the coming days, Texans will be reminded of the extraordinary breadth of Garnet's legislative contributions to Houston and our state. His work in health care and mental health was particularly consequential. He helped establish Children's Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program in Texas and spent decades working to expand access to health care.
Among his later legislative efforts, Garnet was an author of House Bill 4 in the 87th Texas Legislature, landmark bipartisan legislation expanding the use and delivery of health care services through telemedicine and telecommunications, including services provided through Medicaid and other public-benefit programs.
But Garnet's commitment to public service began long before many of those legislative accomplishments. He served as Harris County field director for Bill Clinton's 1992 presidential campaign and as a delegate to the 1992 Democratic National Convention. His involvement in Democratic politics and grassroots organizing reflected a lifelong belief that government and civic participation could be instruments for improving people's lives.
Today, however, we remember more than the legislation, titles and political accomplishments.We remember Garnet the friend.We will miss his leadership. We will miss his courage. We will miss his voice and his unwavering commitment to the people of Houston