Craig Cormier II, a UH Law student on the J.D./M.P.H. dual-degree track, is a fellow for the Texas Senate Committee on Health and Human Services in Austin
Cormier sits next to Sen. Lois W. Kolkhorst, chair of the Texas Senate Committee on Health and Human Services, during a meeting.
May 6, 2025 - Craig Cormier II, a 3L at the University of Houston Law Center, is spending his last spring semester of law school as a fellow for the Texas Senate Committee on Health and Human Services in Austin.
Cormier has worked alongside Sen. Lois W. Kolkhorst, who chairs the committee and represents District 18 which covers parts of Fort Bend, Harris, Matagorda, Victoria, Waller and Washington counties.
“What really drew me to this fellowship was the chance to see health policy in action, before it becomes law,” Cormier said. “I have spent a lot of time studying health care regulations and analyzing policies from an academic perspective, but this fellowship gives me the opportunity to be in the room where those decisions are being shaped.
“The Texas Senate Committee on Health and Human Services is at the center of so many issues I care about. It is one thing to read about these policies, but it is another to work directly with legislators, stakeholders, and experts to understand why certain proposals move forward and how they evolve through the legislative process.”
Thus far, the fellowship has allowed Cormier to use his legal skills and public health background to help draft questions, analyze bills and engage with stakeholders. It has been a unique mix of research, policy and strategy.
“I knew it was an opportunity I could not pass up,” he said. “I am incredibly grateful to the Health Law & Policy Institute for helping prepare me for this opportunity, especially Professor Jessica Mantel, whose guidance has been invaluable.
Cormier is enrolled in a dual-degree program and will receive a J.D. and a Master of Public Health from the UTHealth Houston School of Public Health. His interest in law and public health stems from a deep desire to address systemic barriers to health care access, and to build public trust in medical institutions.
“Growing up, I saw so many elderly people who were supposed to be in their “golden years,” but could not afford to stop working because of rising medical costs. I met families who avoided doctors even when free or low-cost care was available, simply because they did not trust the system. At first, I thought the best way to help was through medicine, but then I realized that providing care is not enough if people do not believe in it. That is when I started looking at the bigger picture,” he said.
Ultimately, Cormier wants to help build a health care system that all demographics can trust.
“Policy shapes public health. Law determines access. Together, they have the power to change how people experience health care,” he shared. “That is why I pursued a J.D./MPH. I want to take part in the conversations that decide not just what care is available, but how we make sure people feel safe using it.”
Cormier said that from the day he accepted the fellowship opportunity, he wanted to specifically focus on licensing, scope of practice, and health technology. Filed legislation within his policy area have included bills 331, 961, 2054, 2656 and 2695.
A significant part of his work involves analyzing proposed legislation, meeting with stakeholders, and ensuring the movement of the Chairwoman’s bills. Additionally, he contributed to the development of the Article VIII budget request, particularly in reviewing the Legislative Appropriations Requests (LARs) submitted by Texas medical licensing boards.
“I have enjoyed the fast-paced nature of the legislative process and the opportunity to see how the integration of artificial intelligence will be regulated in an ever-evolving health care system,” Cormier said. “My pursuit of a dual degree has been invaluable in analyzing bill language, assessing regulatory impacts, and ensuring legislative proposals align with existing legal frameworks.”
