“I believe in a Texas where people are treated with dignity, afforded equal rights, and given the opportunity to succeed.“
Nicole Collier is a respected attorney, small business owner, grandmother and mother of three who has spent her life working to obtain the American Dream. Nicole was raised in a family with vision and a dedication to service. Her grandfather, Walter B. Johnson, Sr., a World War II veterans, started his career as a hostler for a local railroad company, and later went on to work for the U.S. Bureau of Engraving and Printing as a janitor. After years of hard work and determination, Walter rose to become one of the first African-American plate printers at the Bureau, landing him on the front cover of Jet Magazine.
Nicole’s father, Rolland Johnson, Jr., started working at the Bureau following a tour in the U.S. Navy. While attending Howard University in Washington, D. C., Rolland had worked nights an apprentice plate printer, and eventually retired as one of the foremost printers in the organization. Both Rolland and his father Walter were proud members of the plate printer’s union. Meanwhile, Nicole’s mother, Shirley Johnson, dedicated her life to serving children in many youth ministries and caring not only for her children and grandchildren but for many local neighborhood children.
Nicole herself was born with the same vision and determination as her predecessors. As a single mother before finishing high school, she was bolstered by both her faith and her family to continue her education all the way through law school graduation. After graduating from the University of Houston, Nicole went on to receive a law degree from Texas A&M School of Law (formerly Texas Wesleyan University School of Law), and has been a strong legal advocate for individuals and families in the Texas court systems. She has now taken her skills to the Texas state capitol.
Nicole is the first woman to represent House District 95 and she is also the first female African-American state legislator to represent Tarrant County.
In the 88th Texas Legislature, Nicole was appointed to serve on the Public Health Committee and the Cultural, Recreation and Tourism Committee. Chair of the House Criminal Jurisprudence Committee and a member of the House Public Health Committee. In prior sessions, she has served on the following House Committees: Business & Industry, Defense & Veteran Affairs, Local & Consent Calendar, and Criminal Jurisprudence. Nicole made history when she was appointed to Chair the House Criminal Jurisprudence Committee, making her the first woman in Texas history to serve in that capacity since the committee’s formation in 1879. Nicole was also elected by her colleagues as the Second Vice Chair of the House Democratic Caucus and currently serves as the Policy Chair, for the National Organization of Black Elected Legislative (NOBEL) Women.
She has introduced legislation relating to expanding eligibility for health care under the Affordable Care Act, policing reform, increasing investment in Historically Underutilized Businesses (HUBs), providing earned paid leave to employees, housing protections, and consumer protection legislation surrounding third party debt collection.
