A native of Brownsville, Texas, Senator Eddie Lucio, Jr. began his public service in 1971, when he was elected Cameron County Treasurer and later Cameron County Commissioner. He served for two consecutive terms in the Texas House of Representatives until he was elected to the Texas Senate in 1991. He has served as State Senator of Senate District 27 ever since, and is currently third in seniority in the Senate. Senator Lucio Jr. authored SB5, the Safe Outdoor Dogs Act that passed during the last session and outlaws the use of chains for tethering dogs.