In 2011, he was appointed by Speaker of the Texas House of Representatives, Joe Straus, as the chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, which deals will legislation relating to the state’s tax code. As chairman of the committee, Hilderbran sits on the Legislative Audit Committee and the Legislative Budget Board. The board prepares the draft appropriations bill along with budget estimates for each state agency. Hilderban also served as a member of the Redistricting Committee, State Affairs Committee, and the Select Committee on Voter Identification and Voter Fraud.