Representative Branch spoke to the Highland Park ISD Dad's Club members at their monthly breakfast meeting, held at University Park Elementary. Branch told those in attendance of the issues he foresees during the next session.

Representative Branch was among select dignitaries in attendance as SMU President R. Gerald Turner and representatives from the Bush Library Foundation officially announced that SMU would be the site of the Bush Presidential Center.  The Center, to be located in the heart of District 108, will consist of a library, a museum and an institute, is scheduled to be completed within 5 years.

Rep. Branch was on hand for the opening ceremony for SMU's new Crum Basketball Center. The new facility contains separate full-size practice courts for both men's and women's basketball teams, as well as locker rooms and lounges, and a fully equipped training and rehabilitation room with in-ground hydrotherapy pools. SMU broke ground on the Center in December of 2006 as part of an effort to recruit more competitively with other schools across the nation.

Branch presented at the Texas Association of School Boards Region 10 February meeting. As Chair of the House Select Committee on Higher and Public Education Finance, Branch continues to visit with professors, students and school boards, among many others, in an effort to seek ways to better fund education in the state of Texas.

Rep. Branch helped kick off Winter Congress Convention 2008 for the Texas chapter of the Junior State of America, delivering the keynote address during the opening ceremonies. High school students from Texas, Arkansas, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Louisiana and Honduras were eager to begin a weekend full of policy debate and political deliberation. Founded by students for students in 1934, the Junior State of America serves students seeking to become active and informed citizens.

University of Texas at Dallas President David Daniel led Rep. Branch on a tour of the Natural Science and Engineering Research Laboratory at the UTD campus.  Joining Branch was Rep. Jerry Madden (R-Collin County), and House Speaker Tom Craddick (R-Midland), along with many of the head researchers at the University.  After the tour, UTD faculty and staff presented for the group on the many research initiatives happening at the school.

Rep. Branch, an OCU alumnus, served as a panelist at the 2008 OCU Student Leadership Retreat.

The House Select Committee on Higher & Public Education Finance met in conjunction with the Texas Computer Education Association's annual convention to investigate various revenue sources and effective uses of the Texas technology allotment to fund innovations in classroom technology. The Texas Computer Education Association is the largest state organization devoted to the use of technology in education.

Representative Branch visited the campus of the University of Texas at El Paso as part of his continued research for the Select Committee on Higher Education Finance. Rep. Branch spoke to key administration and student leaders about concerns specific to UTEP, as well as the continued progress of the Select Committee. While visiting the campus and facilities at UTEP, Rep. Dan Branch met with President Dr. Diana Natalicio and three UTEP student leaders - Aaron Rosas, Christina Ruiz, and Nicole Martinez.