By State Rep. Brooks Landgraf
As we gather with loved ones this Christmas season, it’s important to reflect on the accomplishments that have shaped our great state over the past year. As your representative in the Texas House, I am proud to share with you some of the conservative wins that have strengthened our communities and upheld the values of West Texas.
This year the legislature approved a $302.6 billion state spending plan for the next two years and I fought successfully to ensure the Permian Basin would get our fair share and be prioritized. The balanced state budget, among many other things, included $17.5 billion for property tax cuts, $4.6 billion on border security, $5 billion in new money for schools, $1.6 billion for school safety, and $3.5 billion for cost-of-living pension increases for retired teachers. Not to mention, over $100 million was collectively dedicated towards the Permian Basin Behavioral Health Center, the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, and the UTPB healthcare workforce.
The safety of our children remained a top priority for me and we took significant steps in the legislature to secure our schools. I supported HB 3 to require the presence of armed security guards in schools and enhance coordination with state agencies to develop confidential emergency plans. Moreover, I supported HB 900, the READER Act, to protect Texas children from inappropriate content by eliminating sexually explicit books from public school libraries.
We delivered on our promise to put money back in the pockets of hard-working Texas taxpayers ($18 billion to be exact) by enacting the largest tax cut in Texas history. Senate Bills 2 and 3, along with House Joint Resolution 2, were signed into law by Governor Abbott to slash property taxes and provide substantial relief through increased homestead exemptions and a 20% appraisal cap for non-homestead properties.
To address the fentanyl and border crises, we enacted HB 6 to impose swift punishment for fentanyl-related crimes by creating and increasing penalties for manufacturing or delivering fentanyl. I also coauthored legislation to secure an additional $1.5 billion for the Texas border wall and designate illegal entry into the US a state-level offense, empowering Texas law enforcement to compel those entering illegally to return to their country.
Lastly, as the chairman of the powerful House Environmental Regulation Committee, I thwarted attempts to curb oil and gas production by derailing radical “Green New Deal”-style legislation offered by liberal out-of-state activists. I can confidently say we kept the Grinch from stealing Christmas and from meddling with the oil patch!
This holiday season, let us rejoice these blessings that have shaped our great state. These victories have paved a path for a stronger, safer, and more prosperous Texas. It is an honor to serve as your voice in the Texas House and I will continue to fight on your behalf at every opportunity. Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
God bless Texas!
