By State Rep. Brooks Landgraf
It has been an eventful month at your Texas Capitol! On October 6th, legislators from across Texas and I reconvened for the start of the third special legislative session of the year, tasked with addressing a crucial list of policy matters that directly impact the lives of our people.
In Texas, special sessions are unique, called only by the governor, and limited to the issues placed on the agenda by the governor. These sessions, as defined by our Constitution, cannot extend beyond 30 days. In this particular special session, Governor Greg Abbott’s initial agenda covered a spectrum of vital concerns, including education savings accounts/vouchers, illegal immigration and border security, the prohibition of COVID-19 vaccine mandates by private employers, and the Colony Ridge development in Liberty County, situated just outside of Houston.
The Texas House of Representatives wasted no time and hit the ground running. We swiftly passed SB 7, legislation to outlaw COVID vaccine mandates imposed by private employers and set new benchmarks with the most robust border security measures in the nation. The Border Security Package, comprising of HB 4, HB 6, and SB 4, was a monumental effort. I was honored to co-author each of these bills, marking significant progress toward fortifying our border and ensuring the safety of Texans.
HB 4 classifies illegal entry into the United States as a state-level offense, allowing Texas law enforcement to mandate the return of those who enter illegally. HB 6 allocates $1.5 billion for the construction of a border wall, while SB 4 elevates the mandatory minimum sentences for human smuggling and operating stash houses. SB 4 and SB 7 now await the governor’s signature, while HB 4 and HB 6 remain pending in the Texas Senate.
It’s important to recognize that these recent actions are part of our ongoing commitment to enhancing border security. Earlier this year, a majority of my legislative colleagues joined me in allocating $5.1 billion to bolster border security over the next two years. These funds are actively employed to station Texas military and DPS Troopers on the border, construct a protective wall, install floating buoys and concertina wire, deploy thousands of cameras, and implement additional security measures. We’ve also classified drug cartels as terrorist organizations and have stiffened penalties for fentanyl smuggling across the border.
I want to thank Governor Abbott and Speaker Phelan for making the safety and well-being of Texans a priority and for their courage to stand up for what’s right when it comes to securing our southern border.
Earlier this week, the governor issued a proclamation expanding the special session agenda for universal school choice to include additional school finance, such as teacher pay raises, school safety, and special education.
What this means is that we are going to take care of our public school teachers and students. Period. For those of you who are fearful about what the future holds for public schools, I say not to worry. My duty as your state representative is to represent your voices and ensure that any legislation we pass truly benefits our communities.
Texas children are our most precious resource, and they deserve the opportunity to thrive through a quality education. I remain dedicated to this cause and am confident that, with your support and
collaboration, we can achieve a balanced solution that ensures educational freedom for all while preserving the vitality of our rural public schools and supporting our teachers.
As we march through the last week of the third special session, I will continue to fight on behalf of West Texas and make sure our voice continues to be heard. As always, if you need me I’ll be here at my post in the Texas Capitol.
God bless Texas!
