By State Rep. Brooks Landgraf
I take seriously my duty to protect the interests of West Texans and to vigorously defend the liberty we hold dear. That is why I fought fiercely as your state representative to uphold the values of the Permian Basin and West Texas in the Texas Capitol.
Now months removed from the 88th Legislative Session, I say with confidence that those values were upheld through and through in the legislation I was proud to file and pass into law during the 2023 legislative session.
One of the most significant legislative wins during this session was Senate Bill 1017. I championed this important piece of legislation to stop attempts by big-city politicians to undermine both the individual liberties of Texans and the energy industry that makes the heart of Texas beat. This bill prohibits local governments from adopting or enforcing any rule or ordinance that would limit access to gasoline, diesel, or any other fuel source. The bill prohibits gas stations from being banned as any other related wholesaler, retailer, energy producer, or infrastructure necessary to provide access to a specific energy source. And lastly, SB 1017 also ensures local governments cannot directly or indirectly prohibit or restrict the use, sale, or lease of an engine based on its fuel source.
In that same spirit, I also championed Senate Bill 784 and House Bill 33. SB 784 clarifies in code that the State of Texas is the only governmental entity in Texas that can regulate greenhouse gas emissions. HB 33 prohibits Texas state agencies and officials from contracting with or providing assistance to any federal agency or official regarding the enforcement of a federal statute, order, rule, or regulation regulating oil and gas operations if the regulation is not already existing law.
Not only do these pieces of legislation provide functional protections for our most important industry, but they also send a signal to politicians in DC, coastal elites and financiers on Wall Street that Texas energy is here, and here to stay. No one will ever California our Texas under my watch.
It goes without saying that in Texas we value our natural resources and prioritize our air and water quality. That is why I filed House Bill 4885 and Governor Abbott signed it into law. House Bill 4885 revises TERP to allow for more grants for high-demand emissions reducing technologies and requires the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) to establish and administer grants for hydrogen technologies.
You’ll recall that TERP is a federally required program administered by the TCEQ that provides grants to cut emissions and reduce impacts on the environment in the state’s most polluted regions.
Simply put, HB 4885 is about leveraging emerging technologies to better clean Texas air without jeopardizing jobs or harming the Texas economy. HB 4885 improves TERP in order to keep EPA bureaucrats from over-regulating Texas businesses and workers. We don’t need the federal government in our backyard, and we certainly don’t need them telling us what to do.
But the legislative victories go beyond protecting Texas energy. I also fought to protect the property rights of Texans, the individual liberties of Texans with disabilities, and healthcare workers.
I championed Senate Bill 365 which requires electric utilities to give proper notice to landowners when electrical substations are planned on being built adjacent to their property. I also championed Senate Bill 904 which updates enforcement standards to ensure parking tickets issued to persons illegally parked in handicapped spaces are enforceable and SB 840, which increases the penalty for assault of a healthcare worker from a Class A misdemeanor to a 3rd degree felony offense.
Another accomplishment was the passage of House Bill 4446 which regulates game rooms by requiring owners, operators or employees of a game room to obtain a license or permit to operate. This will provide local law enforcement with the ability to prevent any illegal activity in game rooms and enforce safe and legal operation. Lastly, I was proud to pass House Bill 3810 which enhances communication between public water supply system operators and the TCEQ in order to improve responses to water supply emergencies and ensure reliable access to safe drinking water.
Over the past few months, I’ve had the privilege to share with you the pieces of legislation that I was proud to work on and pass into law during the most recent legislative session — most of them which are aimed at expanding or protecting individual liberty, improving public safety, defending Texas energy, and increasing government transparency. While I am certainly proud of what was accomplished, know that the work does not stop here.
I expect to be back at the Texas Capitol later this fall for a special session to address both public education and teacher pay raises. I stand ready and you can expect nothing less from me than to continue fighting relentlessly for West Texans and the values we hold dear. As always, it is an honor to serve as your voice in the Texas House.
God bless Texas!
