Earlier this month, I was appointed by Texas House Speaker Joe Straus to serve on three committees for the remainder of this session of the Texas Legislature: Energy Resources, Environmental Regulation, and Local & Consent Calendars. I’m excited about these committee assignments because I believe they enable me to better serve the Permian Basin and address key aspects of our livelihood here in West Texas.
The Energy Resources Committee has jurisdiction over state policy in the oil and gas industry, which we all know is vital to our local and state economies. Last session on this committee, I successfully worked to ensure that out-of-state environmental activists could no longer work to pass anti-fracking bans by local ordinance and worked with communities to pass a consistent and uniform standard for fracking across Texas. I will continue to work in the same spirit on the Energy Resources Committee during this session.
The Environmental Regulation Committee is important to ensure that Texans have clear and consistent policies to ensure that business is not stifled by burdensome bureaucratic red tape. This committee’s jurisdiction directly relates to downstream oil and gas, their by-products as well as air quality and emissions. I have always advocated for a regulatory environment in Texas that is minimal and predictable so that we can continue to thrive as a hub for business and innovation, which directly leads to employment and economic opportunity for Texans.
As a member of this committee, I hope to work toward passing the “Texas Fuels” bill that authorizes the use of clearly defined, limited state funds to incentivize our Texas resources, including natural gas that is abundant in the Permian Basin, and ensure that our natural commodities are not lost because we chose not to look into the future and promote Texas-based fuels for Texas government fleet vehicles.
Lastly, the majority of bills that land on the House floor for an up-or-down vote do so only after passing through the Local & Consent Calendars Committee. It is always my goal to work to ensure that the legislation that makes its way to the floor is good for Texas, and my service on this committee will help safeguard that.
While these important committee assignments are reflective of the interests of our region, they will not distract from my continued efforts to fight for stronger schools, safer highways, and low taxes and liberty-minded policies that allow Texas to be the greatest state in the nation to live, work and raise a family.
God Bless Texas.
State Rep. Brooks Landgraf was elected in 2014 to serve House District 81, which encompasses Andrews, Ector, Ward, and Winkler Counties. Landgraf resides in his hometown of Odessa with his wife, Shelby, and their daughter, Hollis Rose. He works as a cattle rancher and practices law at the firm of Todd, Barron, Thomason, Hudman & Baxter, P.C. in Odessa. An Eagle Scout, Landgraf is also active in several local nonprofits.
