As your representative in the Texas House, I want to take a moment to thank you for the trust you’ve placed in me. Serving you through my first session in the Texas Legislature has been an incredible honor, and I want to share a few reflections and updates on what we accomplished, what we learned, and what lies ahead.
Session Review
Before the session even began, it was turbulent. The Speaker’s race was hotly contested, and the conservative reform candidate that I supported did not prevail. That loss, followed by a lack of debate on the House Rules, raised many concerns from conservatives about the direction that the House might take over the next four months.
However, I’m pleased to report that — while not perfect — the House under Speaker Burrows proved more conservative and productive than many expected. We passed a significant amount of strong, conservative legislation. To list a few wins:
- The Governor’s priority school choice bill
- Historic school funding targeting teachers and classrooms
- Protected Texas land from hostile foreign enemies, which according to the White House is model legislation for the rest of the country!
- Significant progress on bail reform
- The expansion of medical freedoms
- Protected Texas kids
Naturally not every item on the conservative agenda made it across the finish line, but the reality is that we made meaningful progress — and that’s worth celebrating.
As you are likely aware, passing legislation out of the House is only part of the challenge, and getting a bill all the way to the governor’s desk is another. The Senate is often viewed as the more conservative chamber — and in many ways, that’s true — but we also saw some key Republican priorities stall or die out in the Senate.
That’s where my own bill to protect children in public libraries, HB 3225, ended up dying this session. After all of the hard work that conservative supporters, my staff, and I put into getting the bill across the finish line in the House, this defeat was discouraging. It serves as a reminder that good policy can face obstacles in either chamber, not just the side that usually gets more attention. Regardless, we will continue the fight to make our libraries safe for our families and our children.
Throughout this session, I remained committed to voting with the most conservative members of the House on the issues that matter. At the same time, I made it a priority to build relationships with colleagues across the political spectrum. For better or worse, relationships matter in the pink dome (as they do in every arena in life). While not all of my bills made it to the finish line, the groundwork laid this session puts us in a stronger position for the future.
Budget Review
I don’t believe I can fairly review this session without spending time talking about our state budget. It’s another area where I believe we need continued and more robust vigilance. I share the concerns that many of you have about the size of our state budget, and I agree — when we all have to tighten our belts and count our pennies (while we still have them!) — it’s important that the state and your elected officials show an appropriate level of concern for doing the same. However, in reviewing our budget at the 30,000 ft level, allow me to make the following observations:
- The state of Texas once again passed a balanced budget, something that our Congress in Washington has failed to do in decades.
- Texas is the 8th largest economy in the world. While we absolutely need to trim the fat and operate as efficiently as possible, our budget is going to be significant regardless.
- The revenue that the state brings in is NOT from your property taxes. That revenue is from sales taxes and fees that are generated from our growing economy.
- That growing economy is still near the top in the nation, as we continue to see over a thousand people moving here per day.
- $51 Billion — 15% of the total budget — was dedicated to property tax relief. And no — this is not new relief, but this is the total package that the legislature will continue to dedicate to buying down local property taxes to lessen the burden that local jurisdictions place on you — the taxpayer.
On that note, I want to point out that many of us in the legislature believe we can and must do more in future sessions to move away from and eventually eliminate our reliance on property taxes in the state. But this is not a simple endeavor. Our schools, counties, and cities must all still be funded, and as they levy your property taxes, we must work together in a responsible manner to create a solution that is fair and reasonable.
Moving forward, I want to continue this conversation in a serious manner so that this goal is not merely one for the campaign trail, but a serious legislative matter that demands a responsible legislative solution. I believe we can have that dialogue and I intend to make this a personal project throughout the interim.
Stopping Mail Check Fraud
One of my big policy wins this session was passing Senate Bill 1281, which I carried along with Sen. Tan Parker. This legislation, supported by the Financial Crimes Intelligence Center (FCIC) in Tyler and the Texas Bankers Association, will help crack down on mail theft-related check fraud. This is a problem that has skyrocketed since the COVID stimulus checks were distributed in 2020. While mail fraud is often a federal issue, state-level prosecutors have lacked the legal tools they need to effectively combat the issue here in Texas.
SB 1281 resolves this issue by creating a new penalty structure for the theft of checks through mail, as well as the illegal possession of mailbox arrow keys. These penalties will send a message to the criminals and gangs behind the problem that their actions will not be tolerated.
Coming Up…
With the legislative session behind us, I’m grateful for a short window to recharge with my family and reflect on all we’ve accomplished — and all the work that still lies ahead. These past months have been fast-paced and demanding, and I’m thankful for your steady support throughout the process.
I’m especially looking forward to spending more time in the district, reconnecting with folks across our communities. There’s nothing better than being in the district, seeing familiar faces, and catching up with neighbors at local events, church gatherings, and community meetings. That’s where I learn the most — hearing directly from you about what’s working, what’s not, and how I can better serve our district moving forward.
Over the coming months, I’ll also continue serving in any interim roles related to the committees I’m assigned to. That work — digging into complex issues, meeting with stakeholders, and preparing for the future — may not always make headlines, but it’s where a lot of meaningful policy groundwork gets laid. I’ll bring the same approach to that work that I’ve brought to every vote: thoughtful, principled, and rooted in the values of the people I represent.
Thank you again for the privilege of serving as your voice at the Texas Capitol. I’m more committed than ever to protecting your freedoms, safeguarding your tax dollars, and delivering real results for our community.
Please don’t hesitate to reach out with your ideas, concerns, or questions — I’m here to listen, and I’m here to fight for you.