WINK, TX – State Representative Brooks Landgraf (R-Odessa) met with the Wink City Council on Wednesday to hear about issues affecting the community and discuss the upcoming 2027 legislative session.

“Good policy begins with listening to the people who understand their communities best,” Landgraf said. “I’m grateful to the Wink City Council for sharing their perspective and helping me better understand where the state can be a stronger partner.”

Landgraf, who represents Winkler County in the Texas House of Representatives, answered questions from council members and discussed the challenges and opportunities facing Wink.

The discussion mostly focused on infrastructure funding for Wink, Winkler County and West Texas. 

“Wink is an important part of the Permian Basin, and its residents deserve a strong voice at the Texas Capitol,” Landgraf continued. “The feedback I received from the council will be valuable as we prepare for the next legislative session.”

The visit was part of Landgraf’s ongoing outreach to city councils and other local leaders across the Permian Basin ahead of the 2027 legislative session, which convenes in January.

KERMIT, TX – State Representative Brooks Landgraf (R-Odessa) recently attended a meeting of the Kermit City Council to discuss the priorities of the Winkler County community and answer questions about the upcoming 2027 legislative session.

“Local leaders are on the front lines of the issues affecting their communities, which is why these conversations are so valuable,” Landgraf said. “I was grateful for the opportunity to answer questions about the upcoming legislative session and hear directly from the Kermit City Council about the city’s needs and priorities.”

Landgraf, who represents Winkler County in the Texas House of Representatives, met with the council to learn more about the opportunities and challenges facing Kermit.

“The people of Kermit deserve a strong advocate at the Texas Capitol,” Landgraf continued. “By sitting down with those who know their community best, I can make sure their concerns and priorities are part of the conversation when decisions are made at the state level.”

The Kermit meeting is part of Landgraf’s ongoing outreach to city councils and other local leaders across the Permian Basin as he prepares for the 2027 legislative session, which convenes in January.

WICKETT, TX – State Representative Brooks Landgraf (R-Odessa) recently joined Mayor Xavier Estrada and the Wickett City Council to provide an update on recent developments in Texas and discuss the challenges and opportunities facing the Ward County community.

“It was great to be back in Wickett and visit with Mayor Estrada and the city council,” Landgraf said. “Our conversation gave me an opportunity to share what is happening at the state level, but more importantly, to hear directly from local leaders about what Wickett needs to succeed.”

Landgraf, who represents Ward County in the Texas House of Representatives, met with the city council to hear directly about Wickett’s priorities and discuss how the state can support the community.

“Mayor Estrada and the council members care deeply about the people they serve, and I appreciate their leadership and hospitality,” Landgraf continued. “These conversations help ensure that Wickett and other communities across the Permian Basin have a strong voice at the Texas Capitol.”

Landgraf is meeting with city councils and other local leaders across the Permian Basin to gather feedback and discuss community priorities ahead of the 2027 legislative session, which convenes at the Texas Capitol in January.

Austin, TX – State Representative Brooks Landgraf (R-Odessa) has been appointed by Speaker Dustin Burrows (R-Lubbock) to serve on the House Select Committee on Governmental Oversight, a newly formed committee tasked with strengthening transparency, accountability, and the effective delivery of government services across Texas.

The House Select Committee on Governmental Oversight has been charged with examining compliance with federal and state laws in the operation of state and local governmental entities; evaluating whether existing laws adequately protect Texans; reviewing the application of public information, public notice, and open meetings laws; and assessing whether jurisdictional boundaries across state and local governments are appropriately structured to ensure efficient and effective service delivery. Importantly for West Texas, the new committee is charged to tackle issues that are specifically important for the Permian Basin. 

“Texans expect their government to operate with integrity, transparency, and accountability. This committee will play a key role in ensuring that expectation is met and that taxpayer resources are used responsibly,” Landgraf said. “I’m grateful to Speaker Burrows for the opportunity to serve on this important committee,” he added. 

Representative Landgraf joins a group of appointed members from across the state who will work collaboratively to carry out the committee’s charge and develop recommendations ahead of the 2027 session of the Texas Legislature.

ODESSA, TX — State Representative Brooks Landgraf announced today that the Texas Water Development Board (TWDB) voted at its meeting yesterday to authorize the release of the full $17 million he secured earlier this year to expand and improve water infrastructure in West Odessa.

“This is a major milestone and exactly what we’ve been working toward,” Landgraf said. “The money is now officially ready to move. Local government entities can begin contracting, planning, and putting shovels in the ground to bring reliable water to West Odessa families. I’ve met with locally elected leaders and let them know what the expectations are.”

The $17 million will fund “final mile” water line extensions to currently unserved neighborhoods in West Odessa—connecting residents who have faced dry wells or no access to a dependable supply of water at all. The allocation also includes $250,000 for a county-wide water infrastructure master plan to guide long-term improvements for homes, businesses, and schools throughout Ector County.

Landgraf emphasized that strong oversight, transparency, and coordination must guide this phase of the project to ensure it moves efficiently and delivers meaningful results.

“I’ll continue working closely with TWDB and our local leaders to ensure every dollar is used wisely and effectively,” Landgraf said. “We want to maximize these funds to connect water to the greatest number of families as possible, and I’m committed to staying engaged throughout the process so that this investment delivers the clean, reliable water West Odessa deserves.”

The $17 million that Landgraf fought to secure will connect water lines to thousands of West Odessans, but it is not expected to be enough to extend water to everyone who needs it in the area. Landgraf hopes that Ector County and the Ector County Utility District will act quickly to add new water connections so that further expansion can be funded through the increased customer base, or through additional appropriations.

ODESSA, TX — State Representative Brooks Landgraf announced today he secured $17 million in the state budget, earmarked specifically for water infrastructure improvements in Ector County. The funding will primarily provide “final mile” water line connections to currently-unserved residents in West Odessa, which is the area south of SH 302, north of Interstate 20, west of W. Loop 338, and east of FM 866. Landgraf fought for these resources so that more families in West Odessa can have clean, reliable water.

The Texas Water Development Board (TWDB) will soon begin working with local leaders to plan these projects. The funds will be administered through TWDB in coordination and oversight with public water suppliers.

In addition to hooking up more homes to the water supply, Landgraf tapped $250,000 to fund a county-wide water infrastructure master plan to guide future development and ensure long-term access to clean water for every home, business and school in Ector County.

“I’ve spent a lot of time in West Odessa over the years, and in recent months, as population has exploded in this part of Ector County, people have told me they’d like my help to get water where they don’t have it,” Landgraf said. “Parts of West Odessa have good water infrastructure, but there are thousands of people who are just beyond its reach. Many folks have wells that have dried up, so using these funds to connect them to reliable water will make West Odessa a better place to live. I’m proud to fight for my people.” 

Landgraf said he will work with state and local leaders to make sure that the water funds are used quickly, efficiently and effectively. 

AUSTIN, TX — State Representative Brooks Landgraf (Odessa) announced adjournment of the Second Called Session of the 89th Legislature and highlighted the House’s passage of House Bill 8, a centerpiece reform to make state assessments shorter, faster, and more useful for families and educators. HB 8 reduces overall testing time, and requires results within 48 hours so teachers and parents can act on the data during the school year. The measure curbs over-testing by restricting district benchmark drills, provides for teacher review of test items, keeps a focused set of high-school end-of-course exams with college-readiness alternatives where allowed by law, and begins the transition to the new model in 2027–28.

“Texans are tired of high-stakes testing that eats into learning time,” Landgraf said. “HB 8 is meaningful progress that puts students, parents, and teachers first and moves us toward a more transparent, instructionally useful system.”

Lawmakers also advanced public-safety measures. House Bill 1 (Youth CAMPER Act) requires resident youth camps to adopt and annually update   plans, designate an emergency-preparedness supervisor, train staff and volunteers, and share plans with families and local first responders, with the Department of State Health Services setting standards and civil penalties up to $1,000 per day for violations. Senate Bill 3 directs the Texas Water Development Board to identify flood-prone areas needing outdoor warning sirens and requires local governments to install and maintain them under TWDB rules, including backup-power provisions.

Further, the Texas Legislature approved House Bill 4 to replace the 2021 congressional map with one reflecting the state’s current electoral landscape. On public health, House Bill 25 authorizes pharmacists to dispense ivermectin without a prescription under protocols adopted by the Texas State Board of Pharmacy. The Legislature also advanced House Bill 7 to prohibit most individuals from manufacturing, selling, mailing, or providing abortion-inducing drugs, with limited exceptions such as medical emergencies or federal requirements; enforcement occurs through private civil actions with penalties of at least $100,000 per violation, while women seeking abortions and certain others cannot be sued, and the bill adds privacy protections and a six-year window to bring claims.

Finally, the Texas House adopted House Resolution 128 to deter quorum breaking by strengthening penalties for members who skip House sessions without leave to block business. The resolution authorized increased fines, loss of office operating budgets, and repayment of related security costs. It provides for the loss of chair or vice-chair posts and reduced seniority after consecutive unexcused absences—and requires that all fines be paid personally.

“As we adjourn this special session, I’m grateful to West Texans for the trust they place in me,” Landgraf concluded. “From smarter testing and youth-camp safety to flood warnings and election integrity, I was proud to advance legislation to protect families, improve transparency, and uphold our communities’ values.”

Austin, TX – State Representative Brooks Landgraf (R-Odessa) today announced his support for a package of flood response legislation advancing in the Texas House to strengthen readiness, coordination, and communications statewide—especially where families and youth camps gather near rivers.

“The Hill Country floods were a painful wake-up call that took precious lives and left deep scars across our state,” Landgraf said. “But Texans meet hardship with resolve, and we’re acting to make readiness the rule—clear plans, trained people, and responders who can communicate when seconds matter.”

The package includes HB 1, which Landgraf co-authored to ensure youth camps have DSHS-approved emergency plans, session-start training, and coordination with local first responders; HB 2, which modernizes emergency management by raising training standards, establishing professional licensing for emergency managers, organizing statewide disaster-volunteer deployment, and strengthening mass-fatality operations; and HB 3, which improves life-saving communications by creating a Texas Interoperability Council, offering grants to upgrade radios and towers, and requiring state review of major public-safety radio purchases to ensure systems work together during emergencies.

“Preparedness saves lives,” Landgraf added. “Parents deserve peace of mind, first responders deserve the tools to succeed, and communities deserve a system that works before, during, and after a storm.”

A quorum was reestablished in the Texas House on Monday, meaning bills can now be considered. In addition to the flood-related bills, Landgraf is also pushing to scrap the STAAR test in Texas public schools.

AUSTIN, TX — State Representative Brooks Landgraf (R-Odessa) is renewing his push to eliminate the STAAR test in Texas public schools. House Bill 122, filed this week at the start of the second special session of the Texas Legislature, seeks to reduce excessive standardized testing and refocus public education on meaningful classroom instruction.

“Texans deserve an education system that teaches, not just tests,” Landgraf said. “HB 122 gives our students and teachers the relief they need from endless exams and redirects attention to what truly matters—learning, growth, and preparation for life beyond the classroom.”

The bill would remove all state-mandated standardized tests that go beyond federal requirements. By scaling back unnecessary exams, HB 122 aims to ease pressure on students and teachers, reclaim valuable instructional time, and promote a more well-rounded education. If passed during the special session, the legislation would take effect for the 2025–2026 school year.

“The momentum to end STAAR continues to build,” Landgraf added. “This second special session gives Texas another chance to get it right. I’m ready to roll up my sleeves and get to work so classrooms can focus on learning—not just testing.”

Governor Greg Abbott has included the elimination of STAAR on the agenda for the second special session, which began August 15, 2025.

Austin, TX – State Representative Brooks Landgraf (R-Odessa) has filed House Bill 249 during the current legislative session to protect Texas youth camps from flooding risks. The bill prohibits the construction of new overnight accommodations, including summer camp cabins, within 100-year floodplains.

“The recent flooding that devastated the Hill Country and beyond has left deep scars across our state, with tragic loss of life and widespread destruction. Our hearts continue to go out to all those affected by the flood and its aftermath,” said Landgraf. “Now, we must act to prevent future tragedies like the one at Camp Mystic, and that’s why I’ve filed HB 249.”

Inspired by a suggestion from a concerned constituent, the bill aims to create safer conditions at summer camps. “Protecting our children must be a top priority. This bill is a crucial step in ensuring our youth camps remain safe by reducing flood risks moving forward,” Landgraf added.

House Bill 249 amends the Health and Safety Code to prohibit new overnight accommodations in 100-year floodplains and grants the Health and Human Services commissioner the authority to adopt necessary rules for implementation. The bill applies only to new construction that begins after its effective date, 91 days after the legislative session ends on August 19, 2025.