Austin, TX – Legislation authored by State Representative Brooks Landgraf (R-Odessa) and sponsored by State Senator Kevin Sparks (R-Midland) to honor the life and service of fallen Texas Department of Public Safety Trooper Kevin Alexis Ramirez Vasquez has officially passed both chambers of the Texas Legislature and is now headed to the governor’s desk.

House Bill 1708 designates a 23-mile section of State Highway 302 near Notrees in Ector County as the Trooper Kevin Ramirez Vasquez Memorial Highway.

“Trooper Ramirez Vasquez was a true public servant—dedicated, selfless, and courageous,” Landgraf said. “He gave his life in the line of duty protecting his fellow Texans. This highway designation is a lasting tribute to his sacrifice and a way for us to honor his life for generations to come.”

Trooper Ramirez Vasquez was critically injured on September 17, 2024, while investigating a crash on Highway 302. He tragically succumbed to his injuries on September 28. The driver responsible for his death is facing criminal charges.

“We can never fully repay the debt we owe Trooper Ramirez Vasquez and his family,” Landgraf added. “But we can ensure his heroism is never forgotten, and that his name lives on in the region he served so faithfully.”

Ector County Judge Dustin Fawcett was also helpful by signing a letter of support for the memorial highway. Landgraf will now work with West Texans to raise private funds to pay for the memorial highway signage so that this designation will come at no expense to Texas taxpayers.

Austin, TX – State Representative Brooks Landgraf (R-Odessa) is urging the Texas Education Agency to release End-of-Course (EOC) exam results early for students in the Ector County Independent School District (ECISD), to ensure eligible seniors are not blocked from walking the stage at their graduation ceremonies.

In a formal letter to Commissioner Mike Morath, Landgraf requested that ECISD receive its scores by May 21, 2025—two days ahead of the statewide release date. Without early access to scores, many seniors and early-graduating juniors could be left out of ceremonies scheduled before May 23, including Permian High School’s graduation on May 22.

“These students have done everything required of them—completed their coursework, passed their classes, and earned the right to graduate,” Landgraf said. “They shouldn't miss this moment because of a bureaucratic delay.”

Landgraf stressed that graduation is a major milestone for students, families, and the entire community, and that the state should do its part to make sure every qualified student can participate.

“I strongly urge the agency to approve ECISD’s request,” Landgraf added. “I am fighting to make sure these students get the recognition they’ve worked so hard to earn.”

Austin, TX – State Representative Brooks Landgraf (R-Odessa) announced Saturday that the Texas House of Representatives passed a bill aiming to outlaw “golden parachutes” for government employees.

House Bill 762 prohibits cities, counties and other government entities from making any severance payments to a government employee who is terminated due to misconduct, gross mismanagement, fraud, or violation of law.

Additionally, the bill bans local governments from entering into a contract with an employee that would give the government employee a golden parachute, which is an excessive payout upon termination.

Specifically, HB 762 caps severance payments at no more than 38% of one year’s salary. As an added transparency measure, the bill would also require that any severance agreement be posted online for all taxpayers to see.

“This legislation is about restoring trust in local government and protecting the hardworking taxpayers of Texas,” Landgraf added. “No public official who violates the public’s trust should walk away with a golden parachute on the taxpayers’ dime.”

Filed by Rep. Jeff Leach (R-Allen) and jointly authored by Landgraf, House Bill 762 now heads to the Texas Senate for consideration.

Austin, TX – State Rep. Brooks Landgraf (R-Odessa) proudly announced that House Bill 2730, which he joint-authored, passed the Texas House of Representatives this week with unanimous support. The bill now moves to the Senate and seeks to protect the homestead exemptions of homeowners across Texas.

Under current law, some appraisal districts have required homeowners to reapply for their homestead exemptions—even without credible evidence that they no longer qualify. H.B. 2730 addresses this by amending the Tax Code to prohibit chief appraisers from requiring a new application or confirmation of eligibility unless they have good reason to believe the homeowner no longer qualifies for the homestead exemption. In such cases, the appraiser must provide a written notice clearly stating the reasons for the request, along with the appropriate application form.

“This bill prevents homeowners from being burdened with unnecessary paperwork and ensures their exemption can’t be questioned without valid cause,” Landgraf said. “This is a win for all Texas homeowners,” Landgraf added. “It provides homeowners with peace of mind, knowing their homestead exemption is secure.”

H.B. 2730, which was filed by State Rep. Drew Darby (R-San Angelo) restores fairness and common sense to the property tax system. Rep. Landgraf remains committed to advancing this legislation in the Senate to protect the rights of Texas homeowners and reduce bureaucratic overreach.

AUSTIN — On Thursday, State Representative Brooks Landgraf (R-Odessa) voted in favor of House Bill 2, a landmark education finance reform bill that delivers the largest increase in public school funding in Texas history. The Texas House overwhelmingly passed the measure.

“House Bill 2 is a game-changer for students, teachers, and families in every corner of the state—especially in West Texas,” Landgraf said. “This legislation boosts teacher pay, strengthens rural school districts, and ensures our students have the resources they need to succeed. That is why I was proud to vote for it.”

House Bill 2 provides a historic $7.7 billion investment in Texas public schools and serves as the cornerstone of the House’s broader $9 billion education package. The bill includes:

• $3 billion to increase per-student funding and raise teacher salaries
• Nearly $1 billion in additional support for rural and mid-size school districts
• $1.5 billion in new special education funding
• $1.5 billion in targeted investments for pre-K, bilingual education, and closing achievement gaps
• $750 million in incentive pay for high-performing teachers
  
  

The legislation increases the state’s basic allotment to $6,555 per student and ties future increases to rising property values—helping reduce local tax burdens while ensuring teacher pay and classroom investments keep up with the cost of living.

HB 2 also requires that at least 40% of the basic allotment go directly toward teacher pay increases, with a priority for teachers with 10 or more years of experience. The bill includes built-in safeguards so that no district loses funding, even if enrollment drops.

“Teachers are the backbone of our communities in West Texas,” Landgraf said. “This bill delivers the long-overdue raises they deserve and gives our schools the support they need to serve students for years to come.”

AUSTIN — State Representative Brooks Landgraf (R-Odessa) voted early Friday morning for the Texas House’s passage of the 2026–2027 state budget, calling it a major win for taxpayers and a strong step forward for West Texas.

“This budget is a clear reflection of our conservative principles,” Landgraf said. “We’re delivering meaningful tax relief, investing in critical infrastructure and Texas public school children, and doing it all while staying well below every constitutional and statutory spending limit. That’s what responsible governing looks like—and it’s exactly what Texans expect and deserve.”

The House-approved version of the proposed budget comes in at $16 billion under the General Revenue limit and $3 billion under the constitutional cap on spending, meaning that billions of surplus dollars will be returned to Texas taxpayers.

“We’re putting real dollars behind the priorities that matter most—lower property taxes, stronger public schools, safer communities, and reliable infrastructure,” Landgraf said. “And we’re doing it all without growing government relative to the state’s population, or placing new burdens on taxpayers. Contrary to some false narratives, this budget does not allocate funds for diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs or any so-called 'woke' initiatives. Every dollar spent is dedicated to core services that directly benefit Texans, with the rest being returned to the taxpayers.”

The budget dedicates $51 billion to property tax relief—an $11 billion increase from the previous budget—and preserves the $100,000 homestead exemption while compressing school district tax rates.

More than $9 billion in new funding is directed toward public education, bringing total K-12 funding to over $100 billion for the first time in Texas history. The budget also reserves funds for education savings accounts, school safety upgrades, and teacher insurance relief.

Additional investments include $6.5 billion for law enforcement and border security, $30 billion to build, maintain and repair highways and $2.5 billion to fix aging water infrastructure, just to name a few of the budget’s highlights.

“This budget positions Texas for long-term success while keeping our fiscal house in order,” Landgraf said. “It reflects my goal to keep Texas the best state in America in which to live, work and raise a family, and I’m proud to support it on behalf of the people of the Permian Basin.”

Now that both the House and Senate have passed their respective versions of the budget, lawmakers from both chambers will begin working together to reconcile the differences and deliver a unified spending plan before the end of the session.

Landgraf will continue to work throughout the budgeting process to ensure that the people of West Texas receive their fair share of state funding.

AUSTIN — State Representative Brooks Landgraf (R-Odessa) has filed House Bill 3866, legislation designed to protect Texas homeowners from dangerous chemical containers being brought in and stored in their neighborhood. 

The legislation comes in direct response to the July 2024 Permian Basin Container fire in northern Ector County, where a chemical storage facility that recently moved into a residential area went up in flames and sent hazardous smoke into nearby neighborhoods and contaminated groundwater sources relied upon by area residents. Due to the type of materials involved, the fire smoldered for days, prompting local and state agencies—including the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ)—to coordinate air and water quality monitoring, distribute bottled water to affected residents, and conduct soil testing to protect public health.

“No family should have to fear for their safety because hazardous chemicals are stored just a stone’s throw from their home,” Landgraf said. “This bill establishes a commonsense safety buffer for families living in unincorporated areas where zoning laws don’t exist to provide that protection.”

Under House Bill 3866, outdoor containers holding dangerous chemicals cannot be stored within 2,000 feet of a private residence that existed before the storage facility. To ensure compliance, these containers must be registered with TCEQ and will undergo annual inspections to verify they remain outside the 2,000-foot boundary. The bill also preserves local control, allowing cities to enforce or adopt even stricter regulations if they choose.

“This is about common sense and public safety,” Landgraf added. “I’ve worked closely with the people impacted by the PBC fire in its aftermath. I want to make sure no West Texas family—or any Texas family—has to experience what our community went through last summer.”

ODESSA, TEXAS — State Representative Brooks Landgraf (R-Odessa) announced today that he will host an Education-Focused Town Hall to answer questions and address misconceptions about the Texas House’s major education proposals under consideration at the Texas Capitol. The town hall details are as follows:

Date: March 1, 2025
Time:12:00p.m.–2:30p.m. Location: Nimitz Junior High Cafeteria
Address: 4900 Maple Avenue, Odessa, Texas (parking in lot at corner of Maple and JBS Parkway)

“As the Texas House works to strengthen education in the state, I want to make sure West Texans have all the facts about what’s really being proposed when it comes to education savings accounts and school funding,” Landgraf said. “There’s a lot of information floating around — some accurate, some not. This town hall is a chance for parents, teachers, and community members to hear directly from me and get their questions answered.”

Landgraf will provide an overview of key proposals, including:

House Bill 2, which invests more than $7.6 billion into public schools, increases the per-student funding allotment, and provides teacher pay raises, with additional support for rural schools.

House Bill 3, which establishes a statewide Education Savings Account (ESA) program to provide parents with new options for their child’s education.

House Bill 4, which repeals the STAAR test and replaces it with a modernized assessment system that reduces high-stakes testing pressure and provides faster feedback to teachers and families.

House Bill 6, known as the Teachers’ Bill of Rights, which empowers teachers to manage classroom conduct and promotes respect for the teaching profession.

“I’m grateful to Ector County ISD for opening the Nimitz cafeteria to host this important conversation,” Landgraf added. “I want to hear directly from the educators, parents, and students I serve in Ector, Loving, Ward, and Winkler counties. Your voices matter, and I want to make sure West Texas families understand what these bills would actually do for our schools, teachers, and students.”

For those wanting to review the proposals ahead of time, the full text of the key bills can be found here:

HB 2 (Public School Funding): https://tinyurl.com/nb7bh7rd

HB 3 (Education Savings Accounts): https://tinyurl.com/yfd6kjky

HB 4 (Replacing STAAR): https://tinyurl.com/36vuv95h

HB 6 (Teachers’ Bill of Rights): https://tinyurl.com/37cf8r2f

The event is free and open to the public, and all parents, educators, students, and community members from Ector, Loving, Ward counties are encouraged to attend. Complimentary pizza will be provided, and children are welcome to attend with their parents.

AUSTIN — State Representative Brooks Landgraf (R-Odessa) has been reappointed by Texas House Speaker Dustin Burrows to serve as Chairman of the influential Texas House Committee on Environmental Regulation. In addition to this key leadership role, Landgraf has also been selected to serve on the House Committee on Judiciary & Civil Jurisprudence.

“I am grateful to Speaker Burrows for entrusting me with these responsibilities, and I am honored to continue serving as Chairman of the Environmental Regulation Committee,” Landgraf said. “This is a responsibility I do not take lightly,” Landgraf added. “I look forward to continuing to fight for the needs of the Permian Basin and all of Texas to ensure we maintain a thriving economy while preserving our state’s natural resources for future generations.” 

Speaker Burrows announced the committee assignments Wednesday morning, marking the start of an important chapter for the 89th Texas Legislature. As Chairman of the Environmental Regulation Committee, Landgraf will oversee matters related to air, land, and water pollution, industrial regulation, and environmental oversight by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ).

“My commitment to the people of West Texas remains steadfast,” Landgraf said. “Whether it’s ensuring regulatory policies support our state’s energy independence or defending the rights of Texans in our legal system, I will continue to work tirelessly to make sure West Texas has a strong voice in the legislature.”

The Texas House Committee on Judiciary & Civil Jurisprudence is responsible for legislation concerning the judicial branch, civil procedure, and legal matters that affect the rights of Texans. Landgraf’s appointment to this committee will strengthen his role as an advocate for a fair and efficient legal system.

AUSTIN — State Representative Brooks Landgraf (R-Odessa) took the oath of office at the Texas Capitol on Tuesday, marking the beginning of a new term serving the Ector, Loving, Ward and Winkler counties in the Texas House of Representatives.

Landgraf joined his colleagues in the Texas House and Senate as the 89th Texas Legislature convened on January 14, 2025. The legislature will meet for 140 days, during which lawmakers will pass a balanced budget and consider legislation on a wide range of issues impacting Texans.

“Representing West Texas in the Texas House is one of the greatest honors of my life,” Landgraf said. “The hardworking men and women of West Texas deserve strong, principled leadership, and I’m ready to fight for their values and priorities at the state Capitol.”

This session, lawmakers will allocate a budget surplus of $23 billion. Landgraf emphasized the importance of fiscal responsibility and advancing a conservative agenda that supports Texas families and strengthens the state’s energy independence.

“Our economy is strong, but we must continue to safeguard the principles that made Texas prosperous. That means cutting wasteful spending, protecting taxpayers, and making smart investments in education and infrastructure,” Landgraf said.

Landgraf’s legislative priorities for the 89th session include reforming education to eliminate STAAR testing in favor of more effective student assessments and replacing attendance-based school funding with enrollment-based finance to provide equitable resources for public schools. He also aims to champion his Texas STRONG initiative to reinforce the state’s energy infrastructure and ensure the Permian Basin remains the backbone of American energy independence. Additionally, Landgraf will advocate for stronger voter registration requirements to verify citizenship upon registering to vote.

“From reducing burdens on our schools to fortifying our energy infrastructure and ensuring the integrity of our elections, I am committed to enacting policies that enhance freedom, strengthen communities, and secure the future of Texas,” Landgraf concluded.

The 89th Texas Legislature will adjourn on June 2, 2025.