AUSTIN — State Representative Brooks Landgraf (R-Odessa) took the oath of office to serve again when the Texas House of Representatives convened to begin the 86th Texas Legislative Session on Tuesday.

"It's an honor to have the opportunity to serve the people of Andrews, Ector, Ward, and Winkler counties," Landgraf said. "As I prepared for the next legislative session I traveled all over West Texas to hear directly from the people I represent and the issues they want me to address."

In the coming months the Texas Legislature will deliberate countless policy issues affecting the state and Landgraf has outlined his legislative priorities: adopt a conservative, balanced state budget; repair the method to finance schools in a way that eliminates “Robin Hood” and genuinely lowers property taxes; improve education by properly paying teachers and ending STAAR testing as the means of measuring accountability and achievement; build safer roads for the Permian Basin; and pass Monica’s Law to help prevent domestic violence.

"There's a lot of work to do in a short period of time, but I'm hitting the ground running on the first day to continue to make West Texas the best place to live, raise a family, and grow a business," Landgraf said.

The 86th Texas Legislative session convened on Tuesday, January 8th and will meet for 140 days.

AUSTIN — Thursday, State Representative Brooks Landgraf (R-Odessa) filed legislation aimed at preventing domestic violence. House Bill 629, "Monica's Law," as Landgraf has dubbed it, would create an online, searchable and public database listing protective orders issued by Texas courts as a result of domestic violence. Landgraf filed "Monica's Law" during the last legislative session, was passed by the Texas House, but was stalled in the Texas Senate.

Monica Deming, the inspiration behind the legislation, was murdered on November 29, 2015 in an act of domestic violence. Monica, a 32 year-old mother, was shot and killed in her Odessa home by an abusive ex-boyfriend. Two protective orders for domestic violence had previously been issued against him, but he was easily able to keep them secret.

Landgraf began crafting this legislation after being approached by Monica’s father, Jon Nielsen, a former Odessa police officer. Nielsen pleaded that, had a database been available, he and Monica would have been able to know that her abuser had a history of domestic violence.

“'Monica’s Law' cannot go back and save her life, or take away her family’s grief, but it can help prevent others from entering into tragically abusive relationships that can lead to physical violence, and worse, death,” Landgraf said. “That's why I used every legislative tool available to get Monica's law passed out of the Texas House last session and will do so again this session.”

"Monica’s Law" establishes a statewide registry where certain redacted information can be accessed by the public, but also one where law enforcement and the courts have access to all of the information provided by protective-order applicants. Information is only available after due process has been given to the abuser in a judicial proceeding.

ODESSA — State Representative Brooks Landgraf (R-Odessa) continues his tradition of hosting town halls throughout the four counties he serves in the Texas House of Representatives. During these events, State Rep. Landgraf will provide a brief legislative update and complimentary food. He encourages his fellow West Texans to attend, ask questions and share their views.
State Rep. Landgraf announces the following town halls:

West Odessa
Monday, September 24, 2018 | 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Kellus Turner Community Center | 2262 West Sycamore Drive

Monahans
Tuesday, September 25, 2018 | 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Ward County Event Center | 1525 East Monahans Parkway

Andrews
Monday, October 8, 2018 | 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Andrews Business & Technology Center | 201 NW Avenue D

Kermit
Monday, October 15, 2018 | 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Winkler County Community Center | 118 North Poplar

Odessa
Monday, October 22, 2018 | 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
UT Permian Basin Library - Room LL.001 | 4901 East University Boulevard

AUSTIN — State Representative Brooks Landgraf (R-Odessa) helped save the Department of Public Safety (DPS) driver license offices in West Texas from the chopping block.

The official decision came Wednesday morning, as the Sunset Commission declined to recommend closure of a large number of DPS driver license offices in rural communities across the state, including Andrews, Kermit, Monahans among others in West Texas. This decision means that the offices are no longer in danger of closing.

“To close DPS driver license offices in the Permian Basin while we are experiencing unprecedented population growth and skyrocketing demand for commercial drivers in the midst of this oil boom would have only intensified the challenges we already face,” Landgraf stated.

State Representative Landgraf immediately took action to prevent the proposed closures. Last week, Landgraf drove to Austin to meet with top DPS leaders and also wrote a letter to the Sunset Commission urging against the proposed DPS license office closures in the Permian Basin.

“I want to thank my fellow West Texans who helped me plead the case to DPS and the Sunset Commission that we need driver license offices now more than ever in the Permian Basin,” Landgraf said. “I’m proud our hard work paid off, and I look forward to working with DPS during the next legislative session to make sure these needed services are better provided across West Texas.”

MONAHANS — State Representative Brooks Landgraf (R-Odessa) attended the Ward County Commissioners Court meeting on Monday to discuss the upcoming session of the Texas Legislature.

"I appreciate Judge Holly and the commissioners allowing me the opportunity to answer questions about the upcoming legislative session," Landgraf said.  "I was also glad to provide the court and community with an update on the progress we've made in saving our West Texas DPS driver license offices from the chopping block."

Landgraf, who represents Ward County in the Texas House of Representatives, met with the commissioners court to offer any assistance the city may need from the state.

“To be a good state representative and a good legislator, I need to meet regularly with local officials here in Ward County to learn about the issues they’re facing and to make sure they’re getting the state resources they need to serve our fellow West Texans,” Landgraf added.

Landgraf is attending this and other local government meetings across the Permian Basin to prepare for the next session of the Texas Legislature, which convenes at the Texas Capitol in January 2019.

AUSTIN — State Representative Brooks Landgraf (R-Odessa) is speaking out against the proposed closure of several Department of Public Safety (DPS) offices in West Texas.

This week, Landgraf drove to Austin and met with DPS officials to express West Texans’ concerns over the proposed closures of the Andrews, Kermit and Monahans DPS offices — as well as the impact such closures would have on the remaining area DPS offices in the midst of an oil boom.

“The rest of the state at times seems to be unaware of the oil boom here in the Permian Basin,” Landgraf said. “With the population growth we’re experiencing and the unprecedented demand for commercial drivers in our area, we need DPS driver license offices in West Texas now more than ever.”

Landgraf also penned a letter to the Texas Sunset Commission, voicing his concern over proposed closures. All told, the commission is suggesting to shutter 87 DPS offices across the state.

In the letter, Landgraf noted that the commission’s  recommendations place an unfair burden on rural communities, as the majority of the proposed office closures are in counties with only one DPS office.

"While I understand the need to find cost efficient solutions within the agency, I don’t believe the proposed DPS office closures, without any proposed remedies for loss of access is unacceptable to rural taxpayers," Landgraf said.

Currently, the Sunset Commission has neither approved nor denied any proposals to close DPS offices.

“I’m confident that through the discussions I’ve had at the Capitol that we will save these offices from the chopping block,” Landgraf added. “I’ve pleaded our case, and expect to receive a favorable decision next week.”

MONAHANS — State Representative Brooks Landgraf (R-Odessa) attended the Monahans City Council meeting on Tuesday to discuss the upcoming session of the Texas Legislature. 

“Mayor Cutbirth, the city councilmen and I had a great discussion,” Landgraf said. “Monahans is a boomtown once again, and I want to do what I can to help accommodate the growth.”

Landgraf, who represents Ward County in the Texas House of Representatives, met with the city council to offer any assistance the city may need from the state.

“To be a good state representative and a good legislator, I need to meet regularly with local officials here in Ward County to learn about the issues they’re facing and to make sure they’re getting the state resources they need to serve our fellow West Texans,” Landgraf added. 

Landgraf is attending this and other local government meetings across the Permian Basin to prepare for the next session of the Texas Legislature, which convenes at the Texas Capitol in January 2019. 

ODESSA— State Representative Brooks Landgraf (R-Odessa) delivered a letter to Texas Commissioner of Education Mike Morath expressing his support of the proposed partnership between Ector County Independent School District (ECISD) and Ector Success Academy Network for the operation of Ector Middle School.

The ECISD Board of Trustees this week unanimously approved the agreement and now needs the approval of the Texas Education Agency, which Morath oversees.

"I am proud to support ECISD in this endeavor for the enrichment of West Texas students," Landgraf said. “I encourage the Texas Education Agency to approve this agreement.”

"I believe that this new partnership will allow Ector Middle School to achieve a higher accountability ranking," Landgraf said. "Our state's young people are undoubtedly our greatest resource, and any opportunity to improve the quality of their education should be considered a priority."

ODESSA — State Representative Brooks Landgraf (R-Odessa) attended the Ector County Hospital District board of directors meeting at Medical Center Hospital on Tuesday to discuss the upcoming session of the Texas Legislature with the hospital’s board members and administrators. 

“Medical Center Health System is the flagship hospital in the Permian Basin,” Landgraf said. “This board and this administration are working diligently to overcome recent challenges, and I think we can be proud of the hospital they’re leading.”

Landgraf, who represents Ector County in the Texas House of Representatives, met with the board to offer any assistance the hospital may need from the state.

“To be a good state representative and a good legislator, I need to meet regularly with local officials here in Ector County to learn about the issues they’re facing and to make sure they’re getting the state resources they need to serve our fellow West Texans,” Landgraf added. 

Landgraf is attending this and other local government meetings across the Permian Basin to prepare for the next session of the Texas Legislature, which convenes at the Texas Capitol in January 2019. 

ANDREWS — State Representative Brooks Landgraf (R-Odessa) attended the Andrews County Hospital District board of directors meeting at Permian Regional Medical Center on Monday to discuss the upcoming session of the Texas Legislature with the hospital’s board members and administrators.

"I’m always excited to visit PRMC,” Landgraf said. “These board members are a hardworking group, and Russell Tippin leads a great team that really has this facility firing on all cylinders.”

Landgraf, who represents Andrews in the Texas House of Representatives, met with the board to offer any assistance the hospital may need from the state.

“To be a good state representative and a good legislator, I need to meet regularly with local officials here in Andrews to learn about the issues they’re facing and to make sure they’re getting the state resources they need to serve our fellow West Texans,” Landgraf added.

Landgraf is attending this and other local government meetings across the Permian Basin to prepare for the next session of the Texas Legislature, which convenes at the Texas Capitol in January 2019.