State Representative Brooks Landgraf (R-Odessa) on Thursday filed House Bill 3539, which would make it a third-degree felony to assault a pregnant woman in Texas. Current state law only classifies that crime as a Class A misdemeanor.

Landgraf filed the bill after a local prosecutor, Kortney Williams, asked for the law to be changed to provide a tool against someone who assaults a pregnant woman. 

"This bill is a clear statement that when a pregnant woman is assaulted, both the mother and the unborn child are victims, and a more severe punishment for the attacker is justified,” Landgraf said.

Landgraf’s bill seeks to protect both the pregnant mother and her child, but also create a greater deterrent for assaults of this kind.

If Landgraf’s bill is passed by the Texas Legislature, the new law would take effect on September 1, 2017. 

Thursday, State Representative Brooks Landgraf (R-Odessa) filed legislation aimed at preventing domestic violence. “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.

Monica Deming, the inspiration behind the legislation, was murdered in an act of domestic violence. Monica, a 32 year-oldmother, was shot and killed in her Odessa home by an abusive ex-boyfriend on November 29, 2015. 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, filed as House Bill 2315, 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.

“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. “While we should fight to end domestic and family violence, we should also provide the public the tools to protect themselves and the criminal justice system the ability to protect others.”

On Thursday, State Representative Brooks Landgraf (R-Odessa), filed House Bill 1979, the “Texas Fuels” bill, to harness funds restricted exclusively for emissions reduction purposes to promote the use of natural gas-based fuels in state fleet vehicles. 

"The Texas Fuels bill is good for Texas,” Landgraf said. “It will help create jobs in places like the Permian Basin that are blessed with an abundance of natural gas, but it will also provide a path for economic growth and cost-savings for Texas taxpayers.”

Among other provisions, the bill would authorize portions of the Texas Emissions Reduction Program (“TERP”) fund to convert state fleets to include vehicles with engines that run on natural gas-based fuels. The program envisioned in the Texas Fuels bill should lead to an increase in natural gas production across Texas.

"Texas is the largest natural gas producer in the nation, and the Permian Basin is the largest natural gas producer in the state,” Landgraf said. “These co-products come from natural resources should be used to their fullest extent.”

The current 85th Texas legislative session will run through May 29, 2017.

On Thursday, State Representative Brooks Landgraf (R-Odessa) was appointed to serve on the three House committees: Energy Resources, Environmental Regulation, and Local & Consent Calendars. 

"I am honored to serve District 81 in the Texas House of Representatives and strongly believe my appointment to these three committees will benefit West Texas. I will be working hard to make the most of these opportunities for the communities and constituents I serve," Landgraf said.

The Energy Resources and Environmental Regulation committees in particular are important to the Permian Basin economy and the oil and gas industry.  

The Energy Resources Committee has jurisdiction over all matters pertaining to the production, regulation, transportation, and development of oil, gas, and other energy resources.  

The jurisdiction of the Environmental Regulation Committee includes matters related to downstream oil and gas products as well as water.  

The Local & Consent Calendars Committee controls the flow of most legislation that is debated and voted on the floor of the House of Representatives, making the committee a key safeguard. 

"Now that committees have been assigned, we will begin to hold hearings on bills and determine how best to solve the issues facing our great state and I'm looking forward to rolling up my sleeves and getting to work," Landgraf said. 

The current 85th Texas legislative session will run through May 29, 2017.

On Thursday, State Representative Brooks Landgraf filed House Bill 1483 to name State Highway 191 in Ector County as the “Chris Kyle Memorial Highway.” February 2, 2017, the day Landgraf filed the legislation, marks the fourth anniversary of Kyle’s tragic death.

The stretch of highway to be named in memory of Kyle passes directly by the Chris Kyle Memorial Plaza, which prominently features a 15-foot statue of Kyle, the U.S. Navy SEAL sniper who was born in Odessa in 1974.

“I hope that by naming this highway in Chris Kyle’s memory, even more West Texans can learn of the impact and sacrifice he made in service to our country and to his fellow veterans,” Landgraf said.

The Chris Kyle statue, which is a source of pride for Odessa, was unveiled and dedicated in July 2016. Kyle’s widow, Taya, was involved with the plaza’s design and attended the dedication ceremony.

“At the Chris Kyle Memorial Plaza dedication ceremony last summer, I asked Taya if she'd like the highway named in memory of Chris, and she was excited about the idea, so I'm very proud to file this bill,” Landgraf said. “While speaking to the thousands in attendance at the ceremony, I pitched the idea to name 191 in memory of Chris Kyle, and the crowd roared with approval.”

Chris Kyle’s life story was portrayed in the film “American Sniper.” Kyle is considered one of the most lethal snipers in U.S. history, with 160 confirmed enemy kills during several tours of duty in the Iraq War. After retiring as a Navy SEAL marksman, Kyle dedicated his efforts to helping his fellow veterans transition back into civilian life. 

State Representative Brooks Landgraf (R-Odessa) filed three key pieces of legislation aimed at improving public education in West Texas. Two of the bills focus on reforming public school finance for Permian Basin schools, while the third repeals the current standardized testing system. 

House Bill 1319 offers a full repeal of recapture provisions, otherwise known as "Robin Hood,” which sends a portion of funds from a so-called property wealthy district to so-called poorer districts.

Meanwhile, House Bill 1320 provides greater flexibility for mineral-abundant communities, whose property values can fall unexpectedly during an economic downturn, to fare better under the Robin Hood scheme.

"Robin Hood has been a disaster for students and taxpayers in the Permian Basin,” Landgraf said. “These legislative efforts are aimed at fixing the state’s broken policy by not punishing school districts in the oil patch.”

Additionally, Landgraf filed House Bill 1321, which seeks to eliminate current testing systems, like the STAAR test, from being used as high-stakes, one-sized-fits-all substitutes for real accountability measures. 

"In my view, we should value teaching over testing,” Landgraf said. “This bill will allow us to get back to the basics of education so that Texas students are prepared for college, the workforce or the military when they graduate.”

The 85th Texas legislative session is underway and will run through May 29, 2017.

State Representative Brooks Landgraf (R-Odessa) was elected by his Republican colleagues in the Texas House of Representatives to serve on the policy committee for the House's Republican caucus. 

Landgraf, who is currently serving his second term as a state representative, is one of only two West Texans on the policy committee. 

"I'm honored to have this opportunity," Landgraf said. "I'll take advantage of this position to recommend conservative legislation for my Republican colleagues, while also making sure that West Texas has a say in policy matters impacting the state."

The Texas House Republican Caucus policy committee is assembled to study each bill that is put up for a vote in the Texas House of Representatives. Members on the policy committee, like Landgraf, make recommendations to fellow Republicans regarding which bills reflect conservative principles and would lead to good public policy for the people of Texas.  

The 85th Texas legislative session is underway and will run through May 29, 2017.

State Representative Brooks Landgraf (R-Odessa) took the oath of office on Tuesday at noon inside the State Capitol to begin serving his second term in the Texas Legislature. Landgraf represents the residents of Andrews, Ector, Ward and Winkler counties in the Texas House of Representatives.

“With my left hand on the Holy Bible, and my wife Shelby and daughter Hollis Rose by my side, I was honored to raise my right hand and take the oath of office to be your state representative,” Landgraf said. “I vow to continue to be a strong voice that fights for the needs of West Texas in the State Capitol.”

The 85th Texas legislative session is now underway and will run through May 29, 2017.

"While we will have challenges this session, I remain focused on strengthening education and improving West Texas highways,” Landgraf explained. "I also look forward to working with my fellow conservatives to protect our Second Amendment rights, defend the unborn, and keep Texas businesses free from overregulation.”

Pursuant to the Texas Constitution, the Texas Legislature, which is comprised of the Texas House and Texas Senate, meets for 140 days every other year.