AUSTIN — Legislation filed by State Representative Brooks Landgraf (R-Odessa) to designate a portion of Business Interstate 20-E in Ector County as the Mac Wilson and Rex Young Medal of Honor Highway passed out of the Texas House of Representatives on Friday.

House Bill 2083 would designate the stretch of Business I-20/Highway 80 in Ector County between Loop 338 and the county line as the “Wilson & Young Medal of Honor Highway.” Landgraf filed the bill at the urging of local veterans who want to recognize these incredible local heroes, who were both posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for their gallantry and valor in Vietnam by President Richard Nixon. Both men are buried a few yards away from each other in Odessa’s Sunset Memorial Gardens Cemetery, located along the portion of Business I-20 that would be named in their memory.

Private First Class Wilson, a graduate of Odessa High School, was awarded the Medal of Honor for his heroic leadership on the battlefield and for unhesitatingly deciding to jump on an enemy grenade, absorbing the force of the explosion with his body to protect his fellow Marines. 

Staff Sergeant Rex Young, a graduate of Permian High School, was 21 years old when several members of his platoon were killed after intense enemy fire. Young assumed command and directed his platoon to withdraw to get to a better defensive position all while exposing himself to enemy fire. Young bravely fired at the overwhelming enemy force, protecting the soldiers in his platoon until his position was engulfed by the enemy.

“Designating this portion of highway is another small way we can honor these two heroes for the unimaginable sacrifices they made in battle,” Landgraf said. “I know of no other community this size that produced two Medal of Honor recipients in the same war, but this community has. It’s another reason I’m proud to be an Odessan, and it certainly motivates me to work hard with local veterans to help memorialize the sacrifice of Mac Wilson and Rex Young.”

HB 2083 now advances to the Texas Senate for consideration. Provided it receives approval by the full Senate, the bill will be sent to Governor Abbott’s desk to be signed into law.

AUSTIN — Legislation coauthored by State Representative Brooks Landgraf (R-Odessa) to provide $17 billion of property tax relief for Texans passed out of the Texas House of Representatives Friday. If passed by the Texas Senate, House Bill 2, the “Property Tax Relief Act,” would provide the largest property tax cut in Texas history.

“Providing meaningful, lasting property tax relief is a top priority,” Landgraf said. “And unlike many other past proposals, this one benefits every single property taxpayer in the state. Every Texan stands to benefit from HB 2.”

Landgraf teamed up with fellow State Representative Morgan Meyer (R-Dallas) on HB 2 to provide a school district tax rate compression that will result in a 28% reduction in in school property taxes. HB 2 also reduces recapture by more than $4.5 billion by increasing the state’s share of public education funding to over 50% for the first time in more than a decade. Finally, HB 2 places a 5% annual cap on appraisal increases for all types of property for the benefit of every Texas business, landowner, homeowner, and renter. For the average Texas homeowner, this would result in an average savings of more than $1,200 over the next two years.

“Most of the school districts I represent send millions of dollars back to the state each year in the form of recapture payments,” Landgraf continued. “HB 2 will help reduce the amount these districts have to send back to the state over the next two years, keeping more of our locally generated tax revenue here where it can directly benefit West Texas students. There are still several legislative hurdles left, but I’m hopeful we can ultimately get the Property Tax Relief Act over the finish-line to provide much needed relief for Texas families, businesses, students, and teachers.”

HB 2 passed out of the Texas House by a vote of 139 - 5. It will now advance to the Texas Senate for consideration. Provided it receives approval by the full Senate, HB 2 will be sent to Governor Abbott’s desk to be signed into law.

AUSTIN — Legislation coauthored by State Rep. Brooks Landgraf (R-Odessa) to reform the community college finance system to provide a much needed funding boost to Odessa College passed out of the Texas House of Representatives on Wednesday.

“Community colleges are paramount to preparing and educating the Texas workforce,” Landgraf said. “Rural community colleges, like Odessa College, have long struggled to compete for state funding with colleges located in more populated communities. That problem is solved by HB 8.”

In 2021, the legislature created the Texas Commission on Community College Finance and charged it with making recommendations to the 88th legislature about state funding formulas and funding levels for the state's 50 public community colleges. The commission issued its recommendations in November 2022, which are reflected in HB 8. The bill makes historic changes in the community college finance system to distribute funding on measurable outcomes of their students and provide a guaranteed yield level of funding to help rural colleges. HB 8 also supports career and technical education programs not currently funded under the current model and increases college capacity to meet workforce needs.

“Odessa College does so much good for our community and does more to prepare the next generation of energy workers than any other college in the state,” Landgraf continued. “HB 8 could increase state funding for Odessa College by more than 50%. They’ve done so much with so little state support compared to other community colleges, so I cannot wait to see what Odessa College is able to do with the additional resources provided by HB 8.”

HB 8 passed out of the Texas House of Representatives by a vote of 146 - 1 on Wednesday. The bill will now head to the Senate for consideration. If passed by the full Senate prior to the end of the legislative session, HB 8 will go to Governor Abbott’s desk to be signed into law.

Landgraf and the other members of the Texas legislature convened at the Texas Capitol building for the 88th Texas Legislative Session on January 10, 2023. Members of the Texas House and Texas Senate meet for a 140-day regular session beginning the second Tuesday in January every odd-numbered year to vote on legislation and pass a balanced state budget.

AUSTIN — State Rep. Brooks Landgraf (R-Odessa) is fighting back against fentanyl. In addition to maintaining his long standing commitment to border security, Landgraf is a co-author of legislation to beef up law enforcement’s response to the fentanyl crisis and create harsher penalties for fentanyl dealers.

“The fight against fentanyl is real, and we are all on the front lines whether we realize it or not,” Landgraf said. “This lethal drug has infiltrated every community in Texas. My heart breaks after talking with the families of West Texans who have lost their lives to fentanyl. Sadly, I’ve had several of those conversations in the last few weeks. I’m committed to fighting to secure the border and crack down on smugglers and dealers.”

Fentanyl-related deaths reported in Texas increased 89% from 2020 to 2021. Since Operation Lone Star began in March 2021, the Texas Department of Public Safety has seized more than 361 million lethal doses of fentanyl across the state, enough fentanyl to kill every man, woman and child in the United States. In 2021, Landgraf was part of the successful effort to increase state funding for border security to $3 billion for 2022-2023.

“I’m working hard this session to pass House Bill 6 and House Bill 7,” Landgraf continued. “We need to increase penalties and empower law enforcement to fend off this crisis. I’m thankful state leaders like Speaker Phelan and Governor Abbott agree that we must act now to protect Texas communities from the ever-growing fentanyl threat. Ultimately, however, the burden of this fight is going to fall on parents and families, on friends and neighbors. It is up to all of us to be aware and keep each other safe.”

If passed into law, House Bill 6 would impose severe and swift punishment for fentanyl-related crimes in Texas. Fentanyl makers, smugglers and dealers could face up to 10 years in prison, even for these small quantities. House Bill 7 would establish the Legislative Border Safety Oversight Committee to provide recommendations guiding the state's border safety policies and oversight over a newly-proposed Border Protection Unit. HB 7 would also ensure that the state's border security operations receive necessary funding and legal support to handle border-related legal matters. Landgraf is a co-author of both measures.

Landgraf and the other members of the Texas legislature convened at the Texas Capitol building for the 88th Texas Legislative Session on January 10, 2023. Members of the Texas House and Texas Senate meet for a 140-day regular session beginning the second Tuesday in January every odd-numbered year to vote on legislation and pass a balanced state budget.

AUSTIN — State Rep. Brooks Landgraf (R-Odessa) filed House Bill 3349 to modernize the University Interscholastic League (UIL) playoff divisions to restore fairness in Class 6A football competition.

Although schools within the UIL’s 6A classification are roughly the same size, success in the playoffs has been one-sided in favor of a small number of teams from a handful of the largest counties in Texas.

Currently, the UIL divides Class 6A teams into two playoff divisions based solely on school enrollment, without regard to any other factors. HB 3349 would direct the UIL to better balance the two playoff divisions in Class 6A by basing those divisions on county population, rather than arbitrary enrollment data. Under Landgraf’s proposal, 6A teams from counties with a population exceeding 500,000 would be in one division, and 6A teams from counties with a population under 500,000 would be in a separate division.

“This proposal is designed to level the playing field in high school football,” Landgraf said. “It’s not a coincidence that 6A schools all across Texas have been shutout of late-round playoff competition under the current, broken system. Community size is a bigger factor than enrollment within the 6A classification, and I believe UIL’s system should reflect that reality.”

Since the inception of the UIL’s 6A classification in 2014, with one exception, every state champion in both 6A playoff divisions has hailed from a county with more than 1.1 million people. Longview High School is the only team from rural Texas to win a 6A state championship in football.

“Student athletes should be able to compete on a level playing field,” the bill’s author noted. “I’m not filing this bill to make anything easy for anyone, but I am fighting to make this system fair for everyone,” Landgraf concluded.

AUSTIN — The Texas Transportation Commissioners, led by Chairman Bruce Bugg, announced its draft plan to spend $1 billion in energy sector funding over the next 10 years.

"This is an awesome blessing to our region, which desperately needs the state to continue its recent investment in our transportation infrastructure as part of Governor Greg Abbott and Commissioner Bruce Bugg's 'Permian Promise,'" Landgraf said. "It's only fair, given that the state highway fund just received its largest ever deposit of oil and gas production tax revenue, a total of $3.64 billion. I'm thankful our state leaders understand the value that the Permian Basin brings to the Great State of Texas."

Every year, the Texas Transportation Commission updates and approves the Unified Transportation Program (UTP). The UTP is TxDOT’s 10-year plan that guides the development of transportation projects across the state. The plan includes funding to continue the complete rebuild of I-20, build and improve intersections on Loop 338, and widen US 385 and SH 302.

"I’m not shy about fighting for infrastructure funds for my district," Landgraf continued. "Before I was elected, our region only received about $50 million dollars per year from TxDOT. Since I was appointed to the House Transportation Committee in 2019, that number has jumped to $360 million per year. After working with the commissioners over the last several years, I took the opportunity to speak to the Texas Transportation Commission today to thank them for making the Permian Basin a priority and continue advocating for the resources that our region desperately needs. I'm hopeful that the draft plan will become a reality, and will work hard in the coming months to see that it is adopted by the Transportation Commission in August."

Landgraf and the other members of the Texas legislature convened at the Texas Capitol building for the 88th Texas Legislative Session on January 10, 2023. Members of the Texas House and Texas Senate meet for a 140-day regular session beginning the second Tuesday in January every odd-numbered year to vote on legislation and pass a balanced state budget.

AUSTIN — State Representative Brooks Landgraf (R-Odessa) filed House Bill 2374 to ensure gasoline and diesel powered engines can never be outlawed by local governments in the state of Texas.

“For years now, more than a thousand people a day have been moving to Texas,” Landgraf said. “Americans are fleeing the coasts to live here in the liberty-loving Lone Star State. And while we welcome the opportunities that growth brings, the last thing anyone wants is for pockets of Texas to start looking like San Francisco or Los Angeles. That’s why I filed HB 2374, to make sure that no big city politicians are able to California our Texas.”

HB 2374 prohibits local governments from adopting or enforcing any rule or ordinance that would limit access to gasoline, diesel, or any other fuel source. The bill prohibits gas stations from being banned as well as any other related wholesaler, retailer, energy producer, or infrastructure necessary to provide access to a specific energy source. HB 2374 also ensures that local governments cannot directly or indirectly prohibit or restrict the use, sale, or lease of an engine based on its fuel source.

“I’m committed to defending the rights and liberties of every Texan, especially the hard-working West Texans who elected me to be their voice in the Texas House,” Landgraf said. “West Texas might be the last place on earth where someone might try to ban gasoline-power engines, but many who live and work in some large Texas cities are seeing the engine ban train coming down the tracks to the detriment of their families and businesses. HB 2374 will serve as bulwark against politicians who want to undermine the individual liberties of Texans.”

It was recently announced that the Dallas city council is planning to phase out the use of gas-powered tools by 2027. The state of California is banning all small-gas powered engines by 2024, with some communities outlawing gas stations altogether.

Landgraf and the other members of the Texas legislature convened at the Texas Capitol building for the 88th Texas Legislative Session on January 10, 2023. Members of the Texas House and Texas Senate meet for a 140-day regular session beginning the second Tuesday in January every odd-numbered year to vote on legislation and pass a balanced state budget.

AUSTIN — State Representative Brooks Landgraf (R-Odessa) filed House Joint Resolution 111 and House Bill 2207 to establish the Texas Severance Tax Revenue and Oil and Natural Gas (STRONG) Defense Fund to address critical needs in major energy producing areas of the Lone Star State, including the Permian Basin.

“Oilfield communities produce abundant energy, but they’re not always the best place to raise a family,” Landgraf said. “My Texas STRONG plan will keep more of the state taxes generated in the oilpatch invested in the schools, colleges, health care institutions and first responders that serve our underserved energy-producing communities.”

Here’s how it works: The state of Texas taxes the production of oil and natural gas. These “severance tax” collections hit record levels in 2022, totaling $10.8 billion. Most of these tax dollars end up in the state’s “rainy day fund,” but that fund is projected to reach its capacity in 2025. Rather than adding to the overflowing rainy day fund, Landgraf’s Texas STRONG Fund would simply collect the excess revenue and use it to fund basic functions that improve the quality of life for the workers (and their families) who generate the money in the first place.

Landgraf’s legislation also dedicates portions of the severance taxes collected by the state to be used for property tax relief across Texas and accounts used to clean up Texas air and groundwater contamination.

In 2022, 32 out of 254 Texas counties generated 90% of the state’s severance tax revenue, sending more than $9 billion to the state coffers. These same 32 counties – most of which are located in the Permian Basin – have accounted for 80% of collections since 2014 for a total of just under $40 billion.

“American energy independence is so close we can almost taste it,” Landgraf said. “In recent years we have taken two steps forward and one step back: forward as new technologies and best practices have allowed Texas oil and natural gas production to become cleaner and more efficient than ever before; back as virtue signaling from coastal elites has resulted in a loss of private and public investment in reliable forms of energy. As Texans, we are deeply aware of the importance of oil and gas, not only as it relates to jobs in the Permian Basin, Houston and everywhere in between, but also when it comes to balancing our state’s budget. The Texas STRONG Defense Fund will ensure that Texas lives according to the maxim of ‘Dance with the one who brung ya.’ A way for Texas and the United States to forever be a global force for good and the advancement of freedom.”

House Joint Resolution 111 and House Bill 2207 would amend the Texas Constitution and state law to create the Texas Severance Tax Revenue and Oil and Natural Gas (STRONG) Defense Fund. According to the provisions of the legislation, the Texas STRONG Defense Fund would receive a portion of severance tax revenue for the purpose of supporting transportation infrastructure, workforce and economic development, public education, healthcare, and public safety needs in regions of the state with the highest oil and gas production.

HJR 111 must receive support from two-thirds of the House and Senate to pass, along with a majority of Texas voters in the November 2023 Constitutional amendment election. HB 2207 requires a simple majority vote in each chamber and the governor’s signature in order to pass into law. If successful, the measure would result in hundreds of millions of dollars being available for energy-producing communities as early as next year.

Landgraf and the other members of the Texas legislature convened at the Texas Capitol building for the 88th Texas Legislative Session on January 10, 2023. Members of the Texas House and Texas Senate meet for a 140-day regular session beginning the second Tuesday in January every odd-numbered year to vote on legislation and pass a balanced state budget.

AUSTIN — State Representative Brooks Landgraf (R-Odessa) has been selected the chair to lead the powerful Texas House Committee on Environmental Regulation. Chairman Landgraf was also re-appointed to serve on four other pivotal House committees.

“I’m thankful to Speaker Phelan for these appointments and I am honored to serve as chair of the Environmental Regulation Committee, which is especially significant to West Texas,” Landgraf said. “I am thankful Speaker Phelan fights for Permian Basin energy and the best interest of Texas. I’m excited to get to work and to deliver results for my fellow West Texans and our great Lone Star State this legislative session.”

Speaker Dade Phelan (R-Beaumont) announced the chairmanship and committee assignments Wednesday afternoon. In addition to his chairmanship, Landgraf was appointed to serve on the Transportation Committee, Redistricting Committee, House Administration Committee, and the Select Committee on Youth Health and Safety.

The House Committee on Environmental Regulation has jurisdiction over matters pertaining to air, land, and water pollution, industrial development, and environmental matters that are regulated by the Department of State Health Services (DSHS) or the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ).

“This is a responsibility I do not take lightly, and I will take full advantage of the opportunity to continue ensuring Texas industry can thrive while maintaining a pristine environment for future generations of Texans,” Landgraf said. “I am laser-focused on fighting for the needs of my home region of the Permian Basin and our great state. My commitment to fulfill my sacred oath and represent my fellow West Texans is unwavering. I will relentlessly work and keep burning the candle at both ends to ensure the voices of West Texans are heard loud and clear in the halls of the Texas state capitol.”

Earlier this year, it was announced that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) planned to back off of its intent to indirectly restrict Texas oil and natural gas production through a non-attainment designation of portions of the Texas Permian Basin. The announcement came after Landgraf, as well as Speaker Phelan and Governor Greg Abbott, spent months calling for the EPA to reconsider, making special note that any dip in clean production in Texas would result in an increase in production in regions of the world that do not prioritize safety or the environment.  Landgraf called the EPA’s announcement “a massive win for the Permian Basin, Texas, the United States, and anywhere else where people need energy and love freedom.” 

Prior to Landgraf’s election to the Texas House in 2014, the Odessa Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) District received around $50 million per year from the state for transportation projects. Since 2019 when Landgraf was appointed to the House Transportation Committee, that number has jumped to $360 million per year.

Landgraf and the other members of the Texas legislature convened at the Texas Capitol building for the 88th Texas Legislative Session on January 10th, 2023. As designated by the Texas Constitution, members of the Texas House and Texas Senate meet for a 140-day regular session beginning the second Tuesday in January every odd-numbered year to pass a balanced state budget and vote on legislation. 

AUSTIN — State Representative Brooks Landgraf (R-Odessa) took the oath of office on Tuesday at the Texas Capitol to once again serve the Permian Basin as a member of the Texas House of Representatives.

Landgraf and the other members of the Texas legislature convened at the Texas Capitol building for the 88th Texas Legislative Session on January 10th, 2023. Members of the Texas House and Texas Senate meet for a 140-day regular session beginning the second Tuesday in January every odd-numbered year to vote on legislation and pass a balanced state budget.

“It’s the honor of a lifetime to serve as a voice for the Permian Basin in the Texas House of Representatives,” Landgraf said. “The hardworking men and women who live and work in Ector, Ward, Winkler, and Loving counties deserve to have their voices heard in their state government. I’m headed back to the state capitol to continue fighting to defend and expand their rights and liberties.”

During the next 140 days, the Texas House of Representatives, along with the Texas Senate, will consider legislation on hundreds of issues impacting the state. Lawmakers will propose bills and prioritize how to allocate the state’s record budget surplus of nearly $30 billion.

In addition to passing a balanced state budget without raising taxes, Landgraf's priorities this session include defending the oilpatch from unnecessary regulation, expanding individual liberty, increasing transparency at every level of government, and reducing the negative impact of “Robin Hood” and STAAR testing on public school students and families in West Texas. As part of his effort to expand freedom and liberty, Landgraf has filed House Bill 92 and House Joint Resolution 9, dubbed the “Texas Homesteader's Bill of Rights.”

“The Texas Homesteader’s Bill of Rights is ultimately all about fulfilling the basic governmental role protecting life and property,” Landgraf said of the legislative proposal. “Texans should not be restricted – during times of emergency or otherwise – in their ability to fend for themselves or provide for their families. My aim is to make this a constitutional right here in Texas, and to provide laws necessary to protect what I view as the basic human right of self-sufficiency.”

HJR 9 would amend the Texas Constitution to establish that Texans have the right to conduct activities on their homestead property necessary to secure access to food, water, electric power, and shelter. HB 92 prohibits municipalities, counties, and property owner's associations from enforcing ordinances that prohibit certain activities on residence homestead properties, such as growing fruits or vegetables, or installing a rainwater harvesting system or a standby electric generator.

“There are many lessons to be learned from the pandemic and 2021 winter storm, like how access to the most basic human needs -- like food and water -- cannot be guaranteed during times of widespread crisis. This lesson was learned by many Texas families, who are now seeking ways to be more self-sufficient so that they are better prepared if and when another major crisis occurs.”

“I took an oath to preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution. This duty is the ultimate role of any elected official, and an oath I will diligently uphold as I continue fighting to ensure West Texas voices are heard in the chambers and halls of their state Capitol,” Landgraf concluded.