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.