This past week was Teacher Appreciation Week, and I would be remiss if I didn’t start this column by expressing my sincere gratitude for the dedicated service our teachers provide to our students. While every week should be teacher week, I hope you will take time in the coming days to hug the neck of... Read More

AUSTIN – State Representative Trent Ashby (R-Lufkin) has been appointed to serve on the Conference Committee for House Bill 3, which seeks to overhaul the state’s school finance system and provide property tax relief. Prior to this appointment, Ashby has been deeply involved in crafting this legislation, which has been characterized as the number one... Read More

As heavy showers and severe weather continue to stir around the East Texas area, I want to encourage you and your family to take the proper precautions to ensure your safety. If you haven’t already, have a discussion about where to seek shelter in the event of a tornado, and make sure you have plenty... Read More

After several weeks of thunderstorms, tornados, and severe weather across East Texas, my heart goes out to the individuals and families who are mourning the loss of a loved one, or whose property was damaged by the storms. As we rebuild and recover, my family and I will continue to keep our fellow East Texans... Read More

He is risen! With the Easter holiday upon us, many of us will join together with family and friends to search for Easter eggs, enjoy an Easter lunch, or maybe take a long nap on Sunday afternoon. While these are all part of the Easter tradition, I hope you and your family will make time... Read More

With so much going on at your State Capitol this week, I thought it best to jump right into our legislative update… Legislative Update In one of the busiest weeks to date, we had a number of legislative developments that I want to bring you up to speed on. I recently presented House Bill 1681... Read More

While public education reform and property tax relief have been the focus of the Texas House from the very beginning of the 86th Legislative Session, this week my colleagues and I finally had the opportunity to bring House Bill 3 to the floor for a vote. I’m pleased to report that after hours of debate,... Read More

With every legislative session, there comes a whole host of new ideas, opportunities, and priorities. Given the unique challenges facing each member’s district and the thousands of proposals to address our state’s most pressing issues, it’s sometimes difficult to determine which issues will rise to the top of the heap.  One of the best barometers... Read More

Spring has officially arrived and so has county fair season!  Like many of you, I love spending time at our county fairs supporting our youth and visiting with friends and neighbors from parts near and far. These events build such a sense of community and provide a unique opportunity to observe the hard work of... Read More

With many schools on Spring Break, it was great seeing so many young people visiting their Texas Capitol. I recently had the privilege of keynoting an address to a dedicated group of 4-H students who were in Austin this week for their legislative day at the Capitol. Rather than using their time away from school... Read More