Mother’s Day is right around the corner, and I want to take a moment to thank all of the mothers in our community. We all owe a debt of gratitude to our moms, for caring for us and helping us grow into who we are today.  Let’s all take a moment to pause and... Read More

With the passing of April 15th, tax filing season has come and gone for most individuals and families. With taxes being fresh on our minds, I felt it would be appropriate to update you on the most recent tax cuts passed by the Texas Legislature, and to cast an eye toward next session and the work... Read More

It has been a busy couple of weeks at your state capitol as interim committee meetings are in full swing.  From TRS Care to border security to community college funding, I’ve been busy working with my colleagues to prepare in earnest for the upcoming 85th Legislative Session.  As we turn the calendar to the month of April, here is an... Read More

Over the past couple of weeks, much of East Texas, and the state as a whole, has seen rain on a biblical scale. The federal government has declared more than a dozen counties across the state, including several in our district, as disaster flood zones, and I am sure many of you have felt the... Read More

The primary election is behind us, and Spring is now just a couple of weeks away. With the kids out of school, I know many folks will be traveling for spring break. If you will be visiting Austin or even just driving through, please don’t hesitate to call my Capitol Office to set up a... Read More

February is here and with it comes lots of activity at your Texas Capitol. Interim committee hearings have now begun in earnest, as members of both the House and Senate dig into the assignments handed to us earlier by the Speaker of the House and Lieutenant Governor respectively.  So, as await the arrival both an... Read More

  With the March 1st primary elections right around the corner, I want to remind everyone, if you have moved recently, or not registered previously, you must register to vote by February 1st in order to participate in the upcoming election. If you need to register, you may go to VoteTexas.gov, where you can find... Read More

I want to start my column by wishing you a Happy New Year, from my family to yours.  As we all settle back into our routines now that the holidays are over, please enjoy the first update of 2016 from your state Capitol…   Important Committee Hearings on the Horizon   Over the course of... Read More

Too often during the hustle and bustle of the Christmas season, it’s easy to get overwhelmed and focus our attention on material gifts. This year, I hope you will be mindful of the one gift that everyone desires, and yet, only you can offer. Your time.  Make it a priority this Christmas season to invest... Read More

  Too often during the hustle and bustle of the Christmas season, it’s easy to get overwhelmed and focus our attention on material gifts. This year, I hope you will be mindful of the one gift that everyone desires, and yet, only you can offer. Your time.  Make it a priority this Christmas season to... Read More