As the month of July comes to an end and the Olympic games begin to heat up, I hope you are rooting for the red, white, and blue every step of the way. An athlete to keep an eye on is fellow East Texan, Mackenzie Brown, of Flint. As the lone East Texas Olympian, Mackenzie... Read More

As we approach the month of August and the start of another school year, I hope you and your family enjoy the remainder of the 2021 summer vacation. In preparation for the first day, I would like to remind everyone that Texas will host Tax-Free Weekend from August 6-8. Tax-Free Weekend provides an excellent opportunity... Read More

With COVID restrictions lifted statewide and summer vacations still an option before school gets started next month, I sincerely hope you and your family will consider making the trip to Austin for a history and civics lesson at your State Capitol. And with the Legislature in the midst of a Special Session, there’s no better time to... Read More

As many of you know, Governor Abbott called upon legislators to return to Austin on July 8 to begin the first Special Session of the 87th Legislature. On Wednesday, July 7, the Governor announced the Special Session agenda. As expected, election integrity and bail reform were on top of that list, along with nine other... Read More

AUSTIN – Today, Speaker Dade Phelan (R-Beaumont) selected State Representative Trent Ashby (R-Lufkin) to serve as the Chairman for the House Select Committee on Constitutional Rights and Remedies. The 15-member committee has been formed ahead of the forthcoming Special Session on July 8th and will expire once the 88th Legislative Session convenes in January 2023.... Read More

On an unseasonably cool Thursday, July 4, 1776, the Second Continental Congress declared what its delegates had voted on just two days prior: total independence from King George III and Great Britain. In doing so, the founding fathers pushed back against tyranny, creating a new form of government whose power was to be derived only... Read More

As you may have heard, Governor Greg Abbott recently announced that legislators will need to shelve their summer plans as we will be back in Austin on July 8th to convene our first Special Session of the 87th Legislature. In Texas, a Special Session can only be called by the Governor, and the Legislature may... Read More

June 20th is the final day for Governor Abbott to sign or veto a piece of legislation passed in the 87th Legislative Session. The Governor also has the option to not sign or veto a bill, effectively allowing the legislation to become law without his signature. While many legislators wait patiently to learn the fate... Read More

On June 14th, 244 years ago, the Second Continental Congress met under the leadership of John Hancock in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Outside of those walls, citizens from what used to be 13 individual colonies fought as one against the oppressive British Crown. That day, the delegates adopted a design for the original American Flag for soldiers... Read More

The curtain has closed on the 87th Legislative Session, reminding me of the lyrics from one of my favorite Willie Nelson songs: “turn out the lights, the party’s over.” As lawmakers head back to their respective districts, they’ll return to their “day job” until our first Special Session is called later this summer. I’m personally... Read More