Rep. Kevin Roberts • District 126
R-Spring • Elected: 2016
512-463-0496
[email protected]
Top priorities:
Roberts was elected to his first term Nov. 8. He said he plans to introduce legislation in 2017 aimed in three areas, including improving the state’s workforce, enlisting more community entities in the area’s foster care system and changing the testing requirements for special education students to opt out of state standardized tests.
Rep. Tom Oliverson • District 130
R-Cypress • Elected: 2016
713-554-9030
[email protected]
Recent bills filed:
Oliverson’s top bill filed is House Bill 377, which would amend the state transportation code to allow the surviving spouse of certain military veterans—including recipients of the Distinguished Flying Cross medal, World War II veterans and veterans recognized for extraordinary service—to register one vehicle for the specialty license plate that the veteran is otherwise eligible for, as long as the spouse remains unmarried.
Rep. Valoree Swanson • District 150
R-Spring • Elected: 2016
832-510-4520
[email protected]
Top priorities:
Swanson was elected to her first term Nov. 8. As of Dec. 20, Swanson had not filed any bills or resolutions for the 2017 legislative session but has indicated that her priorities include education, safety, quality of life and preserving constitutional rights.
Sen. Paul Bettencourt • District 7
R-Houston • Elected: 2014
512-463-0107
[email protected]
Recent bills filed:
Bettencourt was elected to his second term in the state Senate on Nov. 8. Bettencourt has said his main priority in 2017 is the passage of Senate Bill 2, which is also known as the Texas Property Tax Reform and Relief Act of 2017. The bill includes several amendments to the tax code, including lowering the rollback tax rate from 8 percent to 4 percent and creating a property tax administration advisory board.
Sen. John Whitmire • District 15
D-Houston • Elected: 1982
512-463-0115
[email protected]
Recent bills filed:
Whitmire’s top bill filed—Senate Bill 273—would require information in the ninth-grade curriculum that includes the role of police officers. This information would include defining the role of police officers, civilians’ rights and proper behavior when interacting with police officers. It would also include laws covering questioning and detention and how to file a complaint against a police officer.
Other proposals to watch
Education
Rep. Donna Howard, D-Austin, filed a resolution to amend the constitution to ensure Texas pays half of the cost of maintaining public schools.
Healthcare
Two Republicans filed resolutions to call upon Congress to repeal the Affordable Care Act: Sen. Dawn Buckingham, R-Austin, and Rep. Paul Workman, R-Austin. Two Democrats filed bills to expand Medicaid under the health care law: Rep. Sergio Munoz, Jr., D-Palmview, and Rep. Celia Israel, D-Austin.
