State Representative Donna Howard will run for reelection in November 2018, a release from her office stated Tuesday. Since 2006 she has served District 48 , which encompasses the majority of South Central and Southwest Austin, as well as Rollingwood, West Lake Hills and the area surrounding Spicewood Springs. During the past three sessions, Representative Howard has sat on the House Appropriations Committee and its subcommittee on education spending. She has also served as a member of the House Administration and Higher Education committees. In the most recent legislative session, she helped pass a bill that created a secure and confidential online tracking system for rape kits and another that allowed extended leave for state-employed veterans seeking medical and mental health care. Rep. Howard said in the statement the 85th Legislative session was “the most difficult in recent memory” and her seniority will be “indispensible.” "Many of the same challenges are sure to continue in the next session and will be compounded by the impacts of Hurricane Harvey and an unpredictable federal administration,” Rep. Howard said in the statement.