Texas Legislative Preview - Dec. 14

Description

The Richardson Chamber's Public Policy Committee works tirelessly to advocate for the Chamber and the Chamber's member companies. 

On Dec. 14, the Public Policy Committee will host elected officials to present their 2021 legislative priorities and discuss the upcoming 87th Texas Legislature.

Senator Angela Paxton and Representatives Angie Button, Jeff Leach and Ana Ramos will join us for this fascinating and educational event as we look forward to the approaching session. 


Angela Paxton (R-Plano)
Texas State Senator 

Angela Paxton was elected to the Texas Senate in November of 2018 for a four-year term representing Senate District 8, which includes Collin and Dallas counties. A secondary math teacher and school counselor for more than 20 years, she is the first educator elected to the Texas Senate in over two decades. She describes her job in three words: Listen. Learn. Lead! Senator Paxton regularly engages in listening to the needs of those she represents. The listening was a driving force for her.

Senator Paxton currently serves as Vice-Chair of the Senate Property Tax Committee and also sits on the Senate committees for Business & Commerce, Education, and Natural Resources & Economic Development. She was also appointed to the Texas Sunset Commission and Senate Redistricting Committee by Lt. Governor Dan Patrick.

Senator Paxton leverages her background in technology, expertise as a classroom teacher and school counselor, experience as a small business owner, and deep roots in the Collin County and North Dallas area to strongly and effectively advocate for the interests of Senate District 8, one of the fasted growing and dynamic contributors to the Texas economy ? the 10th largest economy in the world

In the 86th Legislature, she authored the Texas Property Tax Reform and Transparency Act of 2019 (Senate Bill 2), the Omnibus Human Trafficking Prevention Act (Senate Bill 20) which created additional criminal penalties for traffickers, and the constitutional amendment prohibiting a state income tax (House Joint Resolution 38). In addition, she supported House Bill 3 which overhauled the school finance system to increase state funding for classrooms, increased teacher pay, and provided state funding to reduce local school district property taxes. She also authored critical legislation addressing education of students with dyslexia and supported mental health legislation.

Senator Paxton is an adopted child and the first person in her family to graduate from college. She earned a BA in Mathematical Science from Baylor University and a Masters degree in Education from the University of Houston-Clear Lake. She chose to make a difference through a career in education as a secondary math teacher and school counselor in public, private, and home school settings before turning her attention to making a difference in the Texas Senate.

Senator Paxton and her husband, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, met as students at Baylor University and have been married since 1986. They have four grown children and are members of Prestonwood Baptist Church in Plano.


Rep. Angie Chen Button (R-Richardson)
Texas State Representative

Rep. Angie Chen Button has been elected to her seventh term as State Representative. She serves on the House Committee on Urban Development and serves on the House Committee on Higher Education.. Representative Button represents House District 112 which includes parts of Garland, Richardson, Rowlett, and Sachse in Dallas County. 

Representative Button worked for Texas Instruments (TI) where she promoted American products internationally as an International Marketing Manager. She is also a CPA with Masters? degrees in Public Finance and Management Sciences.

Before her election to the Texas House in 2008, Rep. Button had a long record of public service and community involvement in the Metroplex. She was a member of the Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) Board and an Executive Committee Member of the Dallas Regional Mobility Coalition (DRMC). She served in leadership positions with chambers of commerce, a citizen coalition, and for other civic and non-profit organizations. She has also been part of the Dallas Assembly, the Dallas Summit, and the Women?s Museum Advisory Board.

Representative Button was awarded the Metroplex Technology Business Council's Tech Titans Technology Advocate Award -- 2014, the YWCA?s 100 Years 100 Women Award -- 2008, the Southern Methodist University Women?s Symposium?s Profile in Leadership Award -- 2006, the Women?s Enterprise of Texas Magazine Women of Excellence Award -- 2004, and the National Organization of Chinese Americans Corporate Achievement Award & Grand Community Service Award -- 2000.

Representative Button has been named a Champion for Free Enterprise Award by the Texas Association of Business. She also received the White Knight Award from the Texans for Life Coalition and the Service Award from the Texas Environmental Health Association. Additionally, during her first term, the 2009 House Republican Caucus awarded Rep. Button with the Innovator for Economic Development Award. The Texas Conservative Coalition named Representative Button a Taxpayer Hero. 

Representative Button was born in Taipei, Taiwan. As a child, her seven person family lived in a 300 square foot, one-room hut without a kitchen or a bathroom. She credits education with bringing her a better life. Rep. Button met her husband Darcy as a graduate student at the University of Texas at Dallas (UTD). They have lived in Richardson and Garland for 30 years. Their son, Dane is an RISD and University of Texas Graduate. Angie?s life has been the American dream-Texas style.
Texas House of Representatives


Rep. Jeff Leach (R-Plano)
Texas State Representative

State Representative Jeff Leach proudly serves the citizens of House District 67, consisting of portions of Plano, Allen, Richardson and Dallas in Collin County. A constitutional conservative, Representative Leach has consistently proven himself to be an effective leader in the fight for liberty and to ensure that Texas remains prosperous and strong. 

After the 2017 Legislative Session, Leach was named a "Taxpayer Champion" by Texans for Fiscal Responsibility, the state's largest taxpayer watchdog organization, and a "Courageous Conservative" by the Texas Conservative Coalition. The Center for Security Policy also honored Leach with their annual "Defender of Freedom Award" for his tireless work in advancing "American Law for American Courts" - monumental legislation which works to preserve and protect our constitutional freedoms. Representative Leach has been recognized by leading conservative and business organizations across the state for his service and impact in the Texas House of Representatives, including Texas Eagle Forum, Texas Values, Concerned Women for America, Texas TURF and the Texas Association of Realtors. 

During his three terms in office, Representative Leach has successfully authored legislation that limits the reckless expansion of Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act, as well as a provision spurring stable job growth by providing substantial tax relief for business owners that relocate to Texas. Further, Leach successfully authored legislation to crack down on sexual offenders, protect the private property rights of Texas homeowners, advocate for vulnerable children in our state's foster care system, and has worked to implement meaningful reforms to address the epidemic of sexual assault on college campuses. Additionally, Leach has been a leader on the front to lower taxes, invest in critical infrastructure, improve education, strengthen our criminal justice system, secure the border, create a culture of life and to reform and improve state government operations. 

Representative Leach currently serves as Vice-Chairman of the House Committee on Urban Affairs and as a Member on the House Committee on Economic & Small Business Development. Leach has also served on the House Committee on Criminal Jurisprudence and the House Committee on Government Transparency and Operations. Leach formerly served on the Policy Committee for the House Republican Caucus.