Legislative Achievements 

The 89th Texas Legislative Session has concluded. I took over 4,000 votes on the House floor, and I am honored to reflect on the work we have accomplished, the challenges we faced, and the path forward for our great state. This session, my office worked tirelessly to uphold the conservative values that define Texas, championing legislation that protects our communities, promotes fiscal responsibility, and preserves the freedoms we hold dear. Below, I outline our key achievements, ongoing priorities, and areas where we must strengthen our efforts in the next session. 

This session, I am proud to report significant victories that reflect our shared conservative priorities: 

• HB 3441, a bill I authored and which was a Republican Party Priority, successfully passed, holding vaccine manufacturers accountable for injuries caused by their advertised products. This measure ensures transparency and protects Texans from Big Pharma. 
• I collaborated across both chambers to secure the passage of SB 1758 by Sen. Brian Birdwell, a critical win for Grayson County. This bill protected our community from a proposed cement kiln while supporting Global Wafers, a key employer driving economic growth and crucial semiconductor chip technology-not only for Texas, but the nation. 
• I voted for bills that regulated B.E.S.S. (Battery Energy Storage Systems like the one going up in Savoy, TX), wind turbines, and combatted green energy scams, while securing our electric grid and promoting the advancement of Nuclear Energy 
• I Co-Authored HB 3228 which passed and is on the Governor’s desk. This requires turbines, B.E.S.S.’s, and other Green New Deal projects to recycle and remove their facilities if they ever cease operations 
• I also Co-Authored HB 3824 which passed and is on the Governor’s Desk. It will require fire safety systems and emergency operation contingencies to be put in place of B.E.S.S. projects. It also adds penalties if this is not done. 
• HB 3229 and HB 3809 also put more regulation on the Green New Deal scam businesses
• HB 4057 and its Senate companion SB 1754 both died in the House Ways & Means committee, and these bills would have banned local tax incentives or other forms of handouts to Renewable Energy (aka Green New Deal) ventures. 
• HB 7 (Second Special Session): curbed the trafficking of abortion pills in Texas
• I coauthored HB 4 (Second Special Session) and passed the BIG BEAUTIFUL MAP! This increases our conservative majority in Congress and helps President Trump pass his promises to the American People!

My voting record reflects a steadfast commitment to principled, Conservative governance. Rice Political Index had me in the Top 10% of Most Conservative House members, as 13th out of 150 State Representatives. 

Many bills were Republican Party of Texas priorities. I proudly supported legislation to protect our children and families, including: 

• SB 835, Banning non-disclosure agreements that silenced victims of sexual abuse 
• SB 10, allowing the 10 Commandments to be displayed in schools 
• HB 3225, restricting minors’ access to explicit library materials

• SB 12, strengthening parental rights, including protection for parents who don’t affirm their child’s gender if it doesn’t match their biological sex at birth, and banning clubs in public schools that are based on gender status or LGBTQ affiliation. 
• SB 11, Allowing for School Prayer 
• SB 17, banning the CCP and other adversaries from owning land in Texas 
• SJR 5, Bail Reform to prevent the release of Texas’ most violent offenders on bail. 
• I supported border enforcement, including the 287(g) bill which authorizes, and mandates that local law enforcement in Texas must work with ICE to enforce deportation of illegal aliens.
• We had wins in Election Integrity like SB 2753 by Sen. Bob Hall which standardized in-person voting with no gap between early voting and Election Day 
• SB 4 raises property tax homestead exemptions from 100k to 140k, and 200k for Seniors over 65 years old but this will require a constitutional vote in November 
• We passed House Bill 9 to give Small Businesses $125K in Ad Valorem personal property tax exemption that you will vote on this November.

Gun Rights 

• SB 1362 was passed, and is an Anti-Red Flag Law bill 
• Removed short-barrel rifle criminalization via SB 1596 
• HB 1353 bans municipal gun buyback schemes at the expense of taxpayers 
• SB 706 expands reciprocity of Concealed Handgun licenses 
• Foster parents are now allowed to keep all their 2nd Amendment Rights with HB 1403 

Texans for Vaccine Choice awarded me the Representative of the Year designation for my stalwart defense of our rights to choose what vaccines we put in our bodies.

Covid/Vaccines et al. 

• For children in schools, HB 1586 creates an easy-to-access vaccine exemption form which is now available to print at home 
• I Co-Authored HB 4076 which makes it illegal to discriminate against unvaccinated patients who need organ transplant 
• I also Co-Authored HB 4535, a bill requiring informed consent before administering a Covid-19 vaccine 
• SB 269 requires medical practitioners to report vaccine injuries to VAERS (Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System) national database. 

Bail Reform 

• I proudly supported numerous pieces of legislation to reform bail in the state. SB 9 reformed who can pay for bail, stopping NGOs from bailing out career criminals and illegal aliens. 
• SJR 1 would have allowed a judge to deny bail for any illegal alien who committed a serious crime. And SJR 87 would have allowed denial of bail for those who had been previously convicted of felonies, or who were currently on bail. Both of these were killed by Democrats. 

House Bill 2, the Texas Public School Funding:

• Bigger Paychecks for Teachers and Staff: Pumps over $4 billion into raising teacher salaries (up to $8,000 more a year) and gives $500 million to boost pay for school nurses, counselors, and librarians. 
• Better Support for Special Needs Kids: Puts nearly $2 billion into special education to funding 
• Gives $1.3 billion for things like buses, insurance, and utilities, plus $55 per student allotment for general costs. 
• Funds pre-K, early learning programs, and $430 million for school safety upgrades and security. 

Senate Bill 2: School Choice 

• Provides parents with a funding mechanism to choose the best education for their child, with emphasis on low-income families and children with disabilities. 
• I also joint-authored HB 2674, prohibiting the Government from infringing on the rights of homeschoolers and ensures parents can educate their children how they see fit. 

Unfinished Business 

Despite our successes, several critical priorities did not advance this session: 

• HB 2197 (which I co-authored), sought to abolish abortion in Texas, and did not receive a committee hearing. 
• SB 19, a measure to ban taxpayer-funded lobbying, failed for the fourth consecutive session. 
• HB 3225, which I supported to protect children from explicit materials in public libraries, did not pass the Senate. 
• HB 3219, which would have allowed over-the-counter access to Ivermectin, did not succeed. 
• HB 5464, my bill I authored to end Government Overreach and Emergency Powers, did not get a hearing. I will be refiling it next session!

Fiscal Responsibility Concerns 

A significant concern this session was the legislature’s approach to fiscal responsibility. Despite a $24 billion surplus, the state increased overall appropriations by 11.33%, allocating only $6.5 billion to new property tax relief. I voted against the budget, as the spending growth far outweighed the relief provided to taxpayers. I also opposed bills like SB 646, a student loan forgiveness program, as they expanded government spending without sufficient justification. Unfortunately, many of these measures passed, underscoring the need for greater fiscal discipline in the future. 

As we prepare for the next session, my priorities remain clear: 

• Meaningful property tax relief that reduces the burden on Texans, not merely slows its growth. Texans should NOT be taxed out of their own homes! 
• Advancing pro-life legislation to protect the sanctity of life. 
• Strengthening medical freedom and transparency in healthcare. 
• Protecting 2A rights and supporting law enforcement 
• Valuing the rural communities of Fannin, Grayson, Delta and Franklin counties 

I encourage you to stay informed, hold your elected officials accountable, and continue supporting our state’s bright future. My office is always here to serve you—please don’t hesitate to reach out with questions or concerns. Together, we can build a stronger, more prosperous Texas. 

Shelley Luther, State Representative HD 62