Landgraf, Murr cite regional needs

Sep. 26—A seldom-mentioned but potent part of the Texas House of Representatives in Austin is the West Texas Delegation, whose No. 1 priority in the 88th Legislative Session next year will be property tax relief, according to Republican State Reps. Brooks Landgraf of Odessa and Andy Murr of Junction.

Landgraf says this year's massive influx of oil and natural gas severance tax revenues has built the biggest surplus in state history, $27 billion, and the 16-member delegation will force a substantial return of that money to the region most of it came from.

"I'll be fighting alongside my fellow West Texas legislators to make sure we get our fair share of that money for the people of West Texas and that we give as much of it back to the taxpayers as possible," Landgraf said Wednesday. "We are committed to making sure they get some of the money back in genuine property tax relief. That's being discussed more than anything at this point. The West Texas Delegation represents less than 10 percent of the state's population, but the region accounts for 70 percent of the oil and gas severance tax collections."

Landgraf said those collections have amounted to $10.8 billion this fiscal year with $2.4 billion being marked for public education, $3.6 billion for the state highway fund and the rest for the Texas Rainy Day Fund.

He said there's a good chance Midland Rep. Tom Craddick's GROW Texas bill will finally become law after snagging in the Senate during the past two biennial sessions.

Craddick's bill would send a percentage of the Rainy Day Fund to the state's oil- and gas-producing counties each year for health, schools and roads.

"It's one strategy we can use to get West Texas its share of state resources," Landgraf said. "In addition to having support in the House, there is more support now for GROW Texas in the Senate."

The House's current balance is 85 Republicans to 65 Democrats, and the bill got strong bipartisan support in 2021.

Landgraf was asked if West Texas lawmakers exert disproportionate influence because they often hold their seats much longer than metropolitan reps.

"What we lack in numbers we make up for in level-headedness, common sense and good institutional understanding of the way things work," said Landgraf, an attorney who represents Winkler, Ward, Loving and Ector counties in the 81st District. "Time has a lot to do with it, along with being open to learning the lessons that are taught to you.

"As a recent example of how we work together, the new redistricting maps during the special session in the summer of 2021 showed that West Texas as a region did not keep pace with population growth compared to the metro parts of the state. That relatively slow growth led many to predict that West Texas would lose up to three seats in the House.

"But we worked as a delegation to make sure our voices were not diminished, and we put together a plan that complied with all applicable laws related to the redistricting process. We worked cohesively to make sure the people of West Texas continued to have a voice, and we did not lose any seats as a result."

With Landgraf and Craddick, the West Texas Delegation includes Democrat Eddie Morales of Eagle Pass and Republicans Drew Darby of San Angelo, Stan Lambert of Abilene, John Smithee and Four Price of Amarillo, Ken King of Canadian, Glenn Rodgers of Palo Pinto, Mike Lang of Granbury, Brad Buckley of Salado, Dustin Burrows of Lubbock, David Spiller of Jacksboro, James Frank of Wichita Falls and Murr. Junction is 227 miles east-southeast of Odessa. Carl Tepper is the GOP nominee for Lubbock's other state rep seat in the Nov. 8 election.

Murr, an attorney and rancher who represents District 53, said property tax relief "is more important than ever when paired with the ever-increasing inflation we see today.

"There are a number of pathways for addressing this issue like using surplus state funds to buy down property taxes, broadening the tax base or setting a ceiling on school taxes," Murr said Friday. "I've filed legislation in previous sessions including legislation abolishing maintenance and operations taxes for local school districts and replacing that revenue though other means.

"Abolishment of these taxes would cut tax bills in half for most property owners."

Murr excoriated what he called the federal government's open border policies.

"Many of our delegation have seen firsthand the feds' failure to secure our southern border and understand the need to take action to protect our communities from the effects of illegal immigration and the crime that's occurring due to the open border policies," he said.

Murr said there are also big needs for better rural healthcare options with more broadband telemedicine and increased funding for rural hospitals.

"Reliable internet and broadband access is an ongoing issue in West Texas and in my district in particular," he said. "Stronger broadband and cell service is vital not only for our schools, students and businesses, but also for emergency response needs. West Texas has a number of geographical and natural resource challenges that we need to manage.

"These include ensuring good stewardship of our unique landscape and protecting and strengthening our water sources, working with Texas Parks and Wildlife and the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality," Murr said. He also wants to work on legislation that protects the state's natural resources while addressing industries like aggregate production (rock crushing and quarry activity).

"We need to effectively balance the need for development and progress with maintaining what makes West Texas so special," Murr said.