Spiller Speaks to Young County GOP
GRAHAM – State Rep. David Spiller (R–Jacksboro) met with the Young County Republican Party on Monday, Sept. 8, at North Central Texas College to review the results of the 88th Legislative Session and two special sessions.
Rep. Spiller, who represents House District 68, said the regular session produced “a lot of major wins” for rural Texas. He highlighted legislation requiring sheriffs to cooperate with federal immigration authorities, allowing school boards to permit prayer in schools, and restricting foreign governments from purchasing Texas land near military bases and critical infrastructure.
He pointed to bills benefiting Young County, including a measure to strengthen farmers’ right to farm, a study on disparities in rural firefighting resources that originated in Graham, and legislation requiring missing children cases to be reported to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.
On school funding, Rep. Spiller said lawmakers approved $75 billion, including money to raise teacher pay, boost school safety, and provide support for small and mid-sized districts. “The number-one concern I heard from teachers was student discipline,” he said, noting that new laws give schools more authority to address classroom behavior.
Rep. Spiller emphasized that the Legislature passed $51 billion in property tax relief, raising homestead exemptions and compressing school tax rates. He also cited investments of $30 billion for roads and bridges, $2.5 billion for water projects, and $215 million for rural healthcare access, including $90 million for ambulances.
Other priorities included $3 billion for border security, additional funding for local law en- forcement, and $5 billion for dispatchable energy generation to strengthen the electric grid.
Rep. Spiller said the Legislature also passed election security bills, new restrictions on inappropriate books in schools, and measures regulating abortion-inducing drugs. During the special session, he served on the congressional redistricting committee, helping draft maps that are now subject to litigation.
Looking ahead, Rep. Spiller encouraged local officials to contact his office for help with grants and funding opportunities. “A lot of good ideas for bills come from our district,” he said. “If there are local needs, let us know—we’re here to help.”