Bill Text: TX HR2185 | 2023-2024 | 88th Legislature | Enrolled

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Bill Title: Honoring State Representative Senfronia Thompson for 50 years of service in the Texas House.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Passed) 2023-05-29 - Reported enrolled [HR2185 Detail]

Download: Texas-2023-HR2185-Enrolled.html

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H.R. No. 2185

R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, The Honorable Senfronia Thompson has dedicated
herself wholeheartedly to the betterment of Texas during a half
century of distinguished service in the Texas House of
Representatives; and
WHEREAS, The dean of the Texas House, "Ms. T" is the
longest-serving woman and longest-serving Black lawmaker in the
legislature; she was first elected in 1972, when women were not even
allowed to open a credit card in their own name; since then, she has
been at the forefront of historic change, working tirelessly in
behalf of justice, equality, and opportunity for all; and
WHEREAS, Representative Thompson was among the first to take
on the scourge of human trafficking, and her efforts have made Texas
a leader in anti-trafficking legislation; known for her tenacity
and ability to work across the aisle, she doggedly built a
broad-based coalition to finally win passage of the James Byrd Jr.
Hate Crimes Act; her myriad accomplishments also include the Sexual
Assault Program Fund, the state's first and only alimony law, laws
creating drug courts, and legislation providing insurance coverage
for anti-cancer oral medication, 3D mammograms, HPV and cervical
cancer screening, and contraceptives; in 2019, her 11th-hour bill
amendment gave Texas one of the nation's toughest prescription drug
price transparency laws; and
WHEREAS, In notable efforts to benefit seniors,
Representative Thompson secured passage of legislation allowing
Medicaid nursing home residents to keep more of their retirement
and social security money for personal use, as well as a bill
permitting homeowners over the age of 65 to make quarterly property
tax payments without penalty; she authored the Chief Justice Jack
Pope Act, which increased funding for legal aid to low-income
Texans with civil cases, as well as the Michael Morton Act, which
instituted important criminal justice reforms; among many other
measures to defend the vulnerable, she secured passage of
legislation banning racial profiling, strengthening protective
orders, shielding unpaid interns from sexual harassment, and
increasing sex offender penalties; and
WHEREAS, Representative Thompson has shared her expertise as
a member and chair of numerous committees; she currently chairs the
Select Committee on Youth Health and Safety, and she is a member of
the Committees on Licensing and Administrative Procedures,
Redistricting, and State Affairs; and
WHEREAS, Inducted into the Texas Women's Hall of Fame in
2014, Representative Thompson has been named one of the Top Ten Best
Legislators by Texas Monthly, and she is the sole recipient of the
Rosa Parks Award from the Texas Legislative Black Caucus; a
graduate of Thurgood Marshall School of law, she also holds a master
of law degree in international law from the University of Houston, a
master of education degree from Prairie View A&M University, and a
bachelor's degree in biology from Texas Southern University;
moreover, she is a proud member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority; and
WHEREAS, Senfronia Thompson has blazed a remarkable path over
the course of 26 terms in the Texas House, and her vision,
leadership, and unyielding commitment to social justice are a
tremendous inspiration to all; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 88th Texas
Legislature hereby honor State Representative Senfronia Thompson
for 50 years of service in the Texas House and extend to her sincere
best wishes for continued success; and, be it further
RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
prepared for Representative Thompson as an expression of high
regard by the Texas House of Representatives.
Reynolds
Phelan Guerra Murr
Allen Guillen Neave Criado
Allison Harless Noble
Anchía Harris of Anderson Oliverson
Anderson Harris of Williamson Ordaz
Ashby Harrison Orr
Bailes Hayes Ortega
Bell of Kaufman Hefner Patterson
Bell of Montgomery Hernandez Paul
Bernal Herrero Perez
Bhojani Hinojosa Plesa
Bonnen Holland Price
Bowers Howard Ramos
Bryant Hull Raney
Buckley Hunter Raymond
Bucy Isaac Reynolds
Bumgarner Jetton Rogers
Burns Johnson of Dallas Romero, Jr.
Burrows A. Johnson of Harris Rose
Button J. Johnson of Harris Rosenthal
Cain Jones of Dallas Schaefer
Campos Jones of Harris Schatzline
Canales Kacal Schofield
Capriglione King of Hemphill Shaheen
Clardy King of Uvalde Sherman, Sr.
Cole Kitzman Shine
Collier Klick Slawson
Cook Kuempel Smith
Cortez Lalani Smithee
Craddick Lambert Spiller
Cunningham Landgraf Stucky
Darby Leach Swanson
Davis Leo-Wilson Talarico
Dean Longoria Tepper
DeAyala Lopez of Bexar Thierry
Dorazio Lopez of Cameron Thimesch
Dutton Lozano Thompson of Brazoria
Flores Lujan Thompson of Harris
Frank Manuel Tinderholt
Frazier Martinez Toth
Gamez Martinez Fischer Troxclair
Garcia Metcalf Turner
Gates Meyer VanDeaver
Gerdes Meza Vasut
Geren Moody Vo
Gervin-Hawkins Morales of Harris Walle
Goldman Morales of Maverick Wilson
González of Dallas Morales Shaw Wu
González of El Paso Morrison Zwiener
Goodwin Muñoz, Jr.
______________________________
Speaker of the House
I certify that H.R. No. 2185 was adopted by the House on May 29,
2023, by a non-record vote.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House