"Just as we come together as a community to build a better Texas, we should also celebrate our victories together."
State Representative Mike Villarreal
While I've worked with my colleagues on a broad array of policy issues, here is a sample of some of my personal accomplishments at a state legislator. On many of these tough issues -- from altering the top ten automatic college admission policy to regulating refund anticipation loans -- the key to success was listening to all sides, finding common ground, negotiating compromise solutions, fighting hard for my values and constituents.
Invest In Education
Although we were not able to stop those in control of the Legislature from making deep cuts in education in 2011, we did succeed in explaining to the public the mistake made by those legislators who chose to protect corporate tax loopholes and hoard the Rainy Day Fund instead of protecting education. In fact, we passed my bill to end an outdated corporate tax break that drained $20 million from the education budget (HB 658 included in SB 1). We also passed legislation giving parents at failing schools more power to change the direction of their school (SB 738); an amendment placing more emphasis on practice teaching in alternative teacher certification programs (version of HB 135 included in SB 8); and legislation to get fathers more involved in their children's lives and ultimately their education (HB 824).
Our biggest education victory in 2009 was using my seat on the Education Appropriations Committee to provide TEXAS Grants, our state's primary college grants program, to 36,000 more students. Here's a look at how the education legislation my team proposed, negotiated and passed during the 2009 legislative session will impact Texas families:
Low-income parents will receive a guide to child development and parenting skills and will be more likely to read to their children during their formative first few years of life (HB 1240). More working parents can provide high-quality child care to their children at their workplace (HB 415). Children will be more likely to enroll in pre-k and hit the ground running in kindergarten (HB 136).
In grade school they will spend fewer days on practice tests and more days learning (HB 3 amendment). They are less likely to be stuck with an inexperienced or uncertified teacher at a low-performing school (HB 3 amendment). In fact, they may have a highly effective Teach for America teacher (HB 1 rider).
A student from a disadvantaged community still has a pathway to UT, and a student from a high-performing school now has a pathway without having to be in the top ten percent of the class (SB 175 compromise). 36,000 more students will have a better chance than ever before to receive a TEXAS Grant and afford college (HB 1). A student in San Antonio who discovers an aptitude for the life sciences will be able to study at the San Antonio Life Science Center, and a student with an aptitude for mortuary sciences will have greater opportunities at San Antonio College (HB 1 rider and HB 1422). If a bachelors degree is not for them, they can enroll in the job training or community college programs in the Jobs and Education for Texans program or Green Jobs Skills Development Training Program (HB 1935). If they do enroll in community college, there will now be better transfer policies allowing them to finish school at a four-year university (HB 1 rider).
Our 2007 education victories include: expanding pre-kindergarten access for foster children (included HB 482 in SB 758); promoting recess in elementary schools (HB 366 included in SB 530); and helping to establish the Texas Tomorrow Fund II college savings program (HB 3900 authored by Rep. Morrison).
Value Work and Aspiration
In 2011 I teamed up with the San Antonio Municipal Court to pass legislation putting juvenile offenders to work on community service projects (HB 1964). We've seen these projects put young people on better path in life and lend a helping hand to neglected neighborhoods.
Community tax centers help working families file their taxes and claim potentially thousands of dollars in refunds they have earned. The 2009 legislature passed a bill that included my provision to expand these efforts, but unfortunately the Governor vetoed it (HB 955 included in HB 2888). The bill aimed to build on our successful 2005 legislation that required the state to inform Texans on public assistance about the Earned Income Tax Credit and free tax preparation opportunities (HB 630 included HB 401).
The Texas Department of Insurance (TDI) has failed to make sure that some employers follow workers compensation requirements and keep their employees safe. TDI is now working to ensure that employers report on their compliance with these requirements thanks to a provision I included in the budget the last two legislative sessions (HB 1772 attached as an amendment in 2007 and 2009).
We passed the main bill of the 2007 legislative session in the area of protecting consumers from predatory loans. Specifically, we reduced the likelihood that workers filing their tax return will unknowingly take out high-cost loans by establishing a "truth in advertising" requirement and state oversight of businesses providing tax Refund Anticipation Loans (HB 1344).
Cultivate Smart Government
In 2011 we passed my bill to end an outdated corporate tax loophole that drains $20 million from our state budget (HB 658 included in SB 1). Building on my work in 2009, the Legislature also approved my legislation to give appraisal review boards more independence so they are more responsive to homeowners appealing their property tax appraisals (HB 1887).
After giving the state more oversight over local property appraisal districts during the 2009 legislative session, homeowners can expect their property appraisals and tax bills to be more fair (HB 134 included in HB 8). Additionally, I passed a bill directing the state to provide online assistance to appraisal review boards to help them get your appraisals right (HB 2363 included in HB 2317). When they still get an appraisal wrong, homeowners will have a better chance at a fair appeals process with better-trained Appraisal Review Board members (HB 2317) and an expanded opportunity to use binding arbitration as a solution (HB 4040 included in SB 771).
The Legislature agreed with me that we should study how to provide property tax relief to families through a "circuit breaker" system. Unfortunately, the Governor vetoed my proposal (HB 3983 included HB 866).
In 2007, I also passed legislation to establish greater oversight of corporate tax breaks by requiring the Comptroller to report on the jobs created by certain tax incentives (Amendment to HB 2994).
Protect our Quality of Life
Michael Burke, the Chair and Founder of the San Antonio Clean Technology Forum, recently noted:
Many state legislators are talking about clean energy, but Rep. Villarreal was the only one to pass major legislation this year. By providing low-cost loans for installing solar panels and other energy improvements, his bill will lead to cleaner air, lower utility bills and new green jobs." (HB 1937)
Other legislation I passed in 2009 will increase the use of low-emission hybrid vehicles by state agencies, reducing air pollution and ensuring that our state government sets an example of responsible stewardship (HB 657 included in HB 432). We also established the state's first Green Jobs Program to put Texans to work making the state more energy efficient (HB 1935).
In 2008, I helped lead a successful effort to persuade the state Public Utility Commission to adopt a groundbreaking plan for building renewable energy transmission lines to connect wind and solar energy sources to Texas cities.