AUSTIN — Representative Oscar Longoria, D – Mission raised his right hand and was sworn into his third term in the Texas House of Representatives for the 85th Texas Legislature on Tuesday.
He was surrounded by his wife Jennifer Ruiz Longoria, their two daughters Camilla and Madison Longoria, family, friends, and constituents from throughout the district.
It was the legislatures first day in session and Longoria didn’t waste any time.
He filed eight bills on his first day back at the Capitol.
Longoria’s district encompasses both Cameron and Hidalgo Counties includes the cities and towns of: Harlingen, La Feria, Santa Rosa, Primera, Palm Valley, Combes, La Joya, Sullivan City, Peñitas, Alton, Mission, McAllen, Edinburg, Monte Alto, Edcouch, La Villa, Mercedes, and Weslaco.
More than 1,400 bills were filed.
Of the bills submitted by Longoria, they generally aim to help students, fight fraud and protect property owners.
Possibly, Longoria’s most important House Bill 411 will require photo identification for certain purchases paid with a credit card or debit card in an effort to combat fraud that could leave the cashier liable for fraudulent purchases.
His HB 468 is putting hotel and motel owners on alert if their hotel rooms are not in compliance with the American Civil Disabilities Act of 1990.
And Longoria’s HB 859 aims to implement school bus monitoring systems that record images, including those of vehicles that pass a stopped school bus.
If the measures pass they would go into effect in September 2017.
Longoria said his priorities heading into the 85th Legislature are education, affordable health care, job creation and border security.
“I continue working to ensure that we have a quality education system and that teachers have the tools and resources necessary to do their jobs,” Longoria said.
Longoria was first elected to the Texas House of Representatives in 2013 and is currently a member of the House Appropriations Committee where he serves on the sub-committee for Article II and on the Investments & Financial Services Committee where he serves as Vice-Chairman.
During the interim, Longoria was appointed to serve on the Joint Interim Committee to Study Border Security.
Other legislators also sworn into the 85th Texas Legislature from the Valley were Rep. Eddie Lucio III, Rep. Rene Oliveira, Rep. Terry Canales, Rep. Armando Martinez, Sen. Eddie Lucio Jr. and Sen. Juan “Chuy” Hinojosa.
“I am honored and humbled to represent the people of the 35th District of Texas in the Rio Grande Valley and Texans across the state,” Longoria said. “We have a lot to accomplish during this next session.”
