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Jeff Leach (politician)

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This article is about the Texas State Representative. For the actor and comedian, see Jeff Leach.
Jeffrey Curtis "Jeff" Leach
File:Leach 1.jpg
Member of the Texas House of Representatives
from the 67th district
Incumbent
Assumed office
January 8, 2013
Preceded byJerry A. Madden
Personal details
Born (1982-06-10) June 10, 1982 (age 42)
Plano, Texas, U.S.
Political partyRepublican
SpouseRebecca Swann Leach
Children3
Residence(s)Allen, Texas
Alma materPlano Senior High School
Baylor University (BS)
SMU Dedman School of Law (JD)
OccupationLawyer
Websitewww.jeffleach.com

Jeffrey Curtis Leach, known as Jeff Leach (born June 10, 1982), is a Republican member of the Texas House of Representatives for District 67, in the heart of Collin County.

About

Born and raised in Plano, Texas, Leach graduated from Plano Senior High School[1] and went to Baylor University in Waco, Texas, where he was elected to serve two terms as student body president. Following graduation from Baylor, Leach earned his J.D. degree from SMU Dedman School of Law in Dallas and currently practices with the Texas law firm, Gray Reed & McGraw, P.C. Named a “Rising Star” by Texas Super Lawyer, Leach specializes in complex commercial and civil litigation, construction law and real estate.[2] Most recently, Leach was named as a “Friend of the Judiciary” by the State Bar of Texas and was recognized as a “2019 Legislator of the Year” by the Texas Civil Justice League. Leach serves on the Board of Trustees for Houston Baptist University, on the Texas Judicial Council and as a board member of the Texas Conservative Coalition Research Institute. In January 2021, he was appointed to serve on the Board of Directors of the Prestonwood Pregnancy Center.[3]

Leach and his wife Becky have three children who currently attend public school in Allen ISD and are lifelong members of Prestonwood Baptist Church in Plano, where they have served for several years in the Young Families Ministry.[4]

87th Legislative Session

During the 87th Legislative Session, Leach authored or co-authored over 40 pieces of legislation[5] that were passed and ultimately signed by Governor Abbott. Among the bills that were passed was a balanced budget that didn't raise taxes,[6] many reforms and improvements to the electric grid and the governing body of ERCOT,[7][8] Second Amendment protections,[9][10] enhancements to public education, improved access to health care and protection for the unborn.[11]

Additionally, Leach authored House Bill 4110 to combat the rise in catalytic converter thefts in North Texas and increased the penalty for those committing these crimes. He also authored House Bill 19 which cracks down on frivolous and abusive lawsuits against businesses involved in trucking accidents while still protecting the victims.

Leach was named a "Best Legislator of the Year" in 2021 by Texas Monthly. "This session, his colleagues largely found Leach a seasoned negotiator with good listening skills. “He never threatened to move on without having a thorough conversation,” said one Democrat."[12]

Committee Assignments

Chair of the House Committee on Judiciary and Civil Jurisprudence

House Committee on Juvenile Justice and Family Issues

House Committee for Youth Health & Safety (interim)[13]

2020 Campaign

Despite being targeted at the National level as a Texas House seat the Democrats were sure to flip, Leach out-worked and ultimately defeated his opponent, Lorenzo Sanchez, by a margin of 51.7% to 48.3%.[14] It was the costliest State House race in the history of Texas.

Previous Legislative Sessions

Leach first ran for State Representative in 2012 and began his first legislative session in 2013 - the 83rd Legislative session.[15] Over the course of five sessions, Leach has authored and passed many substantive bills. Notably, in the 86th Legislative session, Leach authored and passed the landmark legislation giving way to "Proposition 4" - the constitutional amendment banning the imposition of a state income tax on individuals. He was also instrumental in passing House Bill 3 which invested $12 billion into public education.

83rd legislative session

During the 83rd legislative session, Leach authored and passed a provision limiting the expansion of the Texas Medicaid Program under the Affordable Care Act. Additionally, he authored and passed legislation reducing taxes for small businesses subject to the franchise tax,[citation needed] and passed legislation providing tougher penalties for sexual offenders by making the crime of voyeurism a Class B misdemeanor, rather than a Class C misdemeanor.[16]

Leach authored the Texas Gun Ownership Reinforcement Act, which establishes Texas Independence Day (March 2) as a tax holiday for firearms, exempting individuals' purchase of firearms and hunting supplies in Texas from sales taxes.[17]

Leach was elected by his colleagues to serve on the Policy Committee of the Texas House Republican Caucus, which meets regularly during the legislative session to discuss and analyze legislation and to make official policy recommendations to the members of the House Republican Caucus.[citation needed]

Committee assignments

  • House Committee on Criminal Jurisprudence[18]
  • House Committee on Urban Affairs[19]
  • House Committee on Rules & Resolutions[20]

Honors and recognition

  • "Free Enterprise Champion" by the Texas Association of Business[21]
  • "Courageous Conservative" by the Texas Conservative Coalition[22]
  • "Best of Dallas-area's Freshman Class" by Dallas Morning News[23]
  • "Top Rated Conservative in the Texas House" by Texas Eagle Forum[24]
  • "Taxpayer Champion" by Texans for Fiscal Responsibility[citation needed]
  • "Best Freshmen Legislator" by Capitol Inside[citation needed]
  • "Favorite Legislator" by Plano Deputy Mayor Pro Tem Ben Harris[citation needed]

2014 campaign

Leach ran unopposed in the Republican primary in March 2014 and began his second term as the state representative for District 67 on January 13, 2015.

2018 campaign

Leach won his fourth term in the general election held on November 6, 2018. With 37,075 votes (51.1 percent), he narrowly defeated Democrat Sarah Depew, who polled 35,425 (48.9 percent).[25]

References

  1. ^ "Meet Jeff". Jeff Leach. Retrieved 2021-10-27.
  2. ^ "Meet Jeff". Jeff Leach. Retrieved 2021-10-27.
  3. ^ "Meet Jeff". Jeff Leach. Retrieved 2021-10-27.
  4. ^ "Meet Jeff". Jeff Leach. Retrieved 2021-10-27.
  5. ^ "Texas Legislature Online - Bill Search". capitol.texas.gov. Retrieved 2021-10-27.
  6. ^ "Texas Legislature Online - 87(R) History for HB 2". capitol.texas.gov. Retrieved 2021-10-27.
  7. ^ "Texas Legislature Online - 87(R) History for SB 2". capitol.texas.gov. Retrieved 2021-10-27.
  8. ^ "Texas Legislature Online - 87(R) History for SB 3". capitol.texas.gov. Retrieved 2021-10-27.
  9. ^ "Texas Legislature Online - 87(R) History for HB 1927". capitol.texas.gov. Retrieved 2021-10-27.
  10. ^ "Texas Legislature Online - 87(R) History for HB 2622". capitol.texas.gov. Retrieved 2021-10-27.
  11. ^ "Texas Legislature Online - 87(R) History for SB 8". capitol.texas.gov. Retrieved 2021-10-27.
  12. ^ Hooks, Christopher; Ratcliffe, R. G.; July 2021 6, rea Zelinski (2021-06-15). "2021: The Best and Worst Legislators". Texas Monthly. Retrieved 2021-10-27.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  13. ^ Representatives, Texas House of. "Texas House of Representatives". www.house.texas.gov. Retrieved 2021-10-27.
  14. ^ "Jeff Leach". Ballotpedia. Retrieved 2021-10-27.
  15. ^ "Texas House of Representatives elections, 2012". Ballotpedia. Retrieved 2020-01-30.
  16. ^ "State Representative Jeff Leach Authors Legislation to Crack Down on Sexual Offenders". House.state.tx.us. Retrieved 2014-01-06.
  17. ^ "Plano Lawmaker Wants Tax Free Holiday for Gun Buyers". dfw.cbslocal.com. Retrieved 2014-01-06.
  18. ^ "Criminal Jurisprudence Committee". house.state.tx.us. Retrieved 2014-01-06.
  19. ^ "Urban Affairs Committee". house.state.tx.us. Retrieved 2014-01-06.
  20. ^ "Rules & Resolutions Committee". house.state.tx.us. Retrieved 2014-01-06.
  21. ^ "Texas Association of Business". txbiz.org. Archived from the original on 2014-03-22. Retrieved 2014-01-06.
  22. ^ "Courageous Conservatives-83rd Legislature". txcc.org. Retrieved 2014-01-06.
  23. ^ "Best of Dallas-area's Freshman Class". dallasnews.com. Archived from the original on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2014-01-06.
  24. ^ "Legislative Scorecards". texaseagle.org. Archived from the original on 2014-01-03. Retrieved 2014-01-06.
  25. ^ "Election Returns". Texas Secretary of State. November 6, 2018. Archived from the original on November 10, 2018. Retrieved November 11, 2018.
Texas House of Representatives
Preceded by
Jerry A. Madden
 Texas State Representative for
District 67 (part of Collin County)
2013– 		Succeeded by
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