05/19/2017
Good News!
Yesterday, I passed legislation to protect 100% of Jones State Forest. This bill could not have been passed without constituent feedback, involvement and support for full protection of the forest. I greatly appreciate the important conversations we had this session regarding the treasured Jones State Forest in Senate District 4. The legislation protects the entire forest and prevents any development so that the forest must remain in its current natural, scenic, open-space and undeveloped state. Amendments brought by the Save Jones State Forest group were added to the bill to clarify the exact acreage of the forest (1,722 acres) and that the forest must remain in a manner that maintains the tree canopy cover of the forest. Only during a legislative session could I change statute to restrict Texas A&M from the right to develop the forest. I appreciate that we have established the will of our community and the will of the legislature and the Senate has approved the additional protection for Jones State Forest. Senate Bill 1964 passed out of the Senate Chamber unanimously. The bill will now be sent to the Texas House of Representatives.
http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/tlodocs/85R/billtext/pdf/SB01964E.pdf =0