The Honorable Jessica Farrar

02/06/2020

The Honorable Jessica Farrar

09/06/2019

Survey123 for ArcGIS

The Texas Department of Transportation sent a survey to collect input on the North Houston Highway Improvement Project.
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Please click on the link below to take this short survey about the I-45/North Houston Highway Improvement Project (NHHIP).* This survey is intended to gather feedback on potential actions TxDOT could take in order to lessen impacts on the communities affected by the proposed highway project.

The survey is intentionally short, only seven questions long and should only take a few minutes to complete. Although the survey is brief the information it provides is critical to helping TxDOT improve the NHHIP. Thank you in advance for your feedback. We look forward to hearing from you. Please complete the survey by Sept. 20, 2019.

*More details about the survey...
TxDOT's NHHIP environmental studies identify and quantify potential natural, human and social environmental effects of the proposed transportation improvements. Adverse impacts that cannot be avoided must be adequately mitigated. Accordingly, TxDOT is required to compensate for or replace lost resources. This survey will help us evaluate currently considered mitigation strategies and potentially identify additional options.

For details about the I-45/North Houston Highway Improvement Project, please visit our website at www.ih45northandmore.com.

Survey123 for ArcGIS is a complete, form-centric solution for creating smart surveys & forms, collecting data via web or mobile devices and analyzing results. Start your free trial.

08/16/2019

I want to thank my constituents and the people of Texas for the high honor and privilege of representing them in the Texas Legislature these last 25 years. My time in public service has provided me the opportunity to serve my state and community in ways for which I will forever be grateful.

08/12/2019

Texas almost mandated an HPV vaccine before politics got in the way. Now, the state has one of the country's highest rates of cervical cancer.

“This is a preventable disease, and we should and can be doing more,” said state Rep. Jessica Farrar, a Houston Democrat who has advocated for more robust HPV vaccine coverage. “Here we are 12 years later, and look where we could’ve been, but because of certain beliefs, we’re suffering from cancers that could have been avoided.”

The state’s approach stands in stark contrast to that of Australia, where leaders have successfully pushed a nationwide program that has made a sizable dent in cervical cancer rates.

08/12/2019

Save the date for a series of community workshops on the North Houston Highway Improvement Project. The first meeting is on Tuesday, August 13th at Harris County Department of Education, 6300 Irvington Blvd.
For more information: www.ih45northandmore.com.

08/12/2019

Texas almost mandated an HPV vaccine before politics got in the way. Now, the state has one of the country's highest rates of cervical cancer.

“This is a preventable disease, and we should and can be doing more,” said state Rep. Jessica Farrar, a Houston Democrat who has advocated for more robust HPV vaccine coverage. “Here we are 12 years later, and look where we could’ve been, but because of certain beliefs, we’re suffering from cancers that could have been avoided.”

The state’s approach stands in stark contrast to that of Australia, where leaders have successfully pushed a nationwide program that has made a sizable dent in cervical cancer rates.

08/03/2019

‪The resource fair is hosting over twenty community based organizations and voter registrars to provide information about the services they provide. Thank you for coming!

08/03/2019

Event volunteers are excited about #backpacks and #schoolsupplies. Fun fact: over 100 volunteers over the last three days helped make today’s event possible. Thank you 💐

Join us at Moody Park, 3725 Fulton. We’ll be here until 11:00 a.m.

08/03/2019

Northside Back to School Fair is underway at Moody Park! Join us.

08/02/2019

Much appreciation to the volunteers who helped prepare for the Northside Back to School Health and Resource Fair. 🎒📓📒📖✂️📝 Join is at Moody Park, 3725 Fulton at 8:00 a.m on Saturday, August 3rd.

07/24/2019

Reminder - Since 2004, the Annual Northside Back to School Health and Resource Fair has brought supplies and resources to students and their families in the community. Join us on Saturday, August 3rd at Moody Park, 3725 Fulton.
Volunteer opportunities to help prepare for the event are available: https://bit.ly/2MfFr2x.

07/11/2019

HHLoans

Scholarship opportunity: The Texas Armed Services Scholarship Program encourages students to become members of the Texas Army National Guard, the Texas Air National Guard, the Texas State Guard, the United States Coast Guard, or the United States Merchant Marine, or to become commissioned officers in any branch of the armed services of the United States. Each year the governor and the lieutenant governor may each appoint two students, and each state senator and each state representative may nominate one student to receive an initial conditional scholarship award. Click here for more information or send an email to [email protected].

The purpose of the Texas Armed Services Scholarship Program is to encourage students to become members of the Texas Army National Guard, the Texas Air National Guard, the Texas State Guard, the United States Coast Guard, or the United States Merchant Marine, or to become commissioned officers in any...

06/27/2019

Please join the Hardy/Near Northside TIRZ for a community meeting.

06/26/2019

Save the date for the Annual Northside Back to School Health and Resource Fair at Moody Park on Saturday, August 3rd at 8:00 a.m. For more information contact my office or one of the partners on the event's planning committee.

06/26/2019

Reminder: Join the Texas Department of Transportation and the Houston Planning & Development Department for an update on the North Houston Highway Improvement Project today at the Acres Homes Multi-Service Center, 6719 W Montgomery Rd. at 6:00 p.m.

06/20/2019

Reminder: Join the Texas Department of Transportation for an update on the North Houston Highway Improvement Project today.

06/17/2019

Reminder: the HCTRA - Harris County Toll Road Authority is hosting a community engagement meeting this evening, Monday, June 17th at 6:00 p.m., on the Hardy Toll Road extension.

06/14/2019

06/05/2019

The Texas Department of Transportation is hosting an I-45 North Houston Highway Improvement Project Residential and Community Interface meeting on Saturday, June 8th at 10:00 a.m. at the BakerRipley, 2101 South St. The design for the project was recently revised. Click here to view the revised schematics: http://www.ih45northandmore.com.

05/08/2019

Update: my amendment was stripped from the bill today by the Texas Apartment Association and Rep. Matt Schaefer (R-Tyler) who worked to remove it and defeat the entire bill.

I just passed one of my bills as an amendment to another bill. The measure requires prospective tenants to receive notice from the landlord if their unit has flooded in the previous four years. With only two more days to get a bill out of the House and my bill way down the queue, amending another bill is another way to get a bill passed! 😉
Many thanks to Rep. Garnet Coleman for the piggy-back!

05/01/2019

The House Committee on Natural Resources is hearing nine bills relating various policy issues, including financial assistance to flood planning and disaster mitigation, water districts and their boards, and infrastructure projects this evening. Watch here: http://tlchouse.granicus.com/MediaPlayer.php?view_id=9&event_id=5045 #TxLege #Water

04/30/2019

This morning, I met with representatives from the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) to discuss their impending report required by Rider 97. Rider 97 of the 85th Legislature’s budget directs HHSC to use allotted funding for a report on the Women’s Health Program, which provides health services to low-income women. The report will be released tomorrow, May 1st. I look forward to continuing discussions on how to best serve Texas women.

04/25/2019

This morning, I am laying out HB 3563 in the House Committee on Corrections. The bill creates a criminal penalty for knowingly tampering with or removing an ankle monitor. Last year, an individual cut off his ankle monitor, then proceeded to allegedly murder three individuals, one of which was in the Northline community in the district. Currently, tampering with or removing an ankle monitor is only a parole violation.

04/24/2019

Tonight, I also laid out HB3569, which protects the confidentiality of residential eviction information under certain circumstances so that tenants can obtain future rental housing. Tenants with an eviction judgment often cannot obtain housing or must pay more for rent to cover the risk. Currently, state law does not offer expunctions for evictions. HB3569 would protect the confidentiality of a tenant’s eviction when: a judgment was entered in favor of a tenant; a tenant’s case was dismissed; the eviction was brought by the successor in interest following foreclosure on the property; and at least five years have elapsed from the date of the final judgment in the eviction case. Many thanks to Trish McAllister of the Texas Access to Justice Commission and Becky Moseley for their work on this bill.

04/24/2019

Today in the House Committee on Business and Industry, I laid out HB 3556. The bill requires landlords to inform prospective residential tenants if the property they intend to rent has been damaged by a flood in the previous four years. Currently, Texas law does not require landlords to inform potential tenants if a residential property has flooded or sits in a floodplain. Much appreciation to Bill Baldwin, Grant Harpold, and Mario Castillo who testified in support of prospective residential tenants.

04/18/2019

I laid out HB 3567 in the House Committee on Juvenile Justice & Family Issues tonight. The bill removes barriers to obtaining and enforcing a protective order for victims of sexual assault, stalking, family violence, and human trafficking. Much appreciation to the Texas Association Against Sexual Assault (TAASA) for bringing this issue to my attention. HB 3567 gives survivors the chance to heal. #TXLege #BelieveSurvivors

04/17/2019

Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo visited with area legislators on issues important to the county.

04/17/2019

Today in the House Committee on Homeland Security & Public Safety, I laid out HB 3566, which requires forensic exams to be performed for victims of strangulation assault. I filed this bill due to multiple concerns - from prosecutors and victims alike - that forensic exams are needed to detect unseen medical effects and to collect thorough evidence for cases. Testimony from Cheryl Bakhtiari, Jenny Black, Allison Franklin, and Carvana Cloud will continue upon adjournment of the House floor.

04/17/2019

Tonight, I am laying out HB 3564 in the Committee on Business and Industry. HB 3564 provides adequate protections and solutions to resolve residential lease disputes following a casualty loss. The bill addresses issues faced by tenants whose homes and apartments were damaged by Hurricane Harvey.

04/16/2019

In the House Natural Resources Committee today, the committee will hear 11 bill proposals. The bills are related to water authorities, improvement and conservation districts, and public water utilities. Watch here:http://tlchouse.granicus.com/MediaPlayer.php?view_id=9&event_id=4945

04/16/2019

I am pleased that two of my bills were passed by the House today.

In response to a recommendation by the Maternal Mortality and Morbidity Task Force, I filed HB 253, which creates a statewide strategic plan to address postpartum depression. The bill aims to increase access to services available to mothers facing this life-threatening condition.

HB 250 allows for attorney's fees to be paid by those convicted of animal cruelty in certain counties. The bill intends to deter violence against animals from eventually turning into violence against humans.

04/15/2019

The Committee on Judiciary and Civil Jurisprudence is hearing 42 bills on several topics including, liability claims, surprise medical billing, reforming the election of judicial candidates, and other areas affecting the civil justice system. The committee is also voting on pending business from previous weeks. Watch here: http://tlchouse.granicus.com/MediaPlayer.php?view_id=9&event_id=4932 #txlege #JCJ

04/15/2019

Congratulations to the students, volunteers at Friends of Field Elementary Houston, TX, and faculty on the re-SPARK dedication at Field Elementary in the Heights.

The SPARK School Park Program helps transform playgrounds into community parks.

04/11/2019

I was glad to meet with advocates today to discuss the important role Planned Parenthood plays in providing access to vital health services in Texas communities.

04/11/2019

Failed Texas Bill Would Have Made Death Penalty Possible in Abortion Cases

“Representative Jessica Farrar, the Democratic vice chairwoman of the committee, said in a phone interview on Wednesday that she saw the legislation as a ‘scare tactic’ to dissuade doctors from providing abortion services.

Ms. Farrar said the text of the bill showed a clear intention to contradict Roe v. Wade, which established a constitutional right to abortion.”

https://www.nytimes.com/2019/04/10/us/texas-abortion-death-penalty.html?smid=nytcore-ios-share

The bill would have made women who obtained an abortion, or doctors who performed one, open to being charged with assault or criminal homicide.