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Ken Paxton Bio
Ken Paxton’s Bio (See Interest Group Ratings)
STATE OF TEXAS
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVESBiography of Ken Paxton (District 70)
Ken Paxton was born December 23, 1962 in Minot, North Dakota. He graduated from Baylor University in Waco, Texas, earning a B.A. in Psychology in 1985 and a M.B.A. in 1986. After business school, Rep. Paxton accepted a position with Arthur Andersen as a management consultant. He then attended the University of Virginia School of Law where he earned a J.D. degree in 1991. After law school, Representative Paxton joined the firm of Strasburger & Price, L.L.P, before joining J.C. Penney Company, Inc., as in-house legal
counsel.Mr. Paxton is currently a named partner in the law firm of Pittenger Paxton Nuspl & Crumley where he is specializing in estate planning, probate, real estate, corporate transactions and advising businesses on various legal matters. Additionally, he owns and operates a title company in McKinney that closes both residential and commercial real estate transactions. He also speaks on various estate planning, business and real estate topics.
Ken Paxton is currently serving as the State Representative for District 70 which consists of Allen, Celina, Frisco, McKinney, Plano, and Prosper. He received more general election votes than any other state representative in 2004 and 2008 and has made the power rankings list by on-line guide Capitol Insider. Additionally, he has been named “Texas Taxpayer Hero” by Texans for Fiscal Responsibility and has been named to the Texas Association of REALTORS Legislative Hall of Fame for his “uncompromising commitment to championing the rights of homeowners.” Rep. Paxton serves as member of the House Land and Resource Management Committee, and a member of the powerful House Ways and Means committee, which reviews any proposed revenue and tax changes. Recently, Mr. Paxton was appointed to the Select Committee on Fiscal Stability charged with examining the long-term health of the Texas budget.
Representative Paxton currently serves on the Centennial Medical Center Board in Frisco and the Board Prestonwood Pregnancy and Family Care Center. He is a member of the McKinney Rotary Club, and the Allen, Frisco, Plano, and McKinney Chambers of Commerce. Mr. Paxton is Honorary Chair for the Prosper Open Foundation, a member of the Board of Directors for the Tax Increment Financing Reinvestment Zone for the City of Allen, and a member of the Advisory Boards for the Frisco Association for the Arts. In 2010, Mr. Paxton joined the founding board for the Collin County Student Aviation Initiative that will train high school students for job readiness in the field of aviation. In 2005, he was named one of the 21 Leaders of the 21st Century by Inside
Collin County Business. Recently, he was named a FIVE STAR Wealth Manager for 2010 by Texas Monthly.Ken Paxton lives in McKinney, Texas with his wife, Angela, and their four children; Tucker (17), Abby (15), Madison (13), and Katie (11). Along with his family, Representative Paxton is an active charter member of
Stonebriar Community Church in Frisco, where he has participated in various leadership roles.Vice Chair, General Investigating • Financial Institutions • Vice Chair, Ways and Means
ken.paxton@house.state.tx.usPaxton’s Legislative Record
Summary: Rep. Ken Paxton was first elected in 2002, and has spent his career in the legislature focused on passing conservative legislation on a wide range of issues. His particular interest and focus has been tax reform and taxpayer protections. Over the course of his legislative career, he has authored legislation to accomplish the following:
- Limit state government growth and spending;
- Reduce property taxes on Texas families;
- End state spending for individuals who have entered our country illegally;
- Implement more obstacles for lawmakers who want to raise taxes;
- Dramatically cut business taxes in order to help create jobs for more Texans; and
- Improve government transparency so taxpayers know how their tax dollars are spent.
Rep. Paxton has been involved in passing legislation dealing with lawsuit reform, informed consent for abortions, lowered taxes, provided property tax relief, expanded transparency in state agencies, and reformed eminent domain law.
Samples of Rep. Paxton’s key legislation from each session he has served can be found below. This includes legislation that did not pass, and legislation for which he was either author, joint-author, or co-author. Please see the note regarding legislation in the 79th Legislature, 3rd Called Session in 2006 that Rep. Paxton opposed.
2003 (78th Regular Legislative Session):
HB 4 (Co-Author)
Tort Reform
Bill passed and was signed into law
http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=78R&Bill=HB4HB 15 (Co-Author)
Informed consent for an abortion
Bill passed and was signed into law
http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/BillLookup/Text.aspx?LegSess=78R&Bill=HB15HB 2563 (Author)
School choice
No action taken in Ways and Means Committee
Allow for franchise and insurance tax credits for businesses that donate money to non-profit scholarship organizations that provide scholarships for low-income students to enhance their education opportunities.
http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/BillLookup/History.aspx?egSess=78R&Bill=HB2563
2005 (79th Regular Legislative Session):
HB 1212 (Co-Author)
Parental consent for an abortion
Bill was left on the table in the House
Require parental consent for an abortion.
http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=79R&Bill=HB1212HB 1263 (Joint-Author)
School choice
Sent to Calendars Committee and left pending
Allow for an urban school choice pilot program educationally disadvantaged children with the districts.
http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=79R&Bill=HB1263HB 2201 (Co-Author)
Alternative energy (clean coal)
Bill passed and was signed into law
This bill sets forth the framework to implement clean-coal energy projects in Texas to promote innovative sequestration and reduction of carbon emissions.
http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=79R&Bill=HB2201HJR 48/HB 1327 (Joint-Author)
State Revenue Caps
Referred to Appropriations Committee, no hearing scheduled
This bill restricts growth of state appropriations to population growth plus inflation. Any surplus revenue is divided between the rainy day fund, an emergency expense fund, and property tax relief.
http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=79R&Bill=HJR482006 (79th Legislative Session, 3rd Called Special Session):
HB 3
Opposed the passage of legislation that expanded the franchise tax to create the gross margins tax.
http://www.journals.house.state.tx.us/hjrnl/793/pdf/79c3day06final.pdf#page=86HJR 28 (Author)
Property Tax Relief
Referred to Ways & Means Committee, no hearing scheduled
Dedicates 1/3 of any state surplus revenue to fund education with the express purpose of lowering property tax rates.
http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=793&Bill=HJR282007 (80th Legislative Session):
HB 39 (Author)
Illegal Immigration
Left pending in State Affairs Committee
Prohibits illegal immigrants from receiving in-state tuition at public universities.
http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=80R&Bill=HB39HB 40 (Author)
Illegal Immigration, Health Care
No action taken in State Affairs Committee
Requires recipients and applicants for state medical assistance to prove citizenship prior to receiving benefits.
http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=80R&Bill=HB40HB 218 (Co-Author)
Illegal Immigration, Voter Identification
Left on the floor in the Senate
Requires a photo identification to vote.
http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=80R&Bill=HB218HB 224 (Author)
Pro-Life
Referred to Appropriations subcommittee, no hearing scheduled
Creates a pro-life license plate.
http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=80R&Bill=HB224HB 225 (Author)
Pro-Life
Sent to Calendars Committee, no action taken
Prohibits the use of state funds for embryonic stem cell research.
http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=80R&Bill=HB225HB 735 (Co-Author)
T.I.F. Tax
Bill passed and signed into law
Discontinues the Telecommunications Infrastructure Fund and associated tax
http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=80R&Bill=HB735HB 871 (Joint-Author)
Franchise Tax Exemptions
Left pending in Ways & Means Committee
Raises the total revenue exemption for the franchise tax to $1 million.
http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/BillLookup/Text.aspx?LegSess=80R&Bill=HB871HB 1256 (Co-Author)
Illegal Immigration
Referred to State Affairs Committtee, no hearing scheduled
Allows for local law enforcement officials to check immigration status of any person under arrest for other criminal grounds and report any illegal immigrants to ICE.
http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=80R&Bill=HB1256HB 1517 (Author)
Taxpayer-funded Lobbying
Point of order called, bill returned to State Affairs Committee
Requires local governments to report their expenditures made for lobbyist expenditures.
http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=80R&Bill=HB1517HB 2138 (Author)
Taxpayer Protections
Bill passed and signed into law
Licenses and regulates property tax lenders to ensure that property tax lenders are operating in such a way to protect taxpayers.
http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=80R&Bill=HB2138HB 2785 (Author)
Property Tax Reform
Passed House and referred to Senate Finance Committee; no hearing scheduled
Would have lowered school property taxes and additional 5 cents per $100 valuation.
http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=80R&Bill=HB2785HB 3430 (Joint-Author)
Transparency and Taxpayer Protections
Bill passed and was signed into law
Created the Comptroller’s database of state expenditures to promote transparency of state funds.
http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=80R&Bill=HB3430HB 3868 (Author)
School choice
Sent to Calendars Committee, no action taken
Expand the use of the public education grant to allow for parents the choice to transfer their students to better performing public schools if the campus their child is assigned to failed their accountability standards.
http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=80R&Bill=HB3868HJR 53 (Author)
State spending cap
Referred to Appropriations subcommittee; left pending
Restricts the growth in the state budget to a rate defined by population growth plus inflation. Surplus revenue is used to lower property tax rates, provide for a sales tax holiday, and lower the franchise tax rate.
http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=80R&Bill=HJR532009 (81st Legislative Session):
HB 36 (Co-Author)
Pro-Life
Left pending in State Affairs Committee
Expands informed consent to require a woman to have an ultrasound prior to having an abortion.
http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=81R&Bill=HB36HB 125 (Co-Author)
Voter Identification
Left pending in Elections Committee
http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=81R&Bill=HB125
HB 464 (Author)
Taxpayer Protections
Bill passed and signed into law
Requires the Legislative Budget Board to determine the impact on jobs while analyzing tax law changes.
http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=81R&Bill=HB464HB 1038 (Author)
Property Tax Reform
Bill passed and signed into law
Requires that appraisal districts factor in foreclosed and distressed properties in determining a residential homestead appraisal.
http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=81R&Bill=HB1038HB 1825 (Author)
Franchise Tax Reform
Left pending in Ways & Means Committee
Reduced the franchise tax rate.
http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=81R&Bill=HB1825HB 1893 (Co-Author)
Second Amendment Rights
Placed on General State Calendar, left pending
Allows students on college campuses to carry a concealed firearm if they have a concealed carry permit.
http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=81R&Bill=HB1893HB 2291 (Joint-Author)
Property Tax Reform
Bill passed and signed into law
Requires a local taxing unit to call for a record vote upon raising a property tax rate.
http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=81R&Bill=HB2291
HB 2563 (Author)
Property Tax Reform
Left pending in Public Education Committee
Requires the school district property tax rate to continue dropping when money is transferred from the property tax relief fund.
http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=81R&Bill=HB2563HB 2743 (Author)
Taxpayer Protections
Sent to Calendars Committee; no action taken
Requires counties to post their expense reports online.
http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=81R&Bill=HB2743HB 3613/HJR 36 (Joint-Author)
Property Tax Reform, Veterans’ Affairs
Bill passed and signed by Governor; constitutional amendment passed by voters
Gives 100% disabled veterans a complete homestead exemption. Disallows highest and best use in appraising a residential homestead to lower appraisals.
http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=81R&Bill=HB3613HJR 101 (Joint-Author)
State spending cap
Referred to Appropriations Committee; no action taken
Limits the rate of growth of state expenditures to population growth plus inflation with dedicating the surplus revenue to tax relief.
http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=81R&Bill=HJR101HJR 14 (Joint-Author)
Eminent Domain Reform
Bill passed, constitutional amendment passed by voters
Restricts the use of eminent domain.
http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=81R&Bill=HJR14 -
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