Jessica Farrar facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Jessica Farrar
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| Chair of the Texas House Women's Health Caucus | |
| In office January 8, 2013 – January 24th, 2019 |
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| Preceded by | Office established |
| Succeeded by | Donna Howard |
| Member of the Texas House of Representatives from the 148th district |
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| In office January 10, 1995 – September 30, 2019 |
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| Preceded by | Yolanda Navarro Flores |
| Succeeded by | Anna Eastman |
| Personal details | |
| Born | November 26, 1966 Houston, Texas, USA |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse | Marco Sanchez |
| Residences | Houston, Texas |
| Alma mater | University of Houston |
| Profession | State Representative |
Jessica Christina Farrar (born November 26, 1966) is an American politician who used to be a member of the Texas House of Representatives. She was part of the Democratic Party. Jessica Farrar was first elected to the legislature in 1994 when she was 27 years old. She was the longest-serving Hispanic member of the House from Harris County, Texas. She represented House District 148. She left her position on September 30, 2019.
During her time in office, Farrar held important roles. She was the vice-chairman of the House Committee on Judiciary & Civil Jurisprudence. She also served on the House Committee on State Affairs. Additionally, Representative Farrar led the Texas House Women's Health Caucus as its chairwoman. She also led the Texas House Democratic Caucus during the 82nd Legislative session.
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Early Life and Education
Jessica Farrar grew up in Houston. She finished high school at Lamar High School in 1984. She later earned a degree in Architecture from the University of Houston. She also studied law and received a law degree from the University of Texas School of Law in Austin.
Serving in the Texas House
Jessica Farrar served many terms in the Texas House of Representatives. She was elected 18 times in a row. In the election held on November 6, 2018, she won with 32,147 votes. This was about 67.9 percent of the votes. She won against the Republican candidate, Ryan Taylor McConnico. He received 15,213 votes, which was 32.1 percent.
Important Committees and Groups
Jessica Farrar was a member of many important committees and groups in the Texas House. These groups help make decisions and laws for the state.
- She served on committees like Corrections and Criminal Jurisprudence.
- She was also on the Appropriations Committee, which deals with state money.
- Farrar was the Vice Chair of the Environmental Regulation Committee.
- She also served as Vice-Chair of the House Committee on Judiciary and Civil Jurisprudence.
Caucuses and Special Groups
Farrar was part of several caucuses, which are groups of lawmakers who share common interests.
- She founded and chaired the Texas Women's Health Caucus.
- She was a member of the House Democratic Caucus.
- Farrar also joined the Texas Veterans' Caucus.
- Other groups she was part of included the Education Caucus and the Mexican American Legislative Caucus.
Key Laws and Ideas
Jessica Farrar worked on several important laws during her time as a representative.
- Each year, she would introduce a bill to end the death penalty in Texas.
- In 2003, she supported a law to stop unfair treatment in jobs based on a person's sexual orientation or gender identity.
- In 2009, she suggested a bill to recognize postpartum psychosis as a defense for mothers who harm their infants. This bill aimed to help mothers whose judgment was affected after childbirth.
- In 2011, Farrar introduced a law to prevent police officers from asking about the immigration status of witnesses or victims in criminal cases. This was to make sure people felt safe reporting crimes.
- In 2017, Farrar proposed a bill to highlight the challenges women face in getting healthcare in Texas. She wanted to show how difficult it can be for women to access medical services.
The Killer Ds
In May 2003, Jessica Farrar helped organize a group of House Democrats. These lawmakers left Texas and went to Ardmore, Oklahoma. There were 52 House Democrats in this group. Their absence stopped the Republicans from having enough members present to vote on a new plan for drawing election districts. This action prevented the plan from passing during that legislative session. Later, a similar group of eleven state senators, called the Texas Eleven, also left the state for the same reason in August 2003.
Community Work
Jessica Farrar has been very involved in her community.
- In 1998, she started a non-profit program called Latinas on the Rise. This program helps Latina college students through mentorship and education. She also serves on its board of directors.
- In 2001, she wrote a bill to create the Greater Northside Management District. This group works to improve the economy and quality of life for businesses in parts of her district.
- In 2007, she helped start the Texas Women's Health Foundation. This non-profit group aims to make women's health issues less political. She is also an ex-officio member of its board.
Farrar also serves on the boards of other organizations. These include Air Alliance Houston, which works on air quality, and Avenue CDC, which focuses on community development. She is also on the National Advisory Committee of the National Latina Institute for Reproductive Health.
