Jeff Leach (politician)

Leach was born in Plano, Texas and graduated from Plano Senior High School.[1] He attended Baylor University in Waco, Texas. 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.

Leach specializes in complex commercial and civil litigation, construction law, and real estate.[2] 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]

In 2020, Leach was angered by tweets from a professor at Collin College, within his district, critical of then-Vice President Mike Pence. He reached out to the president of the college and asked if the professor was "paid with taxpayer dollars." In February 2021, Leach prematurely tweeted that the professor had been fired. Nine days later, the college fired the professor. In January 2022, the college offered the professor a large settlement for violating her First Amendment rights.[4]

Leach and his wife Becky have three children and are lifelong members of Prestonwood Baptist Church in Plano, where they have served for several years in the Young Families Ministry.[5]

During the 87th Legislative Session, Leach authored or co-authored over 40 pieces of legislation[6] that were passed and signed by Governor Abbott. Among the bills passed was a balanced budget that didn't raise taxes,[7] many reforms and improvements to the electric grid and the governing body of ERCOT,[8][9] Second Amendment protections,[10][11] enhancements to public education, improved access to health care, and protection for the unborn.[12]

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's seat was targeted by the Texas Democratic Party in 2020; however, Leach defeated his opponent, Lorenzo Sanchez, by a margin of 51.7% to 48.3%, despite Democrat Joe Biden winning the 67th district in the concurrent Presidential Election.[14][15] It was the costliest State House race in the history of Texas.

Leach first ran for State Representative in 2012 and began his first legislative session in 2013 - the 83rd Legislative session.[16] Over the course of five sessions, Leach has authored and passed many 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. Additionally, he authored and passed the Texas Born Alive bill that protects infants born alive after an unsuccessful abortion. He also led the charge to rename a section of Highway 75 through Richardson, the Officer David Sherrard Highway,[17] after fallen Richardson police officer David Sherrard. During the 85th Legislative session, Leach passed SB 969 protecting victims of campus sexual assault as well as legislation to protect vulnerable children in foster care by implementing systemic reforms to Child Protective Services. In the 84th session, he authored legislation cracking down on sexual offenders as well as legislation safeguarding private property rights. He also passed legislation to provide substantial increases in state funding to improve Texas' transportation infrastructure all from existing revenue. During his first session, the 83rd, 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, 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.

• "Best Legislator of the Year" by Texas Monthly magazine[18]
• "Champion of Faith and Family" by Texas Values[19]
• "Free Enterprise Champion" by the Texas Association of Business[20]
• "Courageous Conservative" by the Texas Conservative Coalition[21]
• "Best of Dallas-area's Freshman Class" by Dallas Morning News[22]
• "Top Rated Conservative in the Texas House" by Texas Eagle Forum[23]
• "Taxpayer Champion" by Texans for Fiscal Responsibility
• "Best Freshmen Legislator" by Capitol Inside
• "Favorite Legislator" by Plano Deputy Mayor Pro Tem Ben Harris

• Texas House of Representatives - Jeff Leach
• JeffLeach.com - Personal Website
• Jeff Leach's YouTube Channel
• Jeff Leach on Facebook
• Jeff Leach on Twitter
• Profile at Vote Smart
• District 67 Map
• The Texas Tribune - Hot Seat: A Conversation with Leach and Paxton (Video)