Speaker Phelan Creates Select Committee on Community Safety

Speaker Phelan announced this week the creation of the House Select Committee on Community Safety to consider gun-related legislative proposals that are filed during the 88th Legislature. The 13-member committee has jurisdiction over matters related to the possession, use, sale and transfer of all firearms and ammunition, as well as any associated criminal offenses and penalties.

The membership of this committee supplements the membership of the Homeland Security and Public Safety Committee, to which similar legislation was referred during the 87th Legislature, with members who served on the Robb Elementary Shooting Investigative Committee and members whose communities have experienced the unspeakable tragedy of a mass shooting in recent years.

“The Texas House intends to do everything in our power to keep children and classrooms in our state safe,” Speaker Phelan said. “While there are many factors related to this wide-ranging issue that our chamber will discuss during the legislative session, such as mental health, social media and school safety, a necessary component to this conversation will be related to firearm safety.”

“The individuals I have appointed to serve on this select committee bring extensive knowledge related to homeland security and public safety as well as their personal experiences from the districts they represent,” Speaker Phelan added. “I trust that the members of this committee will thoroughly examine the legislation that comes before them, guiding the rest of our chamber on a robust and much-needed conversation this legislative session.”

The following members of the Texas House have been appointed to serve on the select committee:

• Rep. Ryan Guillen, Chair

• Rep. Jarvis Johnson, Vice Chair

• Rep. Rhetta Andrews Bowers

• Rep. Dustin Burrows

• Rep. Terry Canales

• Rep. Mark Dorazio

• Rep. Vikki Goodwin

• Rep. Sam Harless

• Rep. Justin Holland

• Rep. Tracy King

• Rep. Brooks Landgraf

• Rep. Joe Moody

• Rep. Ellen Troxclair

Read the full proclamation here.