Haynes and Boone, LLP Of Counsel Rafael Anchia, a Democratic Texas state representative from the Dallas area, teamed with veteran journalist Evan Smith, CEO and editor-in-chief of The Texas Tribune, to review the Texas Legislature’s 85th Regular Session during lively sessions at the firm’s Dallas, Houston, San Antonio, and Austin offices.
Anchia and Smith were joined by a local Republican state representative in each of the cities, and the panels reviewed some of the hot button issues — including school finance, immigration, and the transgender bathroom bill — that legislators debated during the session and are likely to tackle in the special session called for July 18.
The panels featured Rep. Jeff Leach (R-Plano) in Dallas; Rep. Dan Huberty (R-Houston) in Houston, Rep. Lyle Larson (R-San Antonio) in the Alamo City and Rep. Tony Dale (R-Cedar Park) in Austin.
In the Legislature, Anchia chairs the House International Trade & Intergovernmental Affairs Committee. At Haynes and Boone, he represents financial institutions and public and private funds in a variety of transactions and maintains an active public finance practice.
After the Dallas presentation, Anchia visited with Haynes and Boone summer interns Bernard Miller (Duke University School of Law), Erica Santamaria (Georgetown University Law Center), Seti Tesefay and Noor Wadi (both University of Texas School of Law) and AT&T intern Taylor Hennington (UNT Dallas College of Law).
Across all cities, the sessions attracted a total of about 200 clients, lawyers and other attendees. The events were part of a four-year-old series of pre- and post-legislative session events sponsored by Haynes and Boone in the interest of promoting a more informed electorate.