PUBLIC SAFETY
Rep. Walle works hard in the Legislature to make the neighborhoods of HD 140 safe for everyone. Last session, he was an advocate for legislation that cracks down on catalytic converter thefts — a major issue in metropolitan areas across the state.
He has also worked closely with the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission and with businesses directly to ensure bars and nightclubs in the district use street lights, security officers, and other measures to keep the surrounding community safe
ISSUES
CLEAN AIR
Rep. Walle is a leader in the Texas House of Representatives on environmental issues, particularly in air quality. Given the unincorporated portion of the district and the lack of zoning laws in Harris County, HD 140 is a popular location for concrete batch plants and other industrial businesses. Every session, Rep. Walle fights for legislation that would add protections for residents by increasing air pollution monitoring and restricting where these facilities can operate.
Last session, he successfully worked across the aisle to close loopholes in the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality permitting process, making it easier for residents to appeal. He also garnered $7 million in the state budget to increase air monitoring activities in critical areas across the state.
WORKING FAMILIES
Rep. Walle is a champion for working families in HD 140. In the Legislature, he has led efforts to combat food insecurity by providing free breakfast for any student eligible for the free and reduced lunch program and securing funding for a new state-of-the-art food bank in House District 140. He also has repeatedly filed legislation to increase the minimum wage and is a go-to advocate in the Texas House for worker’s rights.
Last session, he worked to expand worker’s compensation for contractors in construction and fought to protect mandatory water breaks for construction workers. In his efforts to expand access to affordable housing, Rep. Walle has passed bills in the House that would create a revolving loan program for low-income housing and prevent income discrimination in Public Facility Corporations. He also works closely on issues of tenants’ rights.
INFRASTRUCTURE
As a lifelong native of Houston, Rep. Walle knows the importance of updating and investing in public infrastructure. In the Texas House, he is a leader on issues of flood control and disaster mitigation. As a key Member of the House Appropriations Committee, Rep. Walle secured over $1 billion in funding for various flood control projects across the state last year. For House District 140, he made $18 million available for the Halls Bayou Watershed in North Houston.
EDUCATION
A product of Texas public schools, Rep. Walle believes that every student — regardless of background — has the right to a quality education. In 2023, he was honored with a Public School Champion Award by Raise Your Hand Texas for his leadership on the House Floor in the fight against voucher scams. He has consistently supported efforts to get more dollars into our underfunded public school system.
As a leader on the powerful Appropriations Committee, Rep. Walle has advocated for increasing educational opportunities for Houston students. Last Session, he was an architect of the Texas University Fund — which created a $3 billion endowment available to rising research schools such as the University of Houston. He also increased funding for the UH/Houston Independent School District Partnership Program to support the certification of new teachers, and expanded existing efforts to provide STEM instruction to high-needs school districts.
