Sam has been a resident of Northwest Harris County since 1976. He graduated from Spring High School and attended Lone Star College and Sam Houston State University. Sam is married to Patricia and they have one child. They are active members of Champion Forest Baptist Church.

Sam is a small business owner of Fred Fincher Motors, an automobile dealership. 

Ballotpedia

E. Sam Harless is a state representative in State House District 126. He was elected in 2018 and is serving his 3rd term. 

Candidate website

Supports cutting regulations on small businesses.

As a state representative, passed a bill that cut property taxes by $5 billion and mandates voter approval for future tax rate impositions.

As a state representative, supported a bill that cut property taxes by $5 billion and mandates voter approval for future tax rate hikes.

As a state representative, added over $500 million to the teacher retirement fund.

Supported legislation that gave over $500 million to the teacher retirement fund.

- Supports cutting regulations on small businesses.
- Supports a state income tax ban.
- As a state representative, supported a bill that cut property taxes by $5 billion and mandates voter approval for future tax rate hikes.
- Supported legislation that gave over $500 million to the teacher retirement fund.

Economy

As Attorney General, eliminated the rape kit backlog and provided law enforcement tools to prosecute sexual assault crimes.

Supported a bill that aimed to eliminate the rape kit backlog.

As a state representative, passed a bill that mandates jail time for human and sex trafficking.

As a state representative, supported a bill that mandates jail time for human trafficking.

- Supported a bill that aimed to eliminate the rape kit backlog.
- Opposes efforts to defund the police.
- As a state representative, supported a bill that mandates jail time for human trafficking.

Public Safety

Austin American-Statesman, Here's who voted for (and against) Texas' new abortion law in the House and Senate

Supports transparency in healthcare costs and passed legislation to end surprise medical billing.

Supports increased funding for women’s healthcare, including cancer screenings and mammograms.

- Supports transparency in healthcare costs and passed legislation to end surprise medical billing.
- Supports increased funding for women’s healthcare, including cancer screenings and mammograms.
- Opposes abortion access.

Healthcare

As a state representative, increased public education funding by $5 billion.

As a state representative, supported an additional $5 billion for public education funding.

- As a state representative, supported an additional $5 billion for public education funding.

Education

As of September 7, 2024, E. Sam Harless’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Energy & the Environment

Voting & Elections

Fox 26, Man says he was attacked on video by former employer

Was sued, along with his wife, for failure to provide a safe workplace and for assault and battery in 2013.

- Was sued, along with his wife, for failure to provide a safe workplace and for assault and battery in 2013.

Ethics & Conduct

Twitter

Facebook

Instagram

E. Sam Harless

Sarah lives in Houston, where she has resided for 12 years.

Sarah has worked in public service, activism, and mentorship roles. 

Ballotpedia: Sarah Smith

Sarah Smith's campaign for state representative is her first run for public office. 

Wants to create a small business grant program for the district that will  allocate grants for "technology upgrades, workforce development, and operational expansion."

Wants to work with city officials to create more affordable retail and office spaces in the district.

- Wants to create a small business grant program for the district that will  allocate grants for "technology upgrades, workforce development, and operational expansion."
- Wants to work with city officials to create more affordable retail and office spaces in the district.

Supports gun regulation such as "comprehensive background checks," "safe storage laws," and "red flag laws that allow temporary removal of firearms from individuals deemed a risk to themselves or others by a court."

Wants to provide free or low-cost gun safety courses to promote more responsible gun ownership.

Supports gun buyback programs where unwanted guns are handed in to police departments.

Supports expanded monitoring of registered sex offenders.

Supports greater funding for crime prevention and youth outreach programs.

Supports drainage improvement in high-risk areas for flooding.

- Supports gun regulation such as "comprehensive background checks," "safe storage laws," and "red flag laws that allow temporary removal of firearms from individuals deemed a risk to themselves or others by a court."
- Wants to provide free or low-cost gun safety courses to promote more responsible gun ownership.
- Supports gun buyback programs where unwanted guns are handed in to police departments.
- Supports expanded monitoring of registered sex offenders.
- Supports greater funding for crime prevention and youth outreach programs.
- Supports drainage improvement in high-risk areas for flooding.

Prioritizes expanding access to mental health services.

Supports increased funding for health clinics and assisted living centers in underserved areas.

Supports expanding Medicaid and Medicare access by granting tax benefits to healthcare providers who accept public insurance options.

Believes that veterans and those with disabilities need tailored healthcare that requires greater state funding.

- Prioritizes expanding access to mental health services.
- Supports increased funding for health clinics and assisted living centers in underserved areas.
- Supports expanding Medicaid and Medicare access by granting tax benefits to healthcare providers who accept public insurance options.
- Believes that veterans and those with disabilities need tailored healthcare that requires greater state funding.

Supports increased funding for students and pay raises for teachers.

Believes that specific grants should be given to school districts for mental health services and special education resources.

Supports distributing state resources to school districts in a more equitable fashion.

Wants parents to have greater resources available to learn how to assist their children in their education.

- Supports increased funding for students and pay raises for teachers.
- Believes that specific grants should be given to school districts for mental health services and special education resources.
- Supports distributing state resources to school districts in a more equitable fashion.
- Wants parents to have greater resources available to learn how to assist their children in their education.

Supports stricter regulations on industrial emissions.

Wants to promote green energy infrastructure projects and more sustainable urban development.

Supports enhanced protections for local ecosystems in her district.

- Supports stricter regulations on industrial emissions.
- Wants to promote green energy infrastructure projects and more sustainable urban development.
- Supports enhanced protections for local ecosystems in her district.

Supports creating a statewide task force to improve civic engagement and representation in Texas.

- Supports creating a statewide task force to improve civic engagement and representation in Texas.

As of September 7, 2024, Sarah Smith’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Sarah Smith

- Your state representative represents the interests of your local district in the Texas House of Representatives. The State House of Representatives, along with the State Senate, makes up your state lawmaking body: the Texas State Legislature
- Your state representative can author, sponsor, and vote on bills that may become state laws. 
- There are 150 members of the Texas House of Representatives, each representing a single district. Representatives must be at least 21 years old and reside in the state for at least two years before their election. 
- State representatives are elected to two-year terms during even-numbered years. There are no term limits. 
- State representatives make $7,200 annually in addition to a $221 payment per day during legislative sessions and mileage reimbursements.

Texas State Representative, District 126

Election results

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