Long serving State Rep. Four Price will not seek reelection

Four Price, the longtime State Representative for the 87^th District in the Texas House, which covers eight counties of the Texas Panhandle including Potter, announced in a news release that he would not seek reelection for an eighth term. He will serve in the state Legislature until January 2025.

Price, R-Amarillo, has held office since 2011 when he ran for the late David Swinford’s open seat. Price serves the region that includes Carson, Hansford, Hutchinson, Lipscomb, Moore, Ochiltree, Potter and Sherman counties. In the last election, Price won his district with 87% of the vote over Libertarian Nick Hearn. During his time in office, Price has not faced a serious challenge for reelection, often running unopposed and continuously garnering more than 75% of the vote.

During this session, Price was selected to serve on the Natural Resource, Public Health and Health Care Reform Committees. Price was instrumental in the recent funding of $159 million for a state-funded mental health hospital to be in Amarillo and has been a part of a group of rural Republicans who have continued to oppose school vouchers, having voted to not allow state dollars from funding these measures in April. He was also a strong proponent of getting the Texas Tech School of Veterinary Medicine in Amarillo. This was the first new veterinary school in Texas in over a century.

"The up-or-down vote was, you can accept the teacher pay raise, but you're also going to have to vote for a universal voucher, which in the House is kind of a non-starter," Price said in a recent forum about this past session. "What works great in Houston, or in Dallas, or in Corpus Christi is not necessarily representative and beneficial for those of us that live west of I-35."

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Along with the announcement, Price released the following statement:

"It's an honor for me to serve as the State Representative for the 87th District in the Texas House of Representatives, and I'm thankful to be representing the best people in Texas. I am making known at this early stage of the campaign cycle, however, that I do not intend to seek re-election in 2024. Consequently, my current term of service will end in January 2025. I have represented the 87th House District for seven sessions in the Texas Legislature, and I'm deeply appreciative of the community's overwhelming support since first being elected in 2010. From day one, I have worked hard to serve my constituents and improve our community. It's been the privilege of a lifetime to work on their behalf in the legislature and play a meaningful role in passing landmark legislation. I've given this decision considerable thought and believe the time is right to complete my service as a House member.

"While completing my service, I will continue to assist the constituents of House District 87 and work diligently on issues important to the Texas Panhandle. I understood when first elected in 2010, and understand even more clearly now, how important it is to have an effective advocate for our community. I'm so pleased of all that we've accomplished together to improve and strengthen our state. Having served for four years on the Texas Sunset Advisory Commission, on 17 different committees (including six House Select Committees) and having been appointed to chair or co-chair six of those committees, I have enjoyed working on a wide variety of policy matters. During my seven sessions, I authored dozens of laws that I believe now benefit Texans both at home and statewide. I know we made a positive difference.

"Very few people get to be a member of the Texas Legislature. Even fewer get to choose the length of their service or accomplish their legislative priorities. I'm grateful to House District 87 for allowing me the chance to do both. It's been a wonderful experience through which I've made many new and lifelong friendships. Thank you to my wife Karen and my family, my dedicated staff and everyone in HD 87 for giving me the opportunity to serve and represent this special district in the Texas Panhandle.

"May God bless you and may God bless our great state of Texas!"

Major legislation passed over the years

According to Price's press team, some of the major legislative measures Rep. Price authored and championed into law in prior sessions include:

• HB 2464 (88R) providing optional COLAs statewide to certain city retirees including police.

• HB 5355 (88R) creating a Municipal Management District for Panhandle area beef processing.

• HB 2727 (88R) expanding use of Home Telemonitoring services statewide.

• HB 999 (88R) protecting consumers by prohibiting health insurers use of copay accumulators.

• HB 2059 (88R) improving efficiencies & expanding Mental Health First Aid training.

• HB 2100 (88R) providing student loan assistance for certain mental health professionals.

• HJR 107 (88R) constitutional amendment to increase mandatory retirement age for judiciary.

• HB 4 (87R) expanding and improving the use oftelemedicine and telehealth in Texas.

• HB 2595 (87R) strengthening of mental health parity.

• HB 871 (86R) enhancing financial viability of rural hospitals.

• HB 1063 and HB 3345 (86R) enhancing the delivery of healthcare services via telemedicine.

• HB 2454 (86R) addressing the overprescribing of opioids.

• HB 1960 (86R) providing for an analysis of rural broadband opportunities.

• HB 1074 (86R) eliminating age discrimination in employer training programs.

• HB 18 and HB 19 (86R) enhancing mental health education & resources in public schools.

• HB 1079 (86R) requiring TxDOT to study the potential expansion of I-27.

• HB 406 (86R) increasing opportunities to register as an organ donor.

• HB 1136 (86R) enhancing tourism development opportunities statewide.

• HB 601 (86R) improving the nexus between mental health and criminal justice.

• HB 13 (85R) providing local opportunities to address mental health needs.

• HB 1697 (85R) enhancing neonatal intensive care telemedicine.

• HB 10 (85R) improving parity access to care for persons with mental health conditions.

• HB 194 (84R) creating a Texas holiday in honor of Texas Gold Star Mothers.

• HB 635 (84R) ensuring parent rights to bury their unborn child's remains.

• HB 197 (84R) & HB 2895 (85R) raising mental health awareness at colleges/universities.

• HB 1212 (84R) and HB 2804 (85R) strengthening laws against synthetic drugs.

• HB 1869 (83R) helping injured Texans.

• HB 220 (83R) enhancing punishment for crimes against children.

• HB 2038 (82R), Natasha's Law, landmark legislation to support student athlete brain health.

This article originally appeared on Amarillo Globe-News: Four Price, R-Amarillo, to not run for 8th term in 87th District