Dan Gattis
Encyclopedia
Dan Gattis was a Republican
member of the Texas House of Representatives
, formerly representing the 20th District since 2002.
His district was made up of Milam
and part of Williamson county
Gattis planned to run for State Senate in 2010, but then decided to spend more time with his family.
, Texas
, to a ranching family. His mother is a retired public school teacher, and his Father, Dan A. Gattis, Sr. is a former high school agricultural teacher, and current County Judge of Williamson County.
Dan lives in Jonah, Texas (outside of Georgetown, Texas) with his wife Shana, and three young children.
Beyond his political career, Dan is a current partner of Gattis and Lucas, LLP, and also helps with the family ranch. Previously, he worked as a prosecutor for the Williamson County Attorney’s Office and the District Attorney’s Office.
Furthermore, Gattis was Vice-Chair of the Subcommittee on Health and Human Services, the Chair for budget and oversight to the House Natural Resources Committee, and a member of the Joint Committee on State Water Funding and Select Environmental Flows Advisory Group.
When not in session, Gattis served on the House Select Committee on Property Tax Relief and Appraisal Reform, which held hearings throughout Texas to hear from taxpayers and officials on how to reform the property tax system.
In January, 2009 Gattis filed HB 747, which will make it easier for officers to attain breath or blood samples from assumed drunk drivers, given that they have been arrested for two or more DWI offenses. Gattis said this will enable officers to hold the most serious DWI offenders accountable for their actions.
In April, 2009 Gattis filed HB 4815, which is intended to require some non-HOA residents of an Austin area suburb to join a nearby mandatory HOA, as their Municipal Utility District
(MUD) is being annexed by the city of Cedar Park. Some residents felt that their property rights were being infringed upon, but the MUD's lobby was effective.
In the 80th Session, Gattis passed HB 1557 and SB 1832, which eliminates marked up charges on healthcare expenses.
Gattis also lead the passage of HB 8, known as Jessica’s Law, which toughens punishment for child sex offenders.
Additionally, Gattis passed HB 1355, which deals with punishment of irresponsible owners in the case of serious dog attacks. Beyond this, the Representative kept the identity of an abused student private with SB 606.
In the 79th session, Gattis authored HB 836 in the 79th Session, which allows patients to state whether they want generic or name brand drugs, before receiving their prescription. It also gives patients the right to pay the listed price if it is lower than the co-pay price.
Beyond this, Gattis passed HB 904, which allows prison sentences for those possessing child pornography to be increased by judges. Gattis has passed several pieces of legislation that give judges more authority on denying bail on criminal defends, among other issues.
Additionally Gattis authored HB 1208. This bill limits municipal utility districts in applying eminent domain.
Gattis authored HB 136, which enables counties and cities to freeze property tax rates for those who are disabled or are over the age of 65. Also dealing with property tax issues, Gattis passed SB 392 and HB 2346 which deals with specific knowledge residents must be aware of and their rights to challenge appraisals.
Gattis also co-authored HB 263 that reinforces child advocacy centers, and helped the passage of SB 319 and HB 246, known as the “Laci Peterson” law.
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
member of the Texas House of Representatives
Texas House of Representatives
The Texas House of Representatives is the lower house of the Texas Legislature. The House is composed of 150 members elected from single-member districts across the state. The average district has about 150,000 people. Representatives are elected to two-year terms with no term limits...
, formerly representing the 20th District since 2002.
His district was made up of Milam
Milam
Milam, can refer to:* Dream Yoga, .People:* J.B. Milam, a chief of the Cherokee Nation* William Milam, an American diplomat* Benjamin Milam, a Texas Revolution figure* Carl H...
and part of Williamson county
Williamson County
Williamson County is the name of three counties in the United States:* Williamson County, Illinois* Williamson County, Tennessee* Williamson County, Texas...
Gattis planned to run for State Senate in 2010, but then decided to spend more time with his family.
Personal life and previous career
Dan Gattis is a 6th generation Texan, born in AustinAustin, Texas
Austin is the capital city of the U.S. state of :Texas and the seat of Travis County. Located in Central Texas on the eastern edge of the American Southwest, it is the fourth-largest city in Texas and the 14th most populous city in the United States. It was the third-fastest-growing large city in...
, Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
, to a ranching family. His mother is a retired public school teacher, and his Father, Dan A. Gattis, Sr. is a former high school agricultural teacher, and current County Judge of Williamson County.
Dan lives in Jonah, Texas (outside of Georgetown, Texas) with his wife Shana, and three young children.
Beyond his political career, Dan is a current partner of Gattis and Lucas, LLP, and also helps with the family ranch. Previously, he worked as a prosecutor for the Williamson County Attorney’s Office and the District Attorney’s Office.
Education
Dan Gattis attended Friendswood High School, in Friendswood, Texas. He went on to graduate from Texas A&M University in 1990. Here, he was a member of the Corps of Cadets and also served as class president. Dan then obtained his law degree at South Texas College of Law in 1993.2008
2006
2004
2002
Legislative Involvement
Representative Gattis served on several committees, including the House Appropriations Committee and the Budget Conference Committee, where he was the main health and welfare budget writer.Furthermore, Gattis was Vice-Chair of the Subcommittee on Health and Human Services, the Chair for budget and oversight to the House Natural Resources Committee, and a member of the Joint Committee on State Water Funding and Select Environmental Flows Advisory Group.
When not in session, Gattis served on the House Select Committee on Property Tax Relief and Appraisal Reform, which held hearings throughout Texas to hear from taxpayers and officials on how to reform the property tax system.
81st Session
(2009–2010)In January, 2009 Gattis filed HB 747, which will make it easier for officers to attain breath or blood samples from assumed drunk drivers, given that they have been arrested for two or more DWI offenses. Gattis said this will enable officers to hold the most serious DWI offenders accountable for their actions.
In April, 2009 Gattis filed HB 4815, which is intended to require some non-HOA residents of an Austin area suburb to join a nearby mandatory HOA, as their Municipal Utility District
Municipal Utility District
A Municipal Utility District is a special-purpose district or other governmental jurisdiction that provides public utilities to the residents of that district...
(MUD) is being annexed by the city of Cedar Park. Some residents felt that their property rights were being infringed upon, but the MUD's lobby was effective.
80th Session
(2007–2008)In the 80th Session, Gattis passed HB 1557 and SB 1832, which eliminates marked up charges on healthcare expenses.
Gattis also lead the passage of HB 8, known as Jessica’s Law, which toughens punishment for child sex offenders.
Additionally, Gattis passed HB 1355, which deals with punishment of irresponsible owners in the case of serious dog attacks. Beyond this, the Representative kept the identity of an abused student private with SB 606.
79th Session
(2005–2006)In the 79th session, Gattis authored HB 836 in the 79th Session, which allows patients to state whether they want generic or name brand drugs, before receiving their prescription. It also gives patients the right to pay the listed price if it is lower than the co-pay price.
Beyond this, Gattis passed HB 904, which allows prison sentences for those possessing child pornography to be increased by judges. Gattis has passed several pieces of legislation that give judges more authority on denying bail on criminal defends, among other issues.
Additionally Gattis authored HB 1208. This bill limits municipal utility districts in applying eminent domain.
78th Session
(2003–2004)Gattis authored HB 136, which enables counties and cities to freeze property tax rates for those who are disabled or are over the age of 65. Also dealing with property tax issues, Gattis passed SB 392 and HB 2346 which deals with specific knowledge residents must be aware of and their rights to challenge appraisals.
Gattis also co-authored HB 263 that reinforces child advocacy centers, and helped the passage of SB 319 and HB 246, known as the “Laci Peterson” law.