Jessica Farrar
Encyclopedia
Jessica Christina Farrar is a United States politician and an incumbent in the Texas House of Representatives
. She is currently serving her 9th term as the representative from District 148, located in Houston, TX. She is the House Democratic Caucus Leader, and is the longest-serving Hispanic member from Harris County in the Texas House of Representatives.
from the University of Houston
and a Juris Doctorate degree from the University of Texas School of Law.
In 2003, Farrar sponsored legislation that would prohibit employment discrimination based upon sexual orientation
or gender identity
.
In 2009, she proposed a bill that would recognize postpartum psychosis
as a defense for mothers who kill their infants. Under the terms of the proposed legislation, if jurors concluded that a mother's "judgment was impaired as a result of the effects of giving birth or the effects of lactation following the birth," they would be allowed to convict her of the crime of infanticide, rather than murder. The maximum penalty for infanciticide would be two years in prison. Farrar's introduction of this bill prompted liberal bioethics scholar Jacob M. Appel
to call her "the bravest politician in America."
In 2011, Farrar introduced legislation that would prohibit peace officers from inquiring as to the immigration or nationality status of a witness or victim in a criminal investigation.
In addition to these positions, Farrar serves on the Board of Directors for Air Alliance Houston (formerly known as the Galveston-Houston Association for Smog Prevention), Avenue CDC, Rice Design Alliance, Women Action for New Direction Education Fund, and the National Advisory Committee of the National Latina Institute for Reproductive Health. She also serves on the Postpartum Support International's President's Advisory Council.
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...
. She is currently serving her 9th term as the representative from District 148, located in Houston, TX. She is the House Democratic Caucus Leader, and is the longest-serving Hispanic member from Harris County in the Texas House of Representatives.
Early Life and Education
Farrar was raised in Houston, TX and graduated from Lamar High School in 1984. She went on to receive a Bachelor of ArchitectureBachelor of Architecture
The Bachelor of Architecture is an undergraduate academic degree designed to satisfy the academic component of professional accreditation bodies, to be followed by a period of practical training prior to professional examination and registration. It is awarded for a course of study that lasts up...
from the University of Houston
University of Houston
The University of Houston is a state research university, and is the flagship institution of the University of Houston System. Founded in 1927, it is Texas's third-largest university with nearly 40,000 students. Its campus spans 667 acres in southeast Houston, and was known as University of...
and a Juris Doctorate degree from the University of Texas School of Law.
Texas House of Representatives
In 1994, Farrar was elected to the Texas House of Representatives at the age of 27. She has since represented district 148, which is located in Houston, Texas. This district includes portions of the Heights, Timbergrove, East Spring Branch, Northside Village, and 2nd Ward areas.Current Committees
- Environmental Regulation - Vice Chair
- Border and Intergovernmental Affairs - Member
Past Committees
- 74th Legislative Session
- Corrections
- Criminal Jurisprudence
- 75th Legislative Session
- Corrections
- Criminal Jurisprudence
- Rules & Resolutions
- 76th Legislative Session
- Appropriations
- Corrections
- 77th Legislative Session
- Appropriations
- Corrections - Vice Chair
- 78th Legislative Session
- Corrections
- County Affairs
- 79th Legislative Session
- Agriculture & Livestock
- State Affairs
- 80th Legislative Session
- Juvenile Justice & Family Issues
- State Affairs
- 81st Legislative Session
- Environmental Regulation
- Land & Resource Management - Vice Chair
Caucuses
- House Democratic Caucus - Chair
- Woman's Health Caucus - founder and Vice Chair
- Environmental Caucus - founder
- Mexican-American Legislative Caucus - member
Notable Legislation
Each legislative session, Farrar introduces a bill to abolish the death penalty in Texas.In 2003, Farrar sponsored legislation that would prohibit employment discrimination based upon sexual orientation
Sexual orientation
Sexual orientation describes a pattern of emotional, romantic, or sexual attractions to the opposite sex, the same sex, both, or neither, and the genders that accompany them. By the convention of organized researchers, these attractions are subsumed under heterosexuality, homosexuality,...
or gender identity
Gender identity
A gender identity is the way in which an individual self-identifies with a gender category, for example, as being either a man or a woman, or in some cases being neither, which can be distinct from biological sex. Basic gender identity is usually formed by age three and is extremely difficult to...
.
In 2009, she proposed a bill that would recognize postpartum psychosis
Postpartum psychosis
Postpartum psychosis is a term that covers a group of mental illnesses with the sudden onset of psychotic symptoms following childbirth. In this group there are at least a dozen organic psychoses, which are described under another heading "organic pre- and postpartum psychoses"...
as a defense for mothers who kill their infants. Under the terms of the proposed legislation, if jurors concluded that a mother's "judgment was impaired as a result of the effects of giving birth or the effects of lactation following the birth," they would be allowed to convict her of the crime of infanticide, rather than murder. The maximum penalty for infanciticide would be two years in prison. Farrar's introduction of this bill prompted liberal bioethics scholar Jacob M. Appel
Jacob M. Appel
Jacob M. Appel is an American author, bioethicist and social critic. He is best known for his short stories, his work as a playwright, and his writing in the fields of reproductive ethics, organ donation, neuroethics and euthanasia....
to call her "the bravest politician in America."
In 2011, Farrar introduced legislation that would prohibit peace officers from inquiring as to the immigration or nationality status of a witness or victim in a criminal investigation.
The Killer Ds
In May 2003, Farrar helped to organize a group of Texas House Democrats who left Texas for Ardmore, Oklahoma. The absence of 52 House Democrats prevented Republican passage of the redistricting plan during the 2003 regular session. The Killer Ds were followed by a group of 11 Senators, called the Texas Eleven, who fled the state in August 2003 for the same reasons.Community Involvement
Farrar founded a non-profit mentorship and educational program for Latina college students known as Latinas on the Rise in 1998, and she currently serves on the Board of Directors. In 2001, she authored a bill to create the Greater Northside Management District, a group dedicated to promoting the economic development and quality of life for commercial property owners and to creating opportunities for new development in portions of Farrar's district. She also co-founded the Texas Women's Health Foundation in 2007, a non-partisan non-profit aimed at de-politicizing women's health issues, and she serves as an ex-officio member of its board.In addition to these positions, Farrar serves on the Board of Directors for Air Alliance Houston (formerly known as the Galveston-Houston Association for Smog Prevention), Avenue CDC, Rice Design Alliance, Women Action for New Direction Education Fund, and the National Advisory Committee of the National Latina Institute for Reproductive Health. She also serves on the Postpartum Support International's President's Advisory Council.
External links
- Texas House of Representatives - Jessica Farrar official TX House website
- Project Vote Smart - Representative Jessica Farrar (TX) profile
- Follow the Money - Jessica Farrar