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Senator Florence Shapiro: District 8
Occupation: Former Small Business Owner
Education: University of Texas-Austin, B.S. in Secondary Education
Legislative Experience: Senate Member, 1993 - present
Hometown: Plano
Party: Republican
Florence Shapiro began her career in the Texas Senate in 1993. A former small business owner, her journey into Texas politics began years prior and miles away from the Texas Capitol. While she's been a highly effective advocate on behalf of her constituents in District 8, her career in public service spans four decades. As a former public school teacher, she first entered elective office as a Plano City Council member. Following six terms on the Council, she was elected Mayor of Plano. During this time, she also served as President of the Texas Municipal League and the North Texas Council of Governments.
Senator Shapiro's issues while serving in the Senate have been many. A champion of children, she passed landmark legislation to protect against sexual predators. Her series of bills known as Ashley's Laws, protects against, adjudicates, and punishes sex offenders whose victims are children. These laws, which went into effect in 1995, were national benchmarks, and Senator Shapiro continues to dedicate herself to improving the safety and security of our children.
In 1999, Senator Shapiro became chair of the Senate State Affairs Committee and committed herself to the issue of transportation, creating the first fund for Texas mobility.
In 2003, the Senator became chair of the Senate Education Committee, where she passed legislation to overhaul the state's school finance system. Her landmark legislation, House Bill 1, significantly lowers property taxes, provides more money for schools, along with a teacher pay raise and the first-ever incentive pay program, educational reforms at the high school level to promote college readiness and curb dropouts, and more meaningful accountability for schools.
Her consistent leadership over the years has earned the Senator many honors. Senator Shapiro was recently honored by Dallas Can! Academy with its Lifetime Achievement Award. The Academy, a non-profit organization giving young Texans a second chance through relationship-based education, presented the award to the Senator at the Academy's 17th Annual Motherhood Luncheon. Senator Shapiro was recognized for her outstanding contributions to education and her work to improve the lives of children across Texas while also showing great dedication to her family and community. Prior to this recognition, she was named to the Legislative Honor Roll by the Texas Association of Realtors, was awarded Inside Collin County Business's Celebration of Enterprise Award for the public official business partner of the year, the Government Technology Conference's Bob Bullock Award for Public Stewardship, Girl Scouts of the USA Tejas Council's Real Women Award, and the Outstanding Service Award from Independent Colleges and Universities of Texas.
Today, the Senator serves as Texas representative to The Council of State Governments (CSG) Education Policy Task Force. She also serves on the Southern Regional Education Board and the Education Commission of the States, coalitions of elected officials and education leaders that address issues such as long-range planning, policy proposals, and the advancement of education among the states. Senator Shapiro is also an appointee to the Governor's Criminal Justice Advisory Council, Co-Chair of the Study Commission on Region C Water Supply, and a member of the Standing Committee on Education for the National Conference of State Legislators.
A graduate of the University of Texas at Austin, Senator Shapiro holds a bachelor's degree in secondary education. In addition to chairing the Senate Education Committee, she currently serves on the Senate Committees on Finance; Transportation and Homeland and Security; and Administration.
She and her husband, Howard, live in Plano. They have three children and nine grandchildren.
Newsletter
 Direct From Shapiro - June 8, 2011 (pdf)
Direct From Shapiro - May 9, 2011 (pdf)
Direct From Shapiro - April 25, 2011 (pdf)
Direct From Shapiro - April 11, 2011 (pdf)
Direct From Shapiro - April 4, 2011 (pdf)
Direct From Shapiro - March 28, 2011 (pdf)
Direct From Shapiro - March 21, 2011 (pdf)
[ MORE ... ]
Press Releases
 May 13, 2011
Sen. Shapiro and Rep. Madden Announce Passage of K2 Legislation
March 29, 2011
Senator Shapiro's Mail-in Ballot Fraud Bill Successfully Passed out of Senate State Affairs Committee
 March 23, 2011
Press conference regarding public education funding and unfunded mandates on local school districts.
February 24, 2011
Press conference regarding proposed legislation relating to public education funding strategies.
February 9, 2011
Senator Shapiro Files Mentoring Bill to Support New Teachers (Senate Bill 570)
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Sen. Shapiro in the News in the 82nd Session
 March 8, 2011
Bills Seek To Give School Districts More Control (Texas Senate News)
February 1, 2011
Education Leaders Ask For Mandate Relief (Texas Senate News)
Op-Ed Opinions
 August 12, 2010
Senator's Take: The Promise of Charter Schools
August 12, 2010
Florence Focuses On... The Safety of Texas' Children
August 12, 2010
Senator's Take: When the Federal Government Overreaches...
March 25, 2010
Senator Shapiro calls for uniform water conservation standards for all of Texas
July 29, 2009
Jacob Fox Law
May 18, 2009
Arts in Education Creates Flourish of Intellect, Economy for Texas of Tomorrow
May 8, 2009
Virtual School Network
April 29, 2009
Toll Should Go To The Road
April 17, 2009
Tuition Freeze Helps Those Going To College
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News Clips
May 5, 2009
Blog: Senate moves to track sex offenders on the Internet (Dallas Morning News)
May 4, 2009
Blog: Senate takes aim at rising tuition rates (Dallas Morning News)
April 28, 2009
Editorial: Progress, pitfalls in Legislature (Dallas Morning News)
April 28, 2009
Editorial: Shapiro offers best tuition approach (Dallas Morning News)
April 28, 2009
Senate OKs crackdown on replacing fine arts, other classes with TAKS test preparation (Dallas Morning News)
E-Mail Form
Office Information
| Capitol Address |
District Address |
The Honorable Florence Shapiro
P.O. Box 12068
Capitol Station
Austin, Texas 78711
Phone (512) 463-0108 Fax (512) 463-7579 |
5000 Legacy Dr., Ste. 494
Plano, Texas 75024
Phone (972) 403-3404
Fax (972) 403-3405 |
82nd Session Committee Membership
District Analysis: District 8
Click the map to view a detailed district map in PDF format |
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