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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 was elected to the Texas Senate in 1993. But her journey into Texas politics began years prior and miles away from the Texas Capitol. As a former public school teacher, she first entered elected 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. As 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 began 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, she became chair of the Senate Education Committee, where she passed legislation to overhaul the state's school finance system. Her landmark 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 better accountability for schools.
Her leadership has earned her many honors over the years. She was named to the Legislative Honor Roll by the Texas Association of Realtors, and was awarded the Celebration of Enterprise Award for the public official business partner of the year, given by Inside Collin County Business, as well as the Bob Bullock Award for Public Stewardship given by Government Technology Conference, the Real Women Award from the Girl Scouts of the USA Tejas Council and the Outstanding Service Award from Independent Colleges and Universities of Texas. Other awards and honors include:
- "TLR Honor Roll - 81st Legislative Session", Texans for Lawsuit Reform
- "2009 Courage of Conviction Award", Texas Association Against Sexual Assault
- "2008 Champion for Social Change Award", Texas Association Against Sexual Assault
- "Texas Children's Champion", Texas Nurse Family Partnership Statewide Leadership Board
- "Community Builder Award (For Autism Work)", The Masonic Lodge of Richardson
- "TIVA Outstanding Legislator Award", The Texas Industrial Vocational Association
- "LINC Award (Legislative Initiatives Nurturing Children)", The Children's Medical Center of Dallas
- "2008 Legislator of the Year Award", The Children's Advocacy Centers of Texas, Inc.
- "2008 Jack Lowe Award for Community Leadership in Education", The Dallas Bar Association
- "2007 Law & Order Award", Texas District & County Attorneys Association
- "2007 Outstanding Legislator Award", Vocational Agriculture Teachers Association of Texas
- "2007 Raise Your Hand Gold Star" for commitment to improving public school accountability
- "Woman of Excellence" Award by Women's Enterprise Magazine
- "Texas Lone Star Leader" by the Texas Public Policy Foundation
- "Fighter for Free Enterprise" by the Texas Association of Business
- John McVeigh by the Collin County Republican Party
- John Ben Sheppard Public Leadership Forum's Political Courage Award
- Legislative Star Award by the Texas Classroom Teachers Association
- Paul Harris Rotary Fellow
- "Woman of the Year" by Les Femme du Monde
Today, she serves as Co-Chair of the Education Policy Taskforce for the National Council of State Governments, as well as on the Southern Regional Education Board, and the Education Commission on the States, coalitions of elected officials and education leaders that addresses issues such as long-range planning, policy proposals and the advancement of education among the states. She is also an appointee to the Governor's Criminal Justice Advisory Council, Co-Chair of the Study Commission on Region C Water Supply, as well as a member of the Standing Committee on Education for the National Conference of State Legislators.
A graduate of the University of Texas at Austin, 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, as well as the Transportation and Homeland and Security Committee and Senate Administration Committee.
Shapiro is a former small business owner. She and her husband Howard live in Plano. They have three children: Lisa and her husband, Brian Strauss of Houston, with grandchildren Joshua, Noa and Ari; Todd and his wife, Jori Shapiro, with grandchildren Ella, Zachary and Olivia; and Staci and her husband Paul Rubin, with grandchildren Sam and Natalie, all of Frisco.
Newsletter
 Direct From Shapiro - November 23, 2009 (pdf)
Direct From Shapiro - October 20, 2009 (pdf)
Direct From Shapiro - October 8, 2009 (pdf)
Senator Shapiro's Newsletter 2009 (pdf)
Direct From Shapiro - July 29, 2009 (pdf)
Direct From Shapiro - June 30, 2009 (pdf)
[ MORE ... ]
Press Releases
 July 20, 2009
Shapiro Applauds New DARS Autism Services Grants
June 22, 2009
TechAmerica Applauds the Passage of Texas Children's Online Safety Act
June 08, 2009
Texas PTA Applauds Passage of Expanded Statewide Sales Tax Holiday
June 1, 2009
Shapiro & Hochberg Pass Landmark $1.9 Billion School Finance Bill
May 31, 2009
School Accountability Reforms Heading to Governor's Desk
[ MORE ... ]
Op-Ed Opinions
 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
[ MORE ... ]
Podcasts
 July 2, 2009
Podcast: Direct From Shapiro (MP3 Format; Transcript)
May 23, 2009
Podcast: Direct From Shapiro (MP3 Format; Transcript)
May 15, 2009
Podcast: Direct From Shapiro (MP3 Format; Transcript)
May 8, 2009
Podcast: Direct From Shapiro (MP3 Format; Transcript)
April 30, 2009
Podcast: Direct From Shapiro (MP3 Format)
April 3, 2009
Podcast: Direct From Shapiro (MP3 Format)
[ MORE ... ]
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 |
81st Session Committee Membership
District Analysis: District 8
Click the map to view a detailed district map in PDF format |
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