Senator Royce West, D-Dallas, serves District 23 and has long been vocal about public education, criminal justice reform and healthcare access in Texas.
As Texas continues to navigate diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) bans, Medicaid funding cuts and law enforcement accountability, West remains clear on his stance on these issues—to push for policies that ensure equity for vulnerable communities.
Who is West?
West was first elected 33 years ago to the Texas Senate in November 1992 and represents the 23rd Senatorial District in Dallas County.
A University of Texas at Arlington graduate, who earned a Juris Doctor from the University of Houston Law Center, West initiated the establishment of the University of North Texas at Dallas, a new law school in downtown Dallas and a pharmacy school. His other priorities included increasing financial aid for college students and funding for the TEXAS grants programs, creating the Juvenile Crime Prevention Center at Prairie View A&M University, increasing funding for at-risk youth programs, public education, child care programs and progressive sanctions.
In an interview with the Defender, West delved into the key issues being discussed at the ongoing 89th legislative session.
On school vouchers
West shared his concerns about school vouchers, which he argues disproportionately benefit wealthier families. He said he does not foresee Senate Bill 2, a voucher-like program where public funds could be used to support private schools, to benefit Black and low-income students.
Gov. Greg Abbott made the bill an “emergency item,” which was passed by the Texas Senate and now awaits consideration from the Texas House.
This is not new, as voucher proposals have passed through the Senate several times in 2023, but died in the House each time due to opposition from Democrats and rural Republicans.
Drawing comparisons to Arizona’s voucher system, West warned that Texas’ version could subsidize private education for families who can already afford it rather than expand opportunities for marginalized students. He also sees echoes of segregation-era voucher programs, which allowed white families to flee desegregated public schools.
“The vast majority of kids that will use these vouchers will be Anglo,” West said. “It’s just a subsidization of private school education that’s already been paid for by persons that could afford it. I think that’s gonna happen here in the state of Texas.”
On university DEI programs
Lawmakers prohibited DEI offices and programs in public universities in the last legislative session. West proposes a race-neutral approach, similar to the Top 10% Rule, which provides automatic admission to state universities for Texas high school students who graduate in the top 10% of their classes. He said it could be one solution to the recent backlash against admissions and hiring based on the applicant’s race and ethnicity.
“We have to get our best thinkers on this particular issue to help us come up with some policies that will be able to ensure that we don’t lose any ground in this area while we battle this DEI mess in court,” West said.
On crime and law enforcement
West passed legislation that placed dash cams in Texas law enforcement patrol vehicles, bulletproof vests and body cameras for law enforcement (SB 158).
He also advocated for SB 30, which contained guidelines for citizens and officers on responding to traffic stops and other interactions. West recommended Texas law enforcement agencies to record the interrogations of those arrested on felony charges and passed legislation updating the Texas racial profiling law in 2001 (SB 1074).
During the current 89th legislative session, West introduced SB 1421, which establishes guidelines for using less-lethal force weapons by law enforcement officers in Texas. It defined the weapons as those designed to incapacitate a target while minimizing the risk of serious injury or death, including stun guns.
“There’s also, along with that bill, some language that would frankly provide additional immunity above and beyond what’s currently being provided to law enforcement officers,” West said. “I would venture to say that that would be something that would be supported by the Trump administration.”
On health care
Senator West has advocated for Medicare expansion and sponsored bills to expand Medicaid eligibility to veterans and Texans who qualify under the Affordable Care Act.
Although President Donald Trump has pledged not to gut Medicaid, West thinks it is “too soon” to tell how the new administration will impact the programs, especially after the Congressional House Budget Committee voted to seek at least $880 billion in budget cuts.
“A lot of times he’s [Trump] talking out of both sides of his mouth,” West said. “You don’t really know what to believe…The program is so large that we should look at it to make certain that we refine any issues in the program. In terms of making certain that people are still able to get the services, we need to continue to do that also.”
