State Rep. Helen Kerwin briefs Johnson County on 2025 session, outlines PFAS testing push

State Representative Helen Kerwin, R‑(district not specified), told the Johnson County Commissioners Court on June 9 that the recent legislative session produced a mix of wins and unfinished items and urged local officials to help gather PFAS water‑quality data for a larger statewide effort.

Kerwin opened her remarks by noting, “We finished on Monday at noon,” and summarizing major measures she said cleared the session, including a school‑choice bill and teacher pay measures: “We have the strongest, purchasing in Texas in the entire country,” she said, and described what she characterized as “permanent raises” for classroom teachers under SB 6.

The Representative also listed bills that did not pass and that she expects to revisit next session, including measures to eliminate the STAAR test and other items she said were affected by House floor divisions. She repeatedly framed the session as a learning experience for a first‑term legislator and told county leaders she will be available to discuss budgets and bills in more detail: “My door is always open,” Kerwin said.

Kerwin spent substantial time on PFAS — per‑ and polyfluoroalkyl substances — recounting a high‑profile committee hearing in Austin and saying the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality has expressed interest in working with her on standards. “He [the TCEQ chair] is excited about it,” Kerwin said, and said two state senators and 76 representatives have indicated support for a broader bill. She urged County Commissioners to continue site‑level testing and to use conferences and local outreach to expand sampling across regions so the governor and state agencies see a statewide pattern: “If we can get the scope of the lab results where they’re throughout Texas, not just in Johnson County, I think there’ll be no problem getting it through,” she said.

Kerwin referenced litigation and enforcement activity in the PFAS space, saying Attorney General Ken Paxton had filed at least one lawsuit related to product distribution; she attributed that comment to her recounting of related legal developments during the hearing. She also credited local farmers and witnesses who provided testimony in Austin and thanked county officials who attended the session on PFAS.

On education policy Kerwin said the session produced both permanent teacher pay raises she supported and a school‑marshal provision that allows retired peace officers to serve in schools. She expressed disappointment that SB 4, a bill she described as aimed at eliminating the STAAR test, failed on the last day but said parental‑rights and teacher‑support provisions did pass.

Kerwin closed by inviting county officials and constituents to use her newly opened local office in the right plaza on the county courthouse side and said her staff will help constituents navigate state resources and legislation. “I have it staffed with a full time legislative director,” she said.

Kerwin answered commissioners’ questions following her remarks and discussed specifics such as incentives for rehiring retired teachers and legislative procedure concerns that affected late amendments in conference committees.

Looking ahead, she asked local courts and officials to help collect PFAS test results and to press for wider sampling outside Johnson County so the forthcoming bill can reflect statewide data. She also said she will continue to press remaining priorities in the next session.

Ending — Kerwin thanked the court for hosting her and repeated that she would visit precinct offices to discuss constituents’ priorities in greater detail.