James Frank

James Boisfeuillet Frank
Born	(1966-11-23) November 23, 1966 Wichita Falls, Texas, U.S.
Occupation(s)	Entrepreneur, politician
Years active	2000–present
Known for	Member of the Texas House of Representatives from District 69

James Boisfeuillet Frank (born November 23, 1966) is an entrepreneur from Wichita Falls, Texas, who represents District 69 in the Texas House of Representatives as a Republican. His district encompasses Archer, Baylor, Clay, Foard, Knox, and Wichita counties in the northern region of Texas.

Background

A native of Wichita Falls, Frank completed his secondary education at S. H. Rider High School before obtaining a finance degree from Texas A&M University in College Station. His professional journey commenced in Fort Worth.

Since 2000, Frank has been the proprietor of Sharp Iron Group, a manufacturing firm based in Wichita Falls that employs approximately 130 individuals and specializes in sheet metal fabrication and electrical control systems. In 2007, he purchased Transland Company from California and transferred its operations to Texas; Transland manufactures equipment used in crop dusting and aerial firefighting.

Frank holds the position of vice-chairman at the Wichita Falls Chamber of Commerce and Industry and serves on the board for the Lalani Center for Entrepreneurship and Free Enterprise at Midwestern State University. Additionally, he fulfills duties as a deacon at First Baptist Church in Wichita Falls. He and his wife, Alisha, are parents to six sons.

Political life

Following the decision of Lanham Lyne, a one-term Republican state representative and former Wichita Falls mayor, not to seek reelection in 2012, Frank pursued the Republican nomination unchallenged and subsequently defeated Libertarian Richard Brown in the general election by securing 87% of the vote.

In February 2013, Frank was chosen by House Republicans to represent West Texas on the House Republican Caucus Policy Committee.

He supported Texas House Bill 2, legislation that limited abortion procedures beyond 20 weeks and required providers to have hospital admitting privileges; however, certain provisions were later invalidated in Whole Woman's Health v. Hellerstedt. Frank voted in favor of mandating narcotics testing for individuals receiving unemployment benefits and opposed implementing a free breakfast initiative for public school children.

Frank cast a dissenting vote on House Bill 950, which aimed to set statewide standards ensuring equal pay irrespective of gender. Although the legislature passed this bill, Governor Rick Perry vetoed it.

He advocated for term limits on statewide constitutional officers such as the governor and attorney general; nevertheless, this proposal did not pass in the House. Currently, term limits are only allowed at the municipal level under home-rule charters.

Regarding firearm legislation, Frank voted to bar state funds from being used to enforce federal gun control measures, reduce mandatory concealed carry training hours, and permit concealed carry on college campuses. The NRA Political Victory Fund awarded him an "A" rating.

He opposed legislation banning texting while driving and supported extending franchise tax exemptions for specific businesses.

In May 2017, Frank successfully passed a bill through the House that enables faith-based child welfare organizations to refuse foster or adoptive parents based on religious objections. He emphasized that this would apply only under "very specific, limited circumstances." The bill drew criticism from Democrats and progressive groups concerned it might allow discrimination against homosexual individuals, Jewish communities, and Muslim populations.