Representative Sam Harless

Eric Tedd Harless, known professionally as Sam Harless, was born on July 13, 1962. He has been a resident of Northwest Harris County since 1976 and currently resides in Spring, Texas. Harless is married to Patricia Fincher, whom he married in 1986. Together they have one son, younger Sam, who graduated from Klein High School and North Texas State University. They welcomed their first grandchild, Karsyn Pearl Harless, in May 2022.

Harless is an active member of Champion Forest Baptist Church and is involved in various community organizations, including The Pearl Fincher Museum of Fine Arts, Northwest Assistance Ministries, The Centrum Arts League, Klein Educational Foundation, and Cy-Fair ISD Educational Foundation. He is a strong law enforcement supporter and has served on the Harris County Constable's Precinct 4 Training Advisory Board as well as the Harris County Sheriff Training Advisory Board.

Professionally, Harless and his wife Patricia own Fred Fincher Motors, a second-generation independent automobile dealership. He started working at age 14 mowing lawns before becoming a successful small business owner. Harless also serves on the board of Lone Star College.

Education

Harless graduated from Spring High School in 1981. He later attended Lone Star College and Sam Houston State University.

Political Experience

Harless is a Republican representing District 126 in the Texas House of Representatives. He was first elected in 2018 and assumed office on January 8, 2019, succeeding Kevin Roberts.

Currently, Harless serves as Chair of the Corrections Committee and is a member of the House Administration and Licensing and Administrative Procedures committees. In the 88th Session, he served as Chair of the Select Committee on Health Care Reform and was a member of the Select Committee on Community Safety and Homeland Public Safety committees.

In May 2023, Harless was one of only two Republicans on the House Committee on Community Safety who voted to advance HB 2744, legislation that sought to raise the age to purchase certain semi-automatic weapons from 18 to 21. This vote came two days after a shooting at an outlet mall in Allen, Texas that claimed eight lives.

By the end of the 87th Session, Harless was directly involved with 134 pieces of legislation.