Changes

==Background==

==Background==

Ritter was born and reared in [[Beaumont]] in coastal Jefferson County, Texas. There he graduated in 1972 from Forest Park High School. He was a salesman for his family-owned Ritter Timber Company in Nederland fm 1972 to 1988, when he became the company president. He is also a board member of Allied Building Stores. He is a member of the [[Chamber of Commerce]], the Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association, Crime Stoppers]], and the [[National Rifle Association]].<ref name=votesmart>{{cite web|url=https://votesmart.org/candidate/biography/25363/allan-ritter#.UwYx25WPIfg|title=Allan Ritter's Biography|publisher=votesmart.org|accessdate=September 18, 2020}}</ref>

Ritter was born and reared in [[Beaumont]] in coastal Jefferson County, Texas. There he graduated in 1972 from Forest Park High School. He was a salesman for his family-owned Ritter Timber Company in Nederland fm 1972 to 1988, when he became the company president. He is also a board member of Allied Building Stores. He is a member of the [[Chamber of Commerce]], the Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association, Crime Stoppers, and the [[National Rifle Association]].<ref name=votesmart>{{cite web|url=https://votesmart.org/candidate/biography/25363/allan-ritter#.UwYx25WPIfg|title=Allan Ritter's Biography|publisher=votesmart.org|accessdate=September 18, 2020}}</ref>

Ritter is a member of the First [[Southern Baptist|Baptist]] Church of Nederland.<ref name=abritter/> He and his wife, Peggy, have four children, Will, Peyton, Anney, and Whitney.<ref name=votesmart/>

Ritter is a member of the First [[Southern Baptist|Baptist]] Church of Nederland.<ref name=abritter/> He and his wife, Peggy, have four children, Will, Peyton, Anney, and Whitney.<ref name=votesmart/>

As a new Republican in 2012, he defeated his intra-party opponent, Daniel Stephen Miller (born c. 1951), also of Nederland,  9,299 (72.7 percent) to 3,488 (27.3 percent).<ref>Texas Secretary of State,  Republican Primary Election Returns, May 29, 2012.</ref> He then ran in November 2012 without Democratic opposition.

As a new Republican in 2012, he defeated his intra-party opponent, Daniel Stephen Miller (born c. 1951), also of Nederland,  9,299 (72.7 percent) to 3,488 (27.3 percent).<ref>Texas Secretary of State,  Republican Primary Election Returns, May 29, 2012.</ref> He then ran in November 2012 without Democratic opposition.

Ritter served as chairman of the House Natural Resources Committee and was a member of the Ways and Means Committee.<ref name=votesmart/> In the 2013 legislative session, Ritter voted to establish a  breakfast program and to provide marshals for security in public schools.  He did not vote on the matter of authorizing immunization of minors without parental consent, which the House approved, 71-61. He voted to extend the franchise tax exemption to certain businesses.  Ritter voted to prohibit texting while driving and to require testing for [[narcotics]] of those receiving unemployment compensation.  He voted for an "equal-pay-for-women" measure, which passed the House, 78-61. He voted to forbid the state from enforcing federal regulations of firearms. Ritter also supported allowing college and university officials to carry concealed weapons on campus in the name of security.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://votesmart.org/candidate/key-votes/25363/allan-ritter#.UwY01pWPIfg|title=Allan Ritter's Voting Records|publisher=votesmart.org|accessdate=September 18, 2020}}</ref>

Ritter served as chairman of the House Natural Resources Committee and was a member of the Ways and Means Committee.<ref name=votesmart/> In the 2013 legislative session, Ritter voted to establish a  breakfast program and to provide marshals for security in public schools.  He did not vote on the matter of authorizing immunization of minors without parental consent, which the House approved, 71–61. He voted to extend the franchise tax exemption to certain businesses.  Ritter voted to prohibit texting while driving and to require testing for [[narcotics]] of those receiving unemployment compensation.  He voted for an "equal-pay-for-women" measure, which passed the House, 78–61. He voted to forbid the state from enforcing federal regulations of firearms. Ritter also supported allowing college and university officials to carry concealed weapons on campus in the name of security.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://votesmart.org/candidate/key-votes/25363/allan-ritter#.UwY01pWPIfg|title=Allan Ritter's Voting Records|publisher=votesmart.org|accessdate=September 18, 2020}}</ref>

Though Ritter voted in 2013 to ban [[abortion]] after twenty weeks of [[gestation]],  

Though Ritter voted in 2013 to ban [[abortion]] after twenty weeks of [[gestation]],