Ben Bumgarner is a Republican state representative from Texas House District 63 who has represented the district since 2023 and is seeking re-election in the November 3, 2026 general election. A firearms manufacturer, he previously served on the Flower Mound Town Council.[1][2]
Ben Bumgarner was born in Texas and lives in Flower Mound, and he graduated from McKinney High School and earned a bachelor's degree from Austin College in 2007.[1]His career experience includes working as a firearms manufacturer and owning Evolve Weapons Systems.[1]He served on the Flower Mound Town Council, including as mayor pro tem.[1]
Bumgarner took office on January 10, 2023, succeeding Tan Parker.[1]Ballotpedia lists his 2023-2024 committee assignments as Defense & Veterans' Affairs and International Relations & Economic Development.[1]In a Ballotpedia survey, he listed property tax reform, protecting Second Amendment rights and limiting government as his key messages.[3]
Their recorded votes on bills that divided the chamber (unanimous votes left out), grouped by topic. A bill can sit under more than one topic. "With" and "against" compare each vote with how most Republicans voted. How topics are assigned
›Rights & public safety625 with · 129 against759 votes
Makes an application for an early voting ballot by mail count as an application for any resulting runoff election too, unless the applicant asks not to receive a runoff ballot.
May 15, 2025 · Failed 62–77 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗
Repeals Penal Code Section 21.06, an offense the statute calls "homosexual conduct," and removes references to that offense from two Health and Safety Code sections on HIV and sex education course materials.
May 16, 2025 · Passed 59–56 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗
On the version voted May 30, 2025: Bars governments, companies and certain individuals tied to countries named as national security threats in recent federal intelligence assessments, or designated by the governor, from buying Texas real estate, with exceptions for U.S. citizens, permanent residents and some homes; violations can bring felony charges, fines and forced sale.
On the version voted May 31, 2025: Sets the state budget for the two fiscal years ending August 2026 and August 2027, appropriating about $176 billion for fiscal 2026 and $162 billion for fiscal 2027 from all fund sources to state agencies, courts, schools and universities.
Apr 10, 2025 · Failed 73–74 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗
On the version voted May 21, 2025: Requires a two-thirds vote of a local governing body to adopt impact fees on new development, bars raising an impact fee more than once every three years, and requires related plans to be public at least 60 days before hearing notice.
May 13, 2025 · Failed 61–75 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗
Directs the governor to seek federal authorization and then allows a memorandum of understanding with a Mexican state for a temporary guest worker program, supplying legal workers on U.S. nonimmigrant visas to Texas businesses in high-need jobs.
May 12, 2025 · Failed 65–76 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗
As reported by the House committee, requires each school district board to adopt and post a policy setting benchmarks for square feet a properly equipped custodian may be assigned per eight-hour shift, by school level, beginning in 2025-26.
May 13, 2025 · Failed 60–65 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗
On the version voted May 26, 2025: Bars the Texas Education Agency, State Board of Education and other state-funded educational institutions from adopting any rule or policy that regulates a home school's educational program, starting with the 2025-2026 school year.
May 12, 2025 · Failed 64–78 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗
On the version voted Apr 24, 2025: Creates a state-run education savings account program letting families use public money for private school and other approved education costs, generally about 85% of average per-student school funding, up to $30,000 for students with disabilities and $2,000 for homeschoolers, capped at $1 billion for 2025–2027.
Apr 16, 2025 · Passed 86–63 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗
Requires the Health and Human Services Commission to study its compliance with federal rules on Medicaid coverage for infants born to Medicaid-enrolled mothers, including separate applications and residency requirements.
May 16, 2025 · Passed 59–58 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗
On the version voted May 28, 2025: Requires a health care provider who diagnoses an unborn child with a life-threatening or life-limiting condition to give the pregnant woman state information on perinatal palliative care and a provider list; repeat violations carry a $1,000 administrative penalty.
May 26, 2025 · Failed 65–80 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗
Requires the Health and Human Services Commission to hire a language access coordinator to assess non-English speakers' access to its programs and 2-1-1 services and report findings within one year; the provisions expire June 1, 2027.
Lets the Public Utility Commission use Texas Energy Fund money, without further appropriation, for grants to customers or nonprofits for energy efficiency projects such as weatherization and demand reduction.
May 13, 2025 · Failed 66–75 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗
Requires the Texas Workforce Commission to run a Dallas-Fort Worth pilot with junior colleges, technical institutes and employers to train students for energy-efficient technology jobs, including dual-credit courses and a certificate of completion.
May 14, 2025 · Passed 70–65 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗
Proposes amending the Texas Constitution to let the Texas energy fund also finance energy efficiency projects conducted to benefit retail electric customers.
May 13, 2025 · Passed 74–67 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗
Limits the higher insurance requirements for rideshare drivers on a prearranged ride to times when a rider is in the vehicle, for policies issued or renewed on or after January 1, 2026.
May 15, 2025 · Passed 80–56 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗
Requires metropolitan planning organizations to consider the transportation needs of people who receive services from the Health and Human Services Commission or Workforce Commission in 10-year plans, and to show providers considered meeting those needs when requesting state funding.
Allows the Texas Facilities Commission to authorize electric vehicle charging stations in state-owned parking lots and garages built on or after September 1, 2025, considering EV registrations, state employee EVs and lot usage, under guidelines requiring installation at no cost to the state.
On the version voted May 21, 2025: Requires a two-thirds vote of a local governing body to adopt impact fees on new development, bars raising an impact fee more than once every three years, and requires related plans to be public at least 60 days before hearing notice.
May 13, 2025 · Failed 61–75 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗
As reported by the House committee, requires the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs to study a homelessness model using small dwelling units and partnerships with colleges, private entities and local governments, and report by December 31, 2026.
May 15, 2025 · Failed 66–75 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗
As reported by the House committee, requires cities and counties to set up complaint processes for public camping ban violations and act on complaints within 90 days, and lets the attorney general and state police enforce the ban and recover costs from local governments that fail to act.
May 26, 2025 · Failed 57–87 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗
On the version voted May 28, 2025: Requires electronic health records of Texans to be stored in the United States, gives parents full access to their minor children's records, requires records to note biological sex as observed at birth, and lets doctors use artificial intelligence if they review results and tell patients.
May 22, 2025 · Passed 86–56 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗
On the version voted Apr 16, 2025: Creates a state program that gives grants to Texas-based businesses that win federal small business innovation research or technology transfer awards, matching or supplementing that federal money, limited to one grant per business each year.
Apr 15, 2025 · Failed 70–75 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗
Requires the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs, with the Texas Homeless Network, to set up a statewide network for sharing real-time homelessness data and to work with health plans to connect homeless individuals to services.
May 15, 2025 · Passed 70–60 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗
Requires the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement, with the Texas Veterans Commission, to develop a training program for county jailers on interacting with veterans, and requires currently licensed jailers to complete it by August 31, 2027.
May 27, 2025 · Passed 80–64 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗
Requires the comptroller to list restricted Chinese-affiliated entities and bars state retirement systems and the permanent school fund from holding them, with at least half divested within 180 days of notice and all within 360, subject to fiduciary-duty exceptions.
May 27, 2025 · Passed 87–54 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗
Exempts from the franchise tax a corporation that operates an FAA-authorized spaceport and has a contract with the U.S. Department of Defense for spaceflight or launch services.
Voted against most of their party on 63 of 1,005 party-divided votes on file.
Most often on: Jobs & cost of living (31), Education & families (12), Housing & rent (8)
Relating to the calculation of the voter-approval tax rate for certain taxing units
What it does: Lowers from 3.5% to 2.5% the yearly growth in operating property tax revenue that cities and counties of 75,000 or more people, and certain other local taxing units, may adopt without voter approval, starting with 202…
Voted no · most Republicans voted yes · Democrats 1–44, Republicans 59–27
Relating to the calculation of the voter-approval tax rate for certain taxing units
What it does: On the version voted Sep 2, 2025: Lowers from 3.5% to 2.5% the yearly growth in operating property tax revenue that cities and counties of 75,000 or more people, and certain other local taxing units, may adopt without…
Voted no · most Republicans voted yes · Democrats 2–48, Republicans 76–4
Relating to the calculation of the voter-approval tax rate for certain taxing units
What it does: On the version voted Sep 2, 2025: Lowers from 3.5% to 2.5% the yearly growth in operating property tax revenue that cities and counties of 75,000 or more people, and certain other local taxing units, may adopt without…
Voted no · most Republicans voted yes · Democrats 4–49, Republicans 77–6
Relating to the integration of early voting by personal appearance and election day voting, including the manner in which election returns are processed and other related changes
What it does: Shortens early voting to start 12 days before an election and run through the day before Election Day, makes early voting sites Election Day polling places, and counts in-person early ballots with Election Day ballots…
Voted no · most Republicans voted yes · Democrats 23–25, Republicans 61–20
Relating to the authority of certain municipalities to use certain tax revenue for certain qualified projects
What it does: Lets certain cities designate a hotel-tax project financing zone as a continuous area with exact boundaries, no larger than the three-mile-radius maximum, if designated by December 31, 2024, and adds one city over 250…
Voted yes · most Republicans voted no · Democrats 53–1, Republicans 29–54
Substantive votes concern legislation or nominations; procedural votes concern how the chamber considers them. A Yes vote applies to the motion shown, which may not be final passage.
HB 1 · TX HOUSE
Relating to youth camp emergency plans and preparedness; authorizing penalties
NoVOTED
Motion: Motion: At 11:23 p.m., Representative Geren moved that, at the conclusion of the receipt of messages, the signing of bills and resolutions, and administrative
Requires licensed youth camps to adopt written emergency plans filed with the state health department, notify parents if any part of a camp is in a floodplain, give campers a safety orientation, and meet state-set minimum camper-to-counselor ratios for overnight stays.
Relating to youth camp emergency plans and preparedness; authorizing penalties
YesVOTED
Motion: Concur in Senate amendments
Requires licensed youth camps to adopt written emergency plans filed with the state health department, notify parents if any part of a camp is in a floodplain, give campers a safety orientation, and meet state-set minimum camper-to-counselor ratios for overnight stays.
Bars licensing youth camps with floodplain cabins, with exceptions; requires campgrounds to put roof-access ladders in floodplain cabins and keep evacuation plans; requires youth camps to follow campground rules plus emergency plans, weather radios and warning systems.
Amending the House Rules of Procedure to authorize additional constitutionally compliant, proportional penalties for members absent without leave for purpose of impeding the action of the House that do not unfairly impair members' representative functions
YesVOTED
Motion: Adopt HR 128
Raises the daily fine for members absent without leave to impede the House from $500 to three times the legislative per diem; adds operating-budget forfeiture, loss of chair posts after two days and seniority cuts after three, unless the House excuses.
Suspending limitations on conference committee jurisdiction, S.B. No. 5
YesVOTED
Motion: Adopt HR 174
Suspends House rules so the conference committee on Senate Bill 5 can add camp-safety funding for the Department of State Health Services, contingent on S.B. 1 ($2.59 million stabilization fund, $2.48 million general revenue), and an immediate effective date.
Bars licensing youth camps with floodplain cabins, with exceptions; requires campgrounds to put roof-access ladders in floodplain cabins and keep evacuation plans; requires youth camps to follow campground rules plus emergency plans, weather radios and warning systems.
Bars licensing youth camps with floodplain cabins, with exceptions; requires campgrounds to put roof-access ladders in floodplain cabins and keep evacuation plans; requires youth camps to follow campground rules plus emergency plans, weather radios and warning systems.
Relating to public school accountability and transparency, including the implementation of an instructionally supportive assessment program and the adoption and administration of assessment instruments in public schools, indicators of achievement, public school performance ratings, and interventions and sanctions under the public school accountability system, a grant program for school district local accountability plans, and actions challenging Texas Education Agency decisions related to public school accountability
YesVOTED
Motion: Concur in Senate amendments
Replaces STAAR testing with an instructionally supportive assessment program by 2027-2028, changes how school performance ratings are determined, and limits legal challenges to Texas Education Agency accountability decisions, including a nine-month deadline to sue over rules.
Relating to public school accountability and transparency, including the implementation of an instructionally supportive assessment program and the adoption and administration of assessment instruments in public schools, indicators of achievement, public school performance ratings, and interventions and sanctions under the public school accountability system, a grant program for school district local accountability plans, and actions challenging Texas Education Agency decisions related to public school accountability
NoVOTED
Motion: Extend speaking time for Rep. Hinojosa
Replaces STAAR testing with an instructionally supportive assessment program by 2027-2028, changes how school performance ratings are determined, and limits legal challenges to Texas Education Agency accountability decisions, including a nine-month deadline to sue over rules.
Relating to election procedures regarding accepting a voter with a residence address that is not current and the immediate effect of a voter's registration after the registrar's receipt of certain change of address notices
YesVOTED
Motion: Final passage (third reading)
Repeals the rule that an in-county change-of-address notice takes effect immediately, and lets voters who moved within their county vote in the precinct where they are registered without having to ask the registrar to update their registration address.
