Cody Harris is a Republican state representative from Texas House District 8 who has served since January 8, 2019 and is seeking re-election in the November 3, 2026 general election, where Democrat Jeff Chavez is also on the ballot.[1][2]
Cody Harris was born in Tyler, Texas, and earned a bachelor's degree from Texas A&M University in December 2006.[1]His career experience includes working as a ranch broker and operating Liberty Land & Ranch, and he has served as president of the Palestine Young Men's Christian Association and the Palestine Young Professionals Network.[1]
Harris assumed office in the Texas House on January 8, 2019, succeeding Byron Cook.[1]For 2023-2024 he was assigned to the House Administration, Agriculture and Livestock and Public Education committees and chaired the Local & Consent Calendars Committee.[1]In a 2020 Ballotpedia survey, Harris listed his priorities as securing the border, strengthening public schools, protecting farmers, ranchers and property owner rights, lowering property taxes and shrinking the size of government.[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 safety416 with · 37 against456 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 ↗
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.
Changes where candidates nominated by convention pay filing fees, from the secretary of state or county judge to the party's state or county chair, and repeals the requirement to deposit those fees in state or county funds.
May 13, 2025 · Failed 60–78 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗
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 ↗
Bars school boards from giving a departing superintendent a severance payment larger than six months' salary and benefits, down from the one-year level that now triggers a cut in state school funding, and requires boards to report severance terms to the state.
May 7, 2025 · Failed 76–68 (two-thirds needed) · 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 · Failed 63–79 · 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 ↗
Bars school boards from giving a departing superintendent a severance payment larger than six months' salary and benefits, down from the one-year level that now triggers a cut in state school funding, and requires boards to report severance terms to the state.
May 7, 2025 · Failed 76–68 (two-thirds needed) · 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.
Requires the Public Utility Commission to study, for areas within 150 miles of the Gulf Coast, the cost of burying overhead power lines, maintaining underground lines, and savings from fewer weather outages, and report by September 1, 2026.
May 12, 2025 · Passed 77–66 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗
Exempts alternative fueling facilities run by certain transit authorities in counties over one million, in emission nonattainment areas, from the rule that grants go first to facilities agreeing to be open to the public.
Apr 28, 2025 · Passed 82–63 · 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 · Failed 63–79 · 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.
May 8, 2025 · Passed 80–65 · against most RepublicansOfficial record ↗
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.
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 ↗
Requires registrars and county clerks to issue a homeless individual a certified birth record free on request, under verification and documentation rules set by the health commission, without requiring a physical address.
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 54–90 · 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 ↗
On the version voted May 29, 2025: Creates the Texas Cyber Command, a state agency led by a governor-appointed chief with a San Antonio facility, to prevent and respond to cyberattacks on governments and critical infrastructure, and transfers cybersecurity duties to it from the Department of Information Resources.
Apr 15, 2025 · Passed 89–54 · 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 · against 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 139 of 649 party-divided votes on file.
Most often on: Jobs & cost of living (44), Rights & public safety (28), Education & families (27)
Relating to the creation of a family violence criminal homicide prevention task force
What it does: On the version voted May 28, 2025: Requires the governor to create a Family Violence Criminal Homicide Prevention Task Force to analyze risk factors, advise agencies and nonprofits on training for professionals who wo…
Voted yes · most Republicans voted no · Democrats 55–0, Republicans 31–49
Relating to the creation of certain municipal management districts; providing authority to issue bonds; providing authority to impose assessments, fees, and taxes; granting a limited power of eminent domain
What it does: On the version voted May 28, 2025: Creates three municipal management districts (Pura Vida, Rivers Market Place, Wolf Creek) with powers to provide improvements and services, issue bonds, and impose assessments and pr…
Voted yes · most Republicans voted no · Democrats 57–0, Republicans 27–55
Relating to the creation of the Pura Vida Municipal Management District No. 1; providing authority to issue bonds; providing authority to impose assessments, fees, and taxes; granting a limited power of eminent domain
What it does: On the version voted May 28, 2025: Creates three municipal management districts (Pura Vida, Rivers Market Place, Wolf Creek) with powers to provide improvements and services, issue bonds, and impose assessments and pr…
Voted yes · most Republicans voted no · Democrats 52–3, Republicans 31–53
Relating to the creation of the Pura Vida Municipal Management District No. 1; providing authority to issue bonds; providing authority to impose assessments, fees, and taxes; granting a limited power of eminent domain
What it does: On the version voted May 28, 2025: Creates three municipal management districts (Pura Vida, Rivers Market Place, Wolf Creek) with powers to provide improvements and services, issue bonds, and impose assessments and pr…
Voted yes · most Republicans voted no · Democrats 55–3, Republicans 39–44
Relating to the creation of the Pura Vida Municipal Management District No. 1; providing authority to issue bonds; providing authority to impose assessments, fees, and taxes; granting a limited power of eminent domain
What it does: On the version voted May 28, 2025: Creates three municipal management districts (Pura Vida, Rivers Market Place, Wolf Creek) with powers to provide improvements and services, issue bonds, and impose assessments and pr…
Voted yes · most Republicans voted no · Democrats 57–0, Republicans 32–50
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
YesVOTED
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
YesVOTED
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.
