Helen Kerwin is a Republican state representative from Texas House District 58 who has represented the district since 2025 and is seeking re-election in the November 3, 2026 general election. A small business owner, she previously served as mayor of Glen Rose and as a Somervell County Commissioner.[1][2]
Helen Kerwin's career experience includes working as a small business owner and entrepreneur, according to Ballotpedia.[1]She served as mayor of Glen Rose and as a Somervell County Commissioner, and has served on the North Texas Council of Governments Executive Board, as a 4-H Superintendent, and as an FFA Horse Judging Coach.[1]She received the Texas A&M Outstanding Service Award.[1]
Kerwin took office on January 14, 2025, succeeding DeWayne Burns.[1]She defeated Mary Wells in the Republican primary on March 3, 2026, and faces Democrat Chris Oldham in the general election.[1]In a 2024 Ballotpedia survey, she listed securing the border, election integrity and educational freedom as her campaign's 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 safety560 with · 85 against649 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 ↗
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 ↗
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 ↗
On the version voted May 25, 2025: Requires the state health department to post its school vaccine exemption form online for printing, rather than only mailing it on request, bars requiring personal information to get the form, and stops the department from tracking who obtains it.
May 13, 2025 · Failed 55–84 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗
Requires health plans, including Medicaid and CHIP, that cover or have covered gender transition procedures to cover their adverse consequences, annual follow-up testing, and treatment to manage, reverse or recover from the procedure, for plans issued or renewed from January 1, 2026.
May 12, 2025 · Passed 87–58 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗
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 · 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.
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 ↗
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 · 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 · against 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 83 of 842 party-divided votes on file.
Most often on: Jobs & cost of living (24), Rights & public safety (18), Education & families (15)
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 creation of the Colmena Ranch Municipal Management District No. 1; granting a limited power of eminent domain; providing authority to issue bonds; providing authority to impose assessments and fees
What it does: Creates the Colmena Ranch Municipal Management District No. 1, which can issue bonds and impose assessments but not property taxes; eminent domain applies only if the bill passes by two-thirds of each house.
Voted yes · most Republicans voted no · Democrats 49–4, Republicans 33–49
Relating to the creation of the Fenske Road Municipal Utility District of Harris County; granting a limited power of eminent domain; providing authority to issue bonds; providing authority to impose assessments, fees, and taxes
What it does: Creates the Fenske Road Municipal Utility District on about 34 acres in Harris County, subject to city consent and a confirmation election, letting it build water, sewer, drainage and road facilities, issue bonds and…
Voted yes · most Republicans voted no · Democrats 55–0, Republicans 38–44
Relating to county jailer training on interacting with veterans in the criminal justice system
What it does: On the version voted May 27, 2025: 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 curr…
Voted yes · most Republicans voted no · Democrats 55–0, Republicans 41–44
Relating to the authorized removal of certain motor vehicles
What it does: On the version voted May 28, 2025: Lets police and state license and weight inspectors remove a vehicle from a highway, or order it moved, when the driver has no valid license, is driving with a suspended license, or…
Voted no · most Republicans voted yes · Democrats 27–32, Republicans 55–28
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.
