Lauren Simmons is a Democratic state representative who has represented Texas House District 146 since January 2025 and is seeking re-election in the November 3, 2026 general election.[1][2]Ballotpedia lists her as a community advocate.[1]
Lauren Ashley Simmons was born in Houston, Texas, and her career experience includes working as a community advocate.[1]
Simmons succeeded Shawn Thierry in representing District 146 and assumed office on January 14, 2025.[1]She advanced from the March 3, 2026 Democratic primary; Alexandria Butler is the Republican candidate in the 2026 general election.[1]
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 Democrats voted. How topics are assigned
›Rights & public safety574 with · 42 against616 votes
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.
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 23, 2025: Requires police to send the attorney general a copy of any probable-cause report on a human trafficking offense they give local prosecutors, and requires the attorney general to take over prosecution if the local prosecutor takes no action within 180 days.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
On the version voted May 25, 2025: Requires health care providers to get written informed consent before giving a COVID-19 vaccine, including a parent's consent for minors, and to provide a state-developed information sheet on the vaccine's benefits, risks, expedited development and manufacturer liability; violators may face professional discipline.
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.
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 DemocratsOfficial record ↗
Requires public colleges, for Public Service Loan Forgiveness certification only, to count adjunct faculty as working 3.35 hours per credit hour taught and as full-time at 30 average weekly hours, and to certify within 60 days.
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.
On the version voted May 26, 2025: Limits extensions of plugging deadlines for oil and gas wells inactive more than 15 years and completed over 25 years earlier, requires annual testing reports on long-inactive wells, and directs the Railroad Commission to set penalties and report yearly to state leaders.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 29 of 776 party-divided votes on file.
Most often on: Rights & public safety (10), Jobs & cost of living (8), Education & families (7)
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 no · most Democrats voted yes · Democrats 49–4, Republicans 33–49
Relating to certain procedures required for the denial of certain applications for a license to carry a handgun
What it does: Bars the Department of Public Safety from denying a handgun license application over a medical advisory panel's concern about the applicant's judgment until it gives written reasons and at least 30 days to submit more…
Voted yes · most Democrats voted no · Democrats 23–28, Republicans 81–0
Relating to the authorized removal of certain motor vehicles
What it does: 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 lacks required liability insurance.
Voted yes · most Democrats voted no · Democrats 25–29, Republicans 58–25
Relating to the prosecution and punishment of the criminal offense of organized retail theft; increasing criminal penalties
What it does: On the version voted May 30, 2025: Redefines organized retail theft to include stealing with others, stealing twice from merchants within 180 days, profiting from such thefts, or overwhelming store security; raises pe…
Voted yes · most Democrats voted no · Democrats 26–31, Republicans 84–0
Relating to the liability of nonprofit entities contracted with the Department of Family and Protective Services or with a single source continuum contractor to provide community-based care or child welfare services
What it does: On the version voted May 27, 2025: Treats nonprofits contracting for community-based care or child welfare services, and their staff, volunteers and caregivers, as charitable organizations under the Charitable Immunit…
Voted yes · most Democrats voted no · Democrats 27–29, Republicans 82–2
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
NoVOTED
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
NoVOTED
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
NoVOTED
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.
