Penny Morales Shaw is a Democratic member of the Texas House of Representatives who has represented District 148 since January 12, 2021 and is seeking re-election in the November 3, 2026 general election.[1][2]She is an attorney by profession.[1]
Penny Morales Shaw was born in Houston, Texas.[1]Ballotpedia lists her career experience as including work as an attorney, a U.S. congressional legislative advocate, and an owner and administrator of three businesses.[1]
In the Texas House, Morales Shaw served on the Environmental Regulation and Urban Affairs committees in 2021-2022, and in 2023-2024 she was assigned to the Defense & Veterans' Affairs, Environmental Regulation, and Local & Consent Calendars committees.[1]She defeated Kay Smith in the November 5, 2024 general election, 54.9% to 45.1%.[1]Ballotpedia lists Amanda LaBrie as the Republican candidate opposing her in the November 3, 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 safety580 with · 55 against635 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.
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 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Proposes amending the Texas Constitution to let the Texas energy fund also finance energy efficiency projects conducted to benefit retail electric customers.
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.
Creates a comptroller-run grant program, funded by appropriation, for counties that help indigent litigants with transportation to and from court proceedings.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Bars constructing structures taller than 500 feet within five miles of an FAA-designated aerobatic training area used by a Defense Department aviation contractor, if designated by January 1, 2025.
Voted against most of their party on 48 of 800 party-divided votes on file.
Most often on: Rights & public safety (22), Jobs & cost of living (16), Education & families (8)
Relating to the recognition of gold and silver specie as legal tender and the establishment of a transactional currency based on gold and silver; authorizing a fee
What it does: As passed by the Senate, recognizes gold and silver specie marked with its weight and purity as legal tender in Texas to the extent the U.S. Constitution allows, and lets the comptroller authorize electronic payment s…
Voted yes · most Democrats voted no · Democrats 20–32, Republicans 81–0
Relating to assistance in the investigation of certain open meetings offenses by the open records division of the attorney general's office
What it does: Requires police to send the attorney general's open records division copies of probable-cause reports on open meetings crimes, lets prosecutors request that division's help investigating, and requires prosecutors who…
Voted yes · most Democrats voted no · Democrats 20–28, Republicans 62–12
Proposing a constitutional amendment requiring the denial of bail under certain circumstances for illegal aliens charged with certain offenses punishable as a felony
What it does: On the version voted May 19, 2025: Proposes a constitutional amendment requiring judges to deny bail to people in the U.S. unlawfully accused of listed offenses, such as murder, aggravated kidnapping, sexual assault a…
Voted yes · most Democrats voted no · Democrats 15–30, Republicans 78–0
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 failure of a voter registrar to comply with voter registration laws
What it does: On the version voted May 30, 2025: Lets the secretary of state withhold certain state election funds from a county voter registrar who, after written notice, fails to timely approve, change or cancel registrations, sc…
Voted yes · most Democrats voted no · Democrats 24–33, Republicans 85–0
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
Not votingNO VOTE
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
Not votingNO VOTE
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
Not votingNO VOTE
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
Not votingNO VOTE
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
Not votingNO VOTE
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
Not votingNO VOTE
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
Not votingNO VOTE
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.
