Terry Canales is a Democratic state representative from Texas House District 40 who has represented the district since 2013 and is seeking re-election in the November 3, 2026 general election.[1][2]
Terry Canales's committee assignments in the 2023-2024 legislative session were Transportation (chair) and Homeland Security & Public Safety.[1]He also chaired the Transportation Committee in 2021-2022.[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 safety452 with · 155 against607 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.
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.
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.
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.
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 ↗
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
May 22, 2025 · Passed 86–56 · against most DemocratsOfficial 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.
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.
On the version voted May 27, 2025: 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.
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.
May 12, 2025 · Passed 85–54 · against most DemocratsOfficial record ↗
Voted against most of their party on 224 of 815 party-divided votes on file.
Most often on: Rights & public safety (80), Jobs & cost of living (50), Education & families (41)
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
What it does: 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…
Voted yes · most Democrats voted no · Democrats 1–46, Republicans 86–0
Relating to the funding of law enforcement agencies in certain counties
What it does: In counties over 3.3 million people, requires a voter election before reallocating unspent law enforcement money, or funding for a specific law enforcement position, to another agency. Bars those counties from moving…
Voted yes · most Democrats voted no · Democrats 4–48, Republicans 85–0
Relating to contracting with law enforcement agencies in certain counties
What it does: Allows the sheriff and constables of counties over 3.3 million people to contract with local governments, property owners' associations or landowners to provide law enforcement, and bars commissioners courts from rest…
Voted yes · most Democrats voted no · Democrats 4–48, Republicans 84–1
Relating to a pharmacist's authority to dispense ivermectin without a prescription
What it does: Allows pharmacists to dispense ivermectin without a prescription under written protocols from the Texas State Board of Pharmacy, and bars criminal, civil and disciplinary liability for pharmacists who act in a reasona…
Voted yes · most Democrats voted no · Democrats 5–45, Republicans 82–2
Relating to the funding of law enforcement agencies in certain counties
What it does: In counties over 3.3 million people, requires a voter election before reallocating unspent law enforcement money, or funding for a specific law enforcement position, to another agency. Bars those counties from moving…
Voted yes · most Democrats voted no · Democrats 6–44, Republicans 82–1
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
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
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.
