Public Life | Dennis Bonnen, R-Lake Jackson

Legislative Highlights

84th Legislature and Interim (2015-2016)

Speaker Pro Tempore
Chairman, House Committee on Ways & Means
Member, House Committee on Natural Resources
Authorship and passage of HB 11 to implement a sustained security force with a long-term strategy along our border
Authorship and passage of HB 32, the Franchise Tax Reduction Act of 2015, to permanently reduce the business franchise tax by 25% across-the-board, to reduce the E-Z tax rate by 42% (to 0.331% of Texas receipts), and to expand E-Z eligibility to companies with revenues of not more than $20 million (up from the current $10 million)
Sponsorship and passage of SB 1/SJR 1 to increase the school tax homestead exemption from $15,000 to $25,000
Sponsorship and passage of SB 1760 to require the governing body of a local taxing unit to have an affirmative vote of at least 60% of its members in order to exceed its effective tax rate
Authorship and passage of HB 1914 to increase the allowable time between parole hearings for the egregious crimes of capital murder and aggravated sexual assault
Authorship and passage of HB 4168 to increase Brazoria County's number of seats on the Gulf Coast Water Authority board of directors
Authorship and passage of HB 992 and HJR 75 to remove a legal barrier so that all surviving spouses of totally disabled veterans receive a full exemption of their residential property taxes
Sponsorship and passage of SB 498 to eliminate the expiration date of the Texas Windstorm Insurance Association's waiver program
Authorship and passage of HB 1165 requiring the seller of real estate that adjoins a water storage impoundment to notify the purchaser of the property that the lake level may fluctuate due to drought conditions and entities that exercise their lawful rights to the water
Authorship and passage of HB 1421 to strengthen the operational and economic position of the Coastal Plains Groundwater Conservation District (Matagorda County) as water demands increase
Authorship and passage of HB 1336 to compensate Velasco Drainage District supervisors at a level that is commensurate with their increased work hours and duties of ensuring compliance with new federal levee regulations
Authorship of HB 3052 (amended to HB 1915, as passed) to enable Surfside and Quintana to receive a percentage of Hotel Occupancy Tax revenue for beach maintenance and renourishment
Authorship and passage of HB 1321 to create additional heavy-lift road corridors for the transport of cargo to and from Port Freeport
Authorship and passage of HB 1466 to better identify and hold accountable bad actors who abandon boats in Texas waterways
Authorship and passage of HB 1666 to protect emergency/disaster response volunteers from liability during planning and training exercises

83rd Legislature and Interim (2013-2014)

Speaker Pro Tempore
Chairman, Sunset Advisory Commission (term ending 2013)
Chairman, House Committee on Special Purpose Districts
Chairman, House Select Committee on the Fiscal Impact of Texas Border Support Operations
Vice-Chairman, Joint Committee on Oversight of Higher Education Governance, Excellence, and Transparency
Member, House Committee on Natural Resources
Authored and passed amendments to dedicate an additional $1 million to Brazosport College's baccalaureate degree program and grant greater flexibility to offer additional four-year degree plans
Authored and passed SB 1702 to abolish the Texas Windstorm Insurance Association's Alternative Eligibility Certification program and eliminate the WPI-12 structural modification requirements to continue TWIA coverage
Authored and passed HB 994 to extend the licensing program for the STP nuclear power plant preserving the option for future construction of reactors 3 and 4
Authored and passed HB 2895 to grant Brazoria County the ability to purchase undeveloped state-owned prison land from the General Land Office for the expansion of the county airport
Co-authored and passed HB 5 to significantly reduce public school testing and instill greater flexibility within the current 4x4 curriculum requirements for high school graduation
Passed legislative package (SJR 1, HB 4, HB 1025) enabling the funding and implementation of the State Water Plan
Supported $4 billion additional dollars to public education and $460 million to the Teacher Retirement System to make it actuarially sound
Co-authored and passed HB 500 to make permanent the franchise tax exemption for businesses with less than $1 million in gross receipts, allowing a deduction up to $1 million in expenses once the small business exemption is surpassed, and grant a temporary tax rate cut for all businesses
Supported the passage of HB 2 (2nd-called special session) to protect women's health and the life of the unborn

82nd Legislature and Interim (2011-2012)

Chairman, Sunset Advisory Commission
Chairman, Select House Committee on Voter Identification and Voter Fraud
Vice-Chairman, House Committee on Calendars
Member, House Committee on Higher Education
Member, House Committee on Transportation
Member, House Select Committee on Election Contest
Member, Joint Oversight Committee on Higher Education Governance, Excellence, and Transparency
Balanced the budget with no new tax burden on citizens and businesses despite a $26.8 billion shortfall
Restored state funding for Brazosport College in the budget bill, while also successfully passing an amendment to continue the funding of Brazosport College's bachelor's degree program
Authored HB 623 to give the State of Texas additional power to identify illegal immigrants while also putting pressure on the federal government to enforce existing immigration laws
Joint-authored and passed strict Voter ID legislation (SB 14)
Supported the passage of Pro-Life legislation including a sonogram bill, the issuance of "Choose Life" license plates, and a prohibition against the use of tax dollars to fund Planned Parenthood and the abortion industry
Authored HB 1411 to support small businesses by extending the $1 million franchise tax exemption (passed as a part of SB 1)
Authored HB 1633 to require jurors to read and write in the English language
Passed HB 2004 to allow the state to sell a specific parcel of underutilized prison land for the construction of a reservoir that will provide a sufficient and reliable water supply to nearby industrial facilities
Supported an amendment to HB 500 that would have delayed state-mandated testing for the upcoming school year
Authored multiple bills (HB 2796, HB 2797, HB 2798, HB 3006, HB 3007, HB 3008, HB 3009, HB 3010) to remove burdensome and unfunded mandates imposed upon school districts

81st Legislature and Interim (2009-2010)

Vice-Chairman, Sunset Advisory Commission
Chairman, Land and Resource Management Committee
Member, Elections Committee
Authored HB 2534 to increase small business franchise tax exemption
Authored HB 3556 to require voters to show a photo ID
Authored HB 2533 to fine highway contractors for project delays and direct this revenue to affected businesses
Passed HB 267 to allow Texans to purchase firearms and ammunition in all fifty states
Passed HB 1510 to raise awareness of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS)

80th Legislature and Interim (2007-2008)

Member, Select Committee on Hurricane Ike Storm Devastation
Chairman, Environmental Regulation Committee
Member, Ways and Means Committee
Chairman, Select Committee on Electric Generation Capacity and Environmental Effects
Charter member, Community College Caucus
Passed HB 1098 to reverse Governor's HPV vaccine order
Passed HB 2198 to remove pilot status of baccalaureate degree programs offered by Brazosport Community College
Passed HB 2714 to create groundbreaking computer recycling program
Passed HB 959 to extend the statute of limitations for child abuse crimes
Passed HB 1840, the Sarah Kathryn Thompson Act, to increase the penalty for fleeing the scene of an auto accident

79th Legislature and Interim (2005-2006)

Chairman, Environmental Regulation Committee
Member, Natural Resources Committee
Member, National Conference of State Legislators' Agriculture, Environment, and Energy Committee
Member, Texas Legislative Tourism Caucus
Amended appropriations bill to include $1 million in funding for Brazosport College's baccalaureate degree program
Passed HB 657, the Donna Hoedt Act, to provide judges the option of terminating the parental rights of a parent convicted of murdering a child's other parent
Passed HB 2096 to establish a self-funding mechanism for the state to remove abandoned vessels at no expense to taxpayers
Joint-authored HB 27, the Darren Medlin and Justin Wollam Act, to enhance penalties for the intoxication assault and intoxication manslaughter of a peace officer or firefighter
Secured appropriations to remove abandoned oil rig, Zeus, in Freeport ship channel

78th Legislature and Interim (2003-2004)

Chairman, Environmental Regulation Committee
Member, Insurance Committee
Member, Select Committee on Public School Finance
Member, Advisory Committee on Rock Crushers and Quarries
Member, Environmental Task Force of The Council of State Governments
Executive Committee member, Energy Council
Member, Texas 21 Legislative Caucus
Passed SB 193, the Move Over Act, to require motorists to move over or slow down when passing a stationary emergency vehicle
Passed HB 1365 to restore full funding of federally-mandated Texas Emissions Reduction Plan
Passed amendment to SB 286 to create pilot project allowing Brazosport College to offer limited four-year degrees

77th Legislature and Interim (2001-2002)

Vice-Chairman, Environmental Regulation Committee
Member, Ways and Means Committee
Texas delegate, national study to simplify state sales taxes
Increased multipliers for retired teachers
Passed HB 2914 to streamline and enhance the Comptroller's administration of the state's fiscal matters
Passed HB 805 to assist Crime Stoppers
Passed HB 2610 and HB 2621 to update gender references in child support and child custody laws

76th Legislature and Interim (1999-2000)

Member, Ways and Means Committee
Chairman, Business Tax Subcommittee
Member, Pensions and Investments Committee
Chairman, Interim Subcommittee of Pensions and Investments Committee charged with studying state policies regarding reemployment of people who have retired under state retirement plan
Member, Select Committee on Teacher Health Insurance
Campaigned for Governor George W. Bush in Iowa Republican Caucus

75th Legislature and Interim (1997-1998)

At 24, youngest member of Texas House of Representatives
Member, County Affairs Committee
Member, Insurance Committee
Speaker's designee for application to the Henry Toll Fellowship Program
Member, National Conference of Insurance Legislators
Passed SB 553 (HB 1478) renaming portion of SH 35 the Stephen F. Austin Memorial Hwy
Passed HB 2868 to permit drafting of county-wide master drainage plan
Supported repeal of motorcycle helmet law