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Penny is a native Houstonian who attended Houston public schools. She has 4 children.

Penny is an attorney who previously worked for NAACP legal clinics. She previously worked as the deputy chief for Harris County Commissioner, Precinct 2, overseeing policy and legislative affairs.

Penny Morales Shaw is s state representative for State House District 148. She was first elected in 2020 and is serving her 2nd term. 

Houston Chronicle, Editorial: We recommend Penny Morales Shaw for Texas House District 148

Supports using the $27 billion budget surplus to buy down property taxes for homeowners.

- Supports using the $27 billion budget surplus to buy down property taxes for homeowners.

Economy

As of September 7, 2024, Penny Morales Shaw’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Public Safety

Candidate website

Planned Parenthood, 2023 Texas Legislative Champions

Supports parental leave policy that would replace 100% of a worker's wages for up to 12 weeks after giving birth.

Opposes SB 14, which would ban gender-affirming care for transgender children.

Opposes Senate Bill (SB) 14, which would ban gender-affirming care for transgender children.

- Supports parental leave policy that would replace 100% of a worker's wages for up to 12 weeks after giving birth.
- Opposes Senate Bill (SB) 14, which would ban gender-affirming care for transgender children.
- Supports abortion access.

Healthcare

Opposes the state takeover of the Houston Independent School District.

Opposed the state takeover of the Houston Independent School District.

- Supports tenure in higher education.
- Opposed the state takeover of the Houston Independent School District.

Education

Public Health Watch, Houston Lawmaker Moves to Hold Polluters Accountable

Believes in providing affordable broadband access for students, supporting a $15-a-month-per-student program over free options.

Supports free access to broadband internet in Houston schools. 

Supports regulating the oil and gas industry to prevent the injection of "forever chemicals" into Texas oil and gas wells.

As a state representative, introduced a bill that would increase fines on polluters and ensure that impacted governments could access more of the money collected.

- Supports free access to broadband internet in Houston schools. 
- Supports regulating the oil and gas industry to prevent the injection of "forever chemicals" into Texas oil and gas wells.
- As a state representative, introduced a bill that would increase fines on polluters and ensure that impacted governments could access more of the money collected.

Energy & the Environment

Voting & Elections

Twitter

Instagram

Facebook

Penny Morales Shaw

Penny is a native Houstonian who attended Houston public schools. She has four children.

Penny Morales Shaw currently serves as the State Representative for Texas District 148. She was first elected in 2020 and is serving her second term. 

Supports labor unions, as evidenced by the endorsement of the Texas Gulf Coast Area Labor Federation.

Believes in addressing local economic concerns, as demonstrated by facilitating Biden Administration visits to the 5th Ward for resident feedback on the I-45 Project.

Supports creating paid parental leave for Texans.

Supports providing parental leave to all Texas workers.

Supports the Texas Gulf Coast Area Labor Federation, AFL-CIO, which unites 95 unions and 60,000 members to advocate for working families across 13 counties.

Supports the American Federation of Teachers, believing it "champions fairness; democracy; economic opportunity; and high-quality public education, healthcare and public services for our students, their families and our communities."

Supports the creation of a state border unit.

Supports banning "sexually oriented performances" in front of minors.

Supports access to quality healthcare for all Texans.

Supports policies that ensure access to clean water for working families in "fence-line" communities.

Supports access to a first-class education for all Texas families.

Supports the Texas State Teachers Association's goal of uniting and empowering public education advocates to ensure quality public schools for every child in Texas.

Supports the American Federation of Teachers.

Supports teachers' independence and professional decision-making.

Supports initiatives that aim to increase the number of women elected to office and provide them with campaign tools.

Believes public education is neglected in "aggressive deal-making."

Supports public education and has participated in events with Texas AFT and public education allies.

Supports the Texas State Teachers Association.

Supports the Houston Federation of Teachers.

Served on the House Environmental Regulation Committee and the House Caucus on Climate, Environment, and the Energy Industry.

Supports the expansion of community service programs like Trees for Houston, believing in the importance of local environmental initiatives.

Supports raising pollution fines to address regulatory concerns.

Believes the Houston-area chemical fire underscores the need for stronger Texas environmental enforcement.

Supports local state representatives authoring environmental legislation.

Supports the American Youth for Climate Action.

Supports the American Youth for Climate Action, a non-partisan grassroots organization advocating for climate action and a sustainable future.

Believes Texas fracking worsens the per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) contamination.

Supports voting rights and fair elections.

Supports the Houston Black American Democrats, which aims to boost civic engagement and voter participation in Black and underserved communities.

Supports full representation of Hispanics at all levels and in all activities of the Democratic Party.

Supports the Houston LGBTQ+ Political Caucus, which aims to eliminate "prejudice, violence, and injustice against gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender people through education, activism, and political advocacy."

Penny Morales Shaw is a native Houstonian who attended Houston public schools. She has lived in the District 148 area for the past ten years. Penny was widowed shortly after graduating law school and has four children.

Penny Morales Shaw is a State Representative for Texas House District 148. She has worked as an attorney for NAACP legal clinics and served as the Deputy Chief for Harris County Commissioner, Precinct 2.

Penny Morales Shaw has served as a State Representative for Texas House District 148. During the 87th Legislative Session, she was appointed to the House Environmental Regulation Committee and the House Urban Affairs Committee. She is also a member of several caucuses, including the House Innovation & Technology Caucus and the House LGBTQ Caucus.

- Your state representative represents the interests of your local district in the Texas House of Representatives. The State House of Representatives, along with the State Senate, makes up your state lawmaking body: the Texas State Legislature
- Your state representative can author, sponsor, and vote on bills that may become state laws. 
- There are 150 members of the Texas House of Representatives, each representing a single district. Representatives must be at least 21 years old and reside in the state for at least two years before their election. 
- State representatives are elected to two-year terms during even-numbered years. There are no term limits. 
- State representatives make $7,200 annually in addition to a $221 payment per day during legislative sessions and mileage reimbursements.

Your representative and state lawmaker in the Texas House of Representatives.